Cats and Revolution (flea control)

[JB]

Have you ever had a cat react negatively to Revolution? Of course I will be talking to my vet

I put a single dose on Sunday morning. Tuesday morning we were awakened to kitty having a serious sneezing fit, like 10-12 in a row. There were a few more instances of these fits throughout the day, but otherwise she seemed normal

Wednesday morning the sneezes were more subdued - 1-2 in a row, and not as frequently. Still normal otherwise.

Same Thursday

This morning kitty is obviously feeling puny, as she STILL hasn’t come down for breakfast.

She does go outside, but she’s a house perimeter kitty, that’s all. She’s been doing this for years.

UTD on all vaccinations.

It could just be some little cold thing she picked up, but it was just odd to be timed so close to the Revolution and has never felt bad in the 6+ years we’ve had her.

[danceronice]

All my parents’ barn cats over the years go on Revolution, and I don’t think any have reacted to it, but anything’s possible! Though I would think a skin-type reaction would be more typical if it was the treatment. And most allergic reactions (in any species) aren’t that delayed. I might give the next dose on schedule, and see if the sneezing happens again.

Of course my dogs and one of my cats (littlest one) can have some truly epic sneezing fits for no apparent reason.

[JB]

dancer, that’s what I suspect to, that it’s just coincidence.

We actually only got/gave one dose per cat as prevention from a single incident. We’d gotten 2 kittens from the shelter and after a few weeks it became pretty clear one of them had fleas and had probably brought the eggs with her. One of the dogs also had fleas. But we didn’t want to take a chance that the other dog and cats were starting to get some or would pick them up before they were taken care of on the 1 kitty and dog, so everyone got a dose.

I know this is odd, but we just don’t have fleas. Ever. We don’t have flea collars on, we don’t do Advantix/Revolution, we don’t treat for fleas. We live on 10 acres and the dogs go out and about to other pieces of land. We have not had fleas in the 7 years we’ve been here.

I must say it’s truly amusing to see a kitty go through one of those epic sneezing fits!

[danceronice]

We’ve had ONE round of fleas (with my parents’ dog). Did you fleabomb the house? That was a hassle, but we wanted to make sure.

I do PetArmor (the discount/generic of Frontline) for my dogs, as we have HORRIBLE ticks here, but my cats normally go without as they’re indoor-only and ideally, the dogs aren’t bringing anything in. Have not had flea issues but the ticks were just over the top this year.

Now, do you say “Bless you” to the cat? I have caught myself doing that and I think it’s a sign I really need to get out more.

[alto]

It’s very likey that the shelter kitties brought a respiratory bug along with the fleas - if she’s feeling this under the weather, I’d take her into the vet (cats usually hide their illnesses very well) as she may need fluids.

Revolution is very safe for cats, most other flea toxins are not (I’d definitely not flea bomb the house with indoor cats).

[JB]

Nope no flea bomb, no need to. As far as we can tell, the fleas were in small enough numbers to still much prefer to ride around on the cat and dog.

I don’t think the shelter kitties brought any respiratory bug - it’s been a month, and afaik that’s well beyond any latency period?

Oddly enough, the one kitten - not the one on whom I saw the flea - threw up a little the day after the R was applied. Just one, just some stomach fluid (it was right before breakfast), and she went on to eat breakfast and hasn’t looked back.

Of course I won’t hesitate to take her to the vet if things don’t improve or get worse

She still didn’t come for breakfast, but when I took it to her she ate with gusto. Including growling as she snarfed down her treat of a big scoop of wet food LOL

[Pancakes]

My cat had an adverse skin reaction to Revolution (only once though, strange). I’ve really only heard of things like nausea, vomiting, skin issues, and lethargy from Revolution when there are adverse effects (again which are rare), but if you’re concerned, contact your vet.

[LauraKY]

Oh, JB, never say never. We “never” had fleas last year…I was very proud of the fact. Until last fall. The rabbit population increased, we had feral cats hanging around, the flea gods were against us…whatever the cause, we now have to treat for fleas. Every blasted month. Boo hiss.

Hope you didn’t jinx yourself!

[CarolinaGirl]

Have my cat on Revolution… have since we got her a year ago. Never had any issues. My DH’s mom says her cat kinda of goes ballistic for a bit after applying, but then is fine lol. I think it’s mostly because he’s a Siamese and just odd to begin with though…

[JB]

LOL, yes, a few kitties did go a bit ballistic like a giant cat-eating monster was on their neck LOLOL

I’m happy to report that kitty is at least 50% better this morning, maybe 75%. She ate some wet food yesterday, drank some tuna juice, at a little tuna, and voluntarily came upstairs to announce it was bedtime :lol: She also got herself a good drink of water. This morning she hopped into bed (did not do that yesterday) as per her usual, and ate a somewhat subdued, but good breakfast

[2DogsFarm]

Glad your cat seems to have recovered.

I’d hesitate blaming the Revolution - I’ve used it for nearly 7 years on both barncat & housecat with no ill effects aside from barncat acting like I poured acid on her.
I think it must burn or smell odd to her as she never shows any physical effect, just avoids me for the rest of the day I treat her.

I’d keep using it as it not only prevents fleas & ticks but heartworm & ear mites as well.

IIWM, I’d flea-bomb the house if I’d seen fleas on any pet. All it takes is one egg hatching on the furniture & you are infested : P

[JB]

Yes, I really wasn’t trying to blame the Revolution, but it’s been 6+ years since I’ve used it, and that was the first time, and it was also just a single dose. It’s just not a product I’m familiar with at all, and for all I know, it might not be rare to have a cat start feeling puny from it

[MizzouMom]

Reading with interest as I’m wondering if I’ll have to switch from Frontline Plus - the dog version is no longer working well for the dogs. So far okay with the cats (I think).

Over the years I’ve had two cats who developed scabs and hair loss on their backs following Frontline application, and one who had a spell of tic-like convulsive gulping the next day or so, like he was trying to catch flies with his mouth.

[JB]

Yes, hair loss is one of the side effects listed on the Revolution package.

Scary about the convulsion thing!! I’m sure any of these have the potential however small, for something like that

[redkat]

[QUOTE=CarolinaGirl;5748407]
Have my cat on Revolution… have since we got her a year ago. Never had any issues. My DH’s mom says her cat kinda of goes ballistic for a bit after applying, but then is fine lol. I think it’s mostly because he’s a Siamese and just odd to begin with though…[/QUOTE]

I’ve never had any issues either, except perhaps a bit of dandruff in the area I apply it. The cats definitely do not approve and hate me for awhile afterwards.

My Siamese also flips out and goes tearing around the house after she gets “gooed.” I haven’t found her reaction to Frontline to be any different. If anything, she is less tolerant and the Frontline seems to leave her neck all gooey for at least a day. Revolution seems to soak right in.

I keep my resident cats on Viralys (lysine gel) when I’m fostering to give them a little extra help in fighting off whatever the foster babies have, which is inevitably something. Viralys is over the counter and some cats even like it! Just not mine. They think it’s napalm. But it definitely seems to help their immune systems.