Flea treatment - best options and why

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Over the years I have used Frontline, Advantage and Revolution. While each have different price points (Revolution being most expensive and requiring a prescription), I still don't know which is the best to use and why.

Someone told me that they don't like to use revolution because it has more side effects on the cat than Advantage or Frontline does because it is systemic.

Now I am rethinking what is best to use on cats for preventative purposes.

What do you use and why.....

 

[KPassa]

I've always used Advantage quite effectively in the past till these two cats, when my vet switched to Revolution. We only get fleas once or twice a year (if even that) so I've only given them both the Revolution twice now in their lives. The first time, I noticed it didn't seem to do as much for the fleas and it really seemed to bother them. I chalked it up as coincidence. I just recently gave them another dose and I have definitely noticed a problem. They both have really coarse hair now on the back of their necks where I applied it half a month ago and Mikey even has dandruff there. AND it didn't seem to help much with the fleas. Plus, Mikey's hyperesthesia seems to have come back again, something he hasn't had since I got Henry (and last applied the Revolution to both of them).

I'm going to use the Advantage next time...probably next month because we still seem to have fleas. :? At least I know that stuff works with minimal side-effects. :YMSIGH:

 

[BJM]

In NW Columbus, OH, Frontline and Frontline Plus aren't effective any more. Adding in CapStar kills off the adult fleas, so the Plus, the insect growth regulator, has a chance to work.

Advantage II seems to do OK, with the addition of CapStar to knock out the adult fleas quickly.

Both Frontline and Advantage are dosed by volume, so you can purchase the giant dog size and use an oral syringe to pull out the correct dose. This saves you on the cost.

CapStar has a wide safety profile and the larger tablets can be cut in quarter pieces for dosing. This also saves on cost.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Thanks KPassa and BJM, this is very helpful.

I'm going to change to Advantage. If I get the dog sized version, how do I know the correct amount to give for a cat?

 

[BJM]

Look on the back of the cat package (online too). If I remember correctly, its about 0.4 mL up to 8-10 lbs. For a larger cat, I nudge it up a little more, rather than jumping to the next dose level.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Will do thanks! Of course Buster is 16 pounds of fluffiness! But if I use it as preventative measure then it still may be enough, without overloading her body

 

[BJM]

Note that Capstar is a daily adult flea killer, so you can't use it alone. It does kill the adults quickly which cuts down on egg laying.

Assiduous vacuuming of any areas will make dormant eggs hatch from the vibration.
Combing with a flea comb and shaking the fleas into a dish of soapy water, also helps.

For severe infestations, you may want to do a unmedicated bath to drown the fleas, followed by ptreventative. (Unmedicated so you don't overload the cat's system with chemicals.)