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Keep our Cat???

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 5/15/2011 12:22 PM (GMT -8)
My family has an indoor/outdoor cat. My son has already caught Lyme disaese and I have Bartonella. We love him dearly but I can't stand the thought of infecting the rest of my family or keeping us from healing. I have made arrangements to send him to a farm with other indoor/outdoor cats. Still having trouble with the decision . . .

He won't wear a collar and I don't like the idea of him coated in poison either.

BTW we had him tested for Bart. He was negative. But I am guessing their tests aren't any better than ours and it says nothing of the future . . .

Interestingly the Dr. from the lab asked if I would call him to discuss my Bart. I did and he was researching it and very nice.
Posted 5/15/2011 1:46 PM (GMT -8)
In my opinion, it is a risk to keep him around. If you really want to keep him, then protecting him with advantage or which ever one keeps the ticks from biting is the best option. I know it's a tough decision because I am an animal lover, but you have to do what is best for your family.
Posted 5/16/2011 7:35 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Trailwalker,

Have you thought of making him a strictly indoor cat.  I think this would be healthier for everyone.

KO

Posted 5/16/2011 3:12 PM (GMT -8)
I have two outdoor cats and a dog. I thought about giving them away too when my daughter was born because they do bring ticks in the house and I live right next to a very large state forest. Of course I would never want anyone else in my family to get lyme disease. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My cats are 8 and 7 and so far we have been lucky. I do keep frontline on them all year long. It's safe so I don't worry about that part. My daughter is 3 years old now and is so aware of ticks. If she sees one she yells for me and I don't let the cats in the bedrooms and they mostly stay outside.

It's hard to keep a cat indoors once they have been outdoor cats. I tried that too but it didn't work. They just cried to go outside all the time and keeping a litter box was awful.

I know it is a risk to keep animals. Do what you think is best. It's a tough decision to make but I understand it.
Posted 5/17/2011 6:23 AM (GMT -8)
I hate to see this disease change anyone's life permanently. I have always had animals around me. Not sure that I can deal with life without them, actually. I don't like the idea of "coating my pets with poison" either, but think of their health as well!! Any animal who gets infected with Lyme or another tick-borne infection will quite possibly have just as miserable like as we can.

So, out of my love for my pets, I make sure I do everything I can afford to do for them when it comes to protecting them from this horrid disease!

I do have to say that I no longer use Frontline, though. It has been so over used here that it isn't very effective any more. I have had to switch to using Advantix tick collars and Comfortis chewable pills for fleas - the combo works well here in 'The Heart of the Ozarks".
Posted 5/17/2011 8:23 AM (GMT -8)
My cat was a stray before I took her in (she was pregnant and had 2 kittens) I kept one and my MIL has the other.  She has never been interested in going out since I took her in.  Worth a try.

KO

Posted 5/17/2011 11:34 AM (GMT -8)
I just found a tick crawling up my bedroom door. It is something I am used to living where I do and knowing my animals carry them in the house.
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