How to Treat a Cat With Bartonella
Bartonella, also know as cat-scratch disease (CDS), is an infection caused by the bacteria bartonella henselae, A cat can receive the bacteria from fleas, as it is commonly found in flea feces. The bacteria can be transferred to humans and cause an infection if that cat bites or scratches you when it's carrying the bacteria. To protect yourself and others from getting infected, you must immediately treat your cat at the first sign of flea infestation or if your veterinarian diagnoses your cats as carrying the bacteria.
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Instructions
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Clean and spray flea-killing cleaner on areas where your cat sleeps and wanders in your home. Spray the flea-killing cleaner until you see no more fleas showing up in the area (see Resources). Make sure that any areas where the flea infestation originated from are free from ticks so that your cat won't get more fleas or ticks. You can check your cat for fleas by brushing through its fur to see tiny black fleas or to look for small red marks on its skin.
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Give your cat a bath. Use flea-killing shampoo that is available at local pet stores. It's good to protect your cat from fleas, especially if it's an outdoor cat. If you notice fleas on your cat, scrub those areas with the shampoo deep into its fur.
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Take your cat to the vet for prescribed medication to kill the fleas and bacteria, such as Frontline or Advantage. Frontline kills both fleas and ticks and the eggs that they produce. Advantage kills fleas and ticks but doesn't get the eggs. Apply this medication to your pet by rubbing the gel-like shampoo over its entire body.
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Continuing medicating and bathing your cat for up to 2 weeks. Even if there are no sign of fleas on your cat, eggs could still be in its fur. Also, brush your cat after every time you dry it after the shampooing treatment. This will remove any dead fleas stuck to its skin. Keep you cat indoors until all signs of fleas are gone.
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Trim your cat's nails. If it is still possible that the cat is still carrying the bacteria, resist from playing with your cat roughly during the 2 weeks of the shampoo treatment to avoid getting scratched.
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Keep your cat away from other cats during the time it is being treated. Keep it away from kittens, who are especially prone to getting the bacteria and spreading it.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask your vet for any antibiotics that are particular to destroying the bacteria.
References
Resources
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Comments
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You actually should not be bathing the cat with flea shampoo after you have applied the flea preventative, as that washes the product off. I am a veterinarian...just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents!
