[Cross-posted from my MovableType Blog]

We've had another incident in the War On Bugs. It started a few weeks ago. Freesia seemed to be a little itchier than usual. But the weather was turning cooler, so I figured she was losing her summer coat and starting to grow her winter one. I figured that that also accounted for the increase in hairlog occurrences.

Then I noticed that there were bits of dirt on the bed after she had been sleeping there. It wasn't big and black flecks like when she and Smudge had ear mites 2 years ago. This was much, much finer, like grains of sand. Again, strange, but I didn't really think much of it.

Then an event happened that proved that this was not just a change in seasons. I saw a bug come to the surface of her fur, and then bury back into the fluff before I could grab it out. In a matter of days she was completely infested. I had E call the vet while I was in Canada last week to make an appointment for her. The soonest we could get her in is Wednesday.

I feel so horrible about the whole thing. In her 11 years, Freesia has never had fleas. I don't know if these are even fleas, they are the size of sesame seeds. She sat on the bed looking at us last night, so wanting to be loved and cuddled and all I could see was bugs. We locked her out of the bedroom—not being able to stand the though of her sleeping with us with all those bugs on her. I itch all over just thinking about it.

The thing is, I don't know where she got them from. Freesia, Smudge and Horus are all indoor only cats. Horus got outside once months ago, but he wasn't out for long. Did we unknowingly bring sand fleas back with us from when we went to Carmel at Labor Day? Did they come in the new wheat-based litter we are using? Are they in the carpet from the indoor-outdoor cat that used to live in the house? I just don't know.

I feel like I've let her down. She so wants to be cuddled and loved. She's so itchy. Her fur isn't as thick. I know she's miserable. And then mommy goes and locks her out of the bedroom! I'm waiting until Wednesday when I bring her to the vet rather than pick up Frontine or Advantage on the way home because a) I want to make sure it really is fleas. b) She's been losing weight and I want the vet to check about that. c) I want the vet to look at all the scabs she has on her head from fighting with Horus and Smudge.

Oh insect hordes, you will regret this!