Ticks

Poppy is a kutu (tick) breeder. He seems to attract one type of tick that breeds in his fur and probably eats them, causing him to lose his fur glory. One day he can have a lion's mane, the next few days, he would be skinny and almost furless. I judge this problem via his 'santa claus beard'. The longer the beard, means no tick. When the beard disappears and u can actually see his neck, it means help, he needs to go to the vet to get a tick shot.

Going to the vet is such an ordeal. Fortunately Pops likes to jump into his carrier. No worries on that part. Unlike his orange brother who would run a mile when he sees the cat carrier, Pops would gladly jump in. But once he gets to the vet, that's another story. The naughty one becomes terribly defensive. A defiant, angry little fuzzy who dares to look at the vet straight in the eyes and yowls loudly. Whenever the vet touches him, he would growl angrily. Whenever the vet jabs him, he would jolt violently and turn around to hiss. It takes 3 grown ups to hold a 3kg cat down. And one of the grown up is a really fat assistant. Imagine such dexterity for a small cat. By the time the whole ordeal is over, the vet's room would be filled with floating fur. Like puffs of cottony snow. My husband would be wheezing by then.

And then when i think i don't have to do anything else as the jab would suffice, my vet says, " u have to buy Frontline and spray it all over Poppy once every 3 weeks". Frontline is a topical alcohol based medication that u have to spray onto the cat's fur to get rid of the ticks. Quite effective. BUT, it means we have to catch hold of Poppy. My husband has to hold him down. I have to spray the medication onto his fur. That whole process just sends chills down my spine. Actually, more like dread. Poppy does not let up without a fight. He hates Frontline because the alchohol gives him the shivers. Brrr...Anyway, Poppy just hates to be held down.

Now, because he has tick problems, my poor Meowz has to be Frontline-d as well. I used to think ah well, just do it on Poppy only but lately, with the ticks recurring every few months, my suspicion is that everytime i Frontline-d Pops only, here is what the ticks are probably saying :
"Oh no! Fumigation again! Let's pack our bags and jump into the hotel for a while!"

The hotel in this context, is my orange cat. Poor Meowzers. He's a hotel to the ticks who lives in Poppy's fur. While Poppy gets Frontline-d, they jump onto Meowz and when the medication wears off, it's back to their 'home' again. Why? Cause Poppy has the nicest fur. It's probably like marshmallow to the ticks. The softest, chewiest fur to live in and eat. Poppy's as soft as a cloud. Serious. So, now, both has to be Frontline-d. Poor meowzers. Always the casualty. No wonder he hates the brown one.

Pops is looking a bit skinny now without so much of his santa claus beard. I just received a reminder to bring the naughties for their annual leukemia injection next week. I think i will get the vet to Frontline them himself. Would cost me RM35 extra per cat though for someone else to do the dirty deed. But i prefer not to be the bad person.