I’d really appreciate having flea/tick collars or treatment on indoor/outdoor cats. Especially if the HO knows the cat will be sleeping in my bed, but even if not (cats do not stay in one spot at night). Could THS please discuss this in the materials for HOs? I do NOT want tick or flea bites, and taking fleas home with me would be a very expensive and problematic situation. Lyme disease is also on the rise in the US. Advice needed, since some HOs think this is not a concern…
I think you’ll just have to ask potential HO’s if their cats are treated for fleas. Everyone has different thoughts on using flea medications and I don’t think THS would make or be able to enforce such a rule.
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@Traveler99
Never owned a cat myself but I think a lot of cat owners are reluctant to use any type of collars as they are more inquisitive than dogs and have a greater risk of them getting snagged and therefore the cat being stuck, particularly with outdoor cats.
A hedge for example is a prime spot.
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This is one of the questions I ask in the video chat and follow up again later if the sit is well in advance- Are your pets up-to-date with treatment for fleas, ticks (if appropriate) and worming? The cats on my current sit were treated last week before I arrived but are regularly done because they are out in the field for much of the time.
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All the cat owners I know (in the UK) have flea treatments applied at the vets, so you wouldn’t see a flea collar on their pets.
As PP has said, this is a question you need to ask the HO.
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@temba Thanks. How would you respond if the HO said no, they don’t think it’s a concern? (Someone told me that. But the cat will sleep in bed with me). Would you not accept the sit? Would you tell them why?
@Hallt64 Yes…there are breakaway flea/tick collars. Or preventative treatments that are not collars.
I agree, i think HO should provide necessary frontline for cats and dogs for fleas. Maybe there should be a place to check on HO side that they check mark pets are treated with flea and tick medications.
@Traveler99 From our video chat, owners have understood why I want their pets treated and 90% already do this. I would withdraw an application though and say why, should owners not be in agreement as my health is important. It does depend on what outside environment the cat is in. Halfway through my last sit, it was flea treatment time for the 2 cats which was easily applied to the back of their necks.