? Need Flea Collar Recommendation ASAP

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Sandi & Chase in AZ

Sandi & Chase in AZ

Member Since 2017
Chase and I have been in South Carolina for one week, today. What appeared to have been his skin allergies acting up are actually fleas. I've NEVER known him to have fleas. While there are no other indoor animals here right now, there were about 6 weeks ago. I know nothing about fleas because he's never had them, so I don't know how he could have gotten them. I was checking him closely this morning because of the many spiders here (we live on a farm by the woods), and that's when I noticed the fleas. As soon as I move to catch one they disappear deep down into his fur. My poor, poor boy. I've been driving back and forth, 2 hours each way, every day to be with my brother in the hospital (which is why I moved here). For now, I need to get something at Walmart, until I can talk to a vet. I know that Walmart isn't the ideal place to get pet supplies for DB cats, but I'm in a pinch. Please help. The closest Pet Smart is 1 hr 45 min away

And then, once I can get to a better place, what do I get? I'm guessing Chase will always need to be treated, now :(
 
It's South Carolina ie southern state, they will be all over. We have never been a fan of collars, get Frontline or another of the liquid flea and tick medicines. It's a small amount of liquid you put on the skin between the shoulder blades once a month. Not inexpensive but sooooo much better than collars. Do lots of vacuuming in the house. It will take 2-4 months to clear up an infestation if that's what you have.
 
We have relatives that live in Batesburg and the Aiken area of SC they even have the fleas in the yard and spray the grass yearly.
 
MyTitan said:
It's South Carolina ie southern state, they will be all over. We have never been a fan of collars, get Frontline or another of the liquid flea and tick medicines. It's a small amount of liquid you put on the skin between the shoulder blades once a month. Not inexpensive but sooooo much better than collars. Do lots of vacuuming in the house. It will take 2-4 months to clear up an infestation if that's what you have.
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Thank you. :)
 
Fleas are a pain to deal with. It takes time to get rid of them. Frontline and Advantage work, but you may have to give it for a couple of months (one time a month). Don't buy the cheapy stuff at Wal-Mart. There have been reports it is harmful to cats.

If you manage to pick any fleas off of him, put them in soapy water to kill them. They can jump back out of plain water. Or you can smash them between your fingernails. Sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else. I hope your brother is doing okay. Sending prayers. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Fleas can be carried inside by people. My cats are indoor only and I have to deal with fleas during the summer months.
 
I have the opposite experience. Revolution or Advantage never worked for my fleas. Starbuck lost all the fur on her stomach a few years back because she has a flea allergy. The cheapie collars don't work at all, but I have been using the Seresto collars. They were a life saver after a year and a half long flea infestation. We've never had fleas again. The collars are kind of expensive, but they last 7 months. In the meantime, get a flea comb and a bucket of hot soapy water, and you should be able to get some of the fleas that way.
 
I have always used Adams flea and tick shampoo and dip (but haven't had a flea issue since Gizmo was a kitten). I use the dip as a spray. I dilute the dip (1-2 tablespoons in gallon of water) in a pump sprayer. Use the finest mist on the pump sprayer and spray the house (carpet, furniture, baseboards, etc). It will take care of fleas as well as other crawly critters.

Like other have said, it is a process. Got to treat cat (all animals) in house and house at the same time. Also treat the yard because you can carry them in on pants, shoes. Repeat in about 2 weeks.

https://smile.amazon.com/Adams-Plus-Pyrethrin-Dogs-Cats/dp/B001R5W5SM/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

How is your brother doing? Are you taking care of yourself too? :bighug:
 
I also use seresto collars. After fighting a bad flea infestation that was the only thing that knocked it out. The advantage 2 topical also has the same ingredients as the seresto collars. The collar might be cheaper though if ur treating just one.
 
Sharon14 said:
Don’t get the Hartz stuff.
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I want to reiterate this because it is so incredibly important...Hartz flea products have killed many animals.

I personally don't have an recent flea experience, but I would confer with a vet to be sure you get the safest product for Chase's circumstances. Flea control is one area where you don't want to go cheap, because it is a case where "cheap" can be dangerous.
 
If you are talking about the cheap because what I stared, the seresto collars are not cheap, they run about $50 each. I wouldn't recommend anything Hartz either.
 
Haven't wrestled with flea problems for a long time other than a year or so ago when my ancient Maine coon somehow got fleas but none of the other cats had them, nor did I see any dancing about.
Bc of his age and health conditions I did this:
1. Add small amount of ACV to drinking water and or food daily;
2. Shampoo with a mild shampoo (such as Castile soap) and rinse well with dilution of ACV (apple cider vinegar with the "mother" in it such as Bragg's brand) and warm water; comb or brush well into fur while drying kitty.
3. Vacuum floors and wash floors , bedding etc frequently.
3. Repeat 1-3 daily or as often as can til you see no more fleas or flea dirt.

There's something about ACV that fleas hate.

As for commercial flea deterrents, it's been years since used them. At that time I used Advantage, they were much younger and indoor/outdoor back then. the vet I worked for recommended Advantage as being the safer product for cats.
 
Meridith and Zeke said:
If you are talking about the cheap because what I stared, the seresto collars are not cheap, they run about $50 each. I wouldn't recommend anything Hartz either.
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Sorry for the confusion...no, I wasn't referring to your comment. I meant cheap .products like Hartz. I know there are other cheap Hartz-like brands out there, too, that are just as dangerous as Hartz - although I don't know what they are off the top of my head...but yeah, that was the sort of "cheap" I was referring to. I'm actually not familiar with the seresto collars.
 
Eta: and re flea collars: I steered clear of them bc of ingredients and, maybe it's just my silly logic, it didn't make sense to have flea repellent around the neck when fleas seem to gravitate to other places as well, such as the opposite end of the cat.

That said, I think Only Natural Pets carries an all herbal flea collar that's safe for cats. There's also a company that makes cloth collars that contain specific anti flea herbs, but it was expensive. I don't remember the name of the company.
If I were to do a collar (and I'm referring to what I think would work for my cats ), I'd go herbal and steer clear of the chemicals.
 
Sandi & Chase in AZ said:
Chase and I have been in South Carolina for one week, today. What appeared to have been his skin allergies acting up are actually fleas. I've NEVER known him to have fleas. While there are no other indoor animals here right now, there were about 6 weeks ago. I know nothing about fleas because he's never had them, so I don't know how he could have gotten them. I was checking him closely this morning because of the many spiders here (we live on a farm by the woods), and that's when I noticed the fleas. As soon as I move to catch one they disappear deep down into his fur. My poor, poor boy. I've been driving back and forth, 2 hours each way, every day to be with my brother in the hospital (which is why I moved here). For now, I need to get something at Walmart, until I can talk to a vet. I know that Walmart isn't the ideal place to get pet supplies for DB cats, but I'm in a pinch. Please help. The closest Pet Smart is 1 hr 45 min away

And then, once I can get to a better place, what do I get? I'm guessing Chase will always need to be treated, now :(
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Collars will do nothing..absolutely nothing. I'm a dog groomer for 30+ years and can tell you about fleas. Titans moms reply is the answer. However please when you're putting the Frontline liquid on the cat cuz they don't give you a real good directions, put it just above and between his shoulder blade so that he can't lick it or put his paws back there and get it on his paws and lick it
 
HWright said:
Eta: and re flea collars: I steered clear of them bc of ingredients and, maybe it's just my silly logic, it didn't make sense to have flea repellent around the neck when fleas seem to gravitate to other places as well, such as the opposite end of the cat.

That said, I think Only Natural Pets carries an all herbal flea collar that's safe for cats. There's also a company that makes cloth collars that contain specific anti flea herbs, but it was expensive. I don't remember the name of the company.
If I were to do a collar (and I'm referring to what I think would work for my cats ), I'd go herbal and steer clear of the chemicals.
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The seresto collars actually work great. We had a horrible problem and nothing was helping. Put those on and within a week didn't see another flea! The medicine on the collars is exactly the same as the Advantage II topical, so next time I am just going to do that since it would be cheaper for my 4. (Getting pkg for large dogs and dosing it out on to each with a syringe)

When you are doing topicals, your only putting them at the neck, so no different then a collar.

Govies mom (Karen) said:
Collars will do nothing..absolutely nothing.
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Most normally don't, but the seresto ones work like magic, I swear! I couldn't get rid of fleas no matter what I did. They were literally gone within a week after putting the seresto collars on them. I gave them a try because I liked the idea of the long term flea protection because I am bad about forgetting to put on the monthly topicals on time.
 
HWright said:
it didn't make sense to have flea repellent around the neck when fleas seem to gravitate to other places as well, such as the opposite end of the cat.
Click to expand...

They work just like the topicals.....the chemicals that are imbedded in the color gradually spread across the entire surface of the skin
 
We use Frontline Plus as a preventive. It has the advantage of getting ticks as well as fleas. Rusty has never had fleas even though he goes outdoors (thanks to Frontline Plus).
Our cat Alice, however, had a terrible infestation of fleas. (this was before Frontline Plus and the other liquids). Flea eggs were even in our bed (before I discovered that those little white things were flea eggs!). We used flea powder (useless) and finally had to have her "dipped" at the vet. For months I vacuumed the whole house every day.
I am so sorry that you have to deal with this when your brother is in the hospital and you have so much on your mind. You can buy Frontline Plus at Chewy.com, and many hardware stores, as well as petfood stores, carry it.

I hope Chase will be free of those nasty fleas very soon.
 
Tux is allergic to fleas. Advantage didn't work. I was recommended Comfortis. It works very well.
It is a chewable tablet. One tablet costs $20+. You can give 1/2 tablet if under 12 lbs. Thankfully Tux is under 12 lbs. :cat:
 
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