We took our 6 mo old kitten to be spayed. On the phone visit we asked about costs and they were pushy about frontline and/or advantage. We have an 8 year old cat and have never had a problem with fleas. (rescued from shelter with no teeth so she is ALWAYS indoors) We took the kitten in for her appointment and the reception pushed again about flea products. We stated we were not interested. Then, in the doctors office, he brushed our kitten with this flea comb quite a few times and said "Looks like she has "A" flea, you MUST buy one of the three flea products we have. I said she must have this gotten this "one" flea while in your clinic and he said no way! We bought the 24 hour flea pill.
Question: Her stitches need to come out, can I remove them myself? I am worried that once again they are going to be pushy about this. (I search her everyday and she still does not have fleas. Being shaved it's pretty easy to look. She will always be an indoor cat as well. )

It really annoys me when vets push things onto people. I have switched vets because of that kind of atitude. Although I believe tick & flea products are important, if you have indoor cats and do not have a flea problem, there isn't any reason to buy and use those products. The less medication that is necessary for an animal, the better.

If this is not something you have done before, have someone who can help you (to make sure the cat doesn't move), or if you are at all concerned about it healing properly, I would go back to the vets office to have the stitches removed. If they start in on you, tell them that you bought advantage online from Cat Supplies, Cat Products, Feline Products Supply because they are cheaper. That will shut them up. In the future, I would find another vet if I were you.

If the incision is very small, everything looks good, and you are comfortable doing it, there really isn't any reason why you can't take them out yourself. I have done it in the past for my dog. Just make sure you buy the right kind of surgical scissors to do the job and that you have someone helping you so that you don't slip and accidentally hurt the cat.

Most vets use dissolvable stitches on cats.You should call the vet and make sure the stitches will have to be removed.The reason they ask you to return is to check the incision for infection,or swelling.Your vet may be different,so call to be sure.I buy my flea products from our feed store,and I prefer advantage over Frontline.Frontline has not been working as good as it use to,and it costs way too much to buy this product if is it does not kill the fleas.It is your choice,and if you don't want to use the products the vet offers,tell them you buy them somewhere else.They can't force you to purchase an item.Some will make you sign a paper to give the clinic permission to add the treatment if the animal will be staying overnight and fleas are present on the animal when they arrive.If you know your cat does not have fleas do not sign the agreement.Your cat is only returning for a free post surgery visit,and the flea treatment should not even be brought up again.;)

Thank you for your answers.
The proper care and instruction sheet stated to bring our kitten back within 10-14 days for the removal of stitches. So, I "assumed" they were to be removed, not the disposable kind. Yes, it does say the visit is free for the removal. The vet stated that if he found a flea on our kitty, she MUST be treated so that any other animal would not be affected, so we purchased the lesser of the three options. I'm pretty sure I had the right to say no, but if I did, the vet would not continue with the services.

I can't believe how some clinics over react about one flea.Like you said,it could have been picked up in the lobby while waiting.Oh well, you can always try to find another clinic that does not treat clients this way.You should take your cat back for her revisit,and if they bring up the flea treatment tell them you have it under control.A flea that does jump on an animal will not die as soon as it lands,so how can they say you should buy something for one flea.Okay,I've vented and feel much better,but over treating an animal with pesticides is not healthy.A vet should be more understanding.