Yes, if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn't working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or PetCoach.
Full Answer
What is the most effective flea treatment for cats?
- Vacuum your carpets and sweep your floors regularly to remove flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Remember that 95% of the flea life cycle is spent off your pet! ...
- Treat all cats and dogs in your home.
- Wash all bedding in hot water.
- Treat your house and yard or hire a professional exterminator.
What are the best flea medications for cats?
Best Comb: Hartz Groomer's Best Flea Comb for Dogs and Cats
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Removes both adult fleas and their eggs
How to choose the safest flea treatment for Your Cat?
Best Flea Collar for Cats. When considering the benefits versus risks of flea collars for cats, we recommend seriously considering the use of other products such as flea drops and oral flea medications instead of collars. The only collar we can recommend from the collars available on the market is the Seresto Flea Collar for Cats for killing fleas and ticks.
What are the best flea products for cats?
- What we Like
- Kills fleas, eggs, and larvae
- Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) continues killing flea eggs and larvae for up to 90 days
- Kills deer ticks and lice
- Waterproof
What if flea treatment doesn't work on cats?
Your vet will be able to work out what's gone wrong and help you to get rid of the fleas. If your pet has seen the vet within the last 6-12 months, they may even not need to be seen and may instead prescribe some treatment over the phone and give you up-to-date advice.
What do you do if flea treatment isn't working?
Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for its failure to work. Flea prevention is expensive, and you don't want to waste a dose. Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not the hair. You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck.
Can I reapply flea treatment if it doesn't work?
The known safe answer is to wait the period of time the product is supposed to work, typically 30 days, before reapplying. An alternative is to bathe the pet in a detergent shampoo (meant to strip off skin oils) and reapply after 24 hours.
Why has my cat still got fleas after treatment?
As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment - this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.
Can I put another flea treatment on my cat?
Never use multiple flea medications on your pet, unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Fleas can be a very frustrating problem, and some medications may not produce immediate effects.
What if frontline doesn't work on my cat?
If you suspect it is not controlling your pet's fleas, you may, in certain cases, be able to reapply it in as little as two weeks and try again. Speak to your veterinarian about this first if your flea medicine is not working. One Frontline alternative is to switch to another topical product.
Can I flea my cat again after 2 weeks?
Yes, if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn't working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or PetCoach.
Can I put flea medicine on my cat twice a month?
can you use before 30 days is up. Under normal conditions this product is effective for one month. However, in cases of severe flea infestation, retreatment may be necessary earlier than 4 weeks. Do not retreat more often than once every 14 days for kittens or once every 7 days for small and large cats.
Can you double up on flea treatment?
It's not usually recommended to use more than one oral flea medication at the same time. However, Comfortis and Capstar can be combined. Another exception is Sentinel, which doesn't kill adult fleas, so it can be combined individually with either Comfortis or Capstar.
What is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on a cat?
The pill nitenpyram (Capstar) kills adult fleas on your cat within 30 minutes. It doesn't have any lasting effects, though. Spinosad (Comfortis) is a fast-acting chewable that starts killing fleas before they lay eggs.
Why does my indoor cat keep getting fleas?
The most common way for fleas to enter your household is on the family dog or another pet that comes inside from being outdoors. Cats can also get fleas from neighbor pets and local wildlife, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, racoons, possums, squirrels, and skunks.
Can I give my cat Frontline Plus twice in one month?
If a pet still has fleas, many veterinarians will use the product more frequently than once monthly, sometimes as often as once every 2-3 weeks. However, this process is often considered to be “off label use,” and I would not use the product this way unless first speaking with your pet's veterinarian.
How to kill fleas on cats?
1. Using flea shampoo. One really common scenario is a frustrated pet parent who uses flea shampoo, then applies, for example, a topical flea treatment for cats, to kill the fleas. Many of the spot-on flea products use the natural oils of the coat to spread over your pet.
How long should I bathe my dog after flea shampoo?
So, if you’ve just washed your pet and stripped the natural oils, they’ll be less effective. Check the packaging for specific recommendations, but most say you cannot apply within 48 hours of a bath, and you shouldn’t bathe your dog for at least 48 hours after application, either.
How long does it take for fleas to hatch?
Pet parents often have unrealistic expectations, especially if they buy a product from the vets – but the truth is, the pupae can wait 12 weeks to hatch, which means you need to treat for 12 weeks, without a gap, to beat them.
Can fleas feed on rabbits?
There’s no point in treating your dogs if the adult fleas can feed on your rabbit, or on the neighbour’s cat that sleeps on your sofa sometimes! The minute you forget a day of your dog’s treatment, or use a sub-standard product, they’ll catch fleas again. Make sure you treat all the animals in the house so the adult fleas have nowhere safe to go! If you have a visiting cat, please check with their owner before applying flea treatment, to avoid double-dosing.
How to apply flea treatment?
How to Apply Each Brand of Topical Flea Treatment 1 Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. 2 Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. 3 Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. 4 Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.
How many active ingredients are in flea prevention?
Flea preventions typically use one or two active ingredients to do the job of preventing fleas. Each brand will use different active ingredients, and these ingredients will work in different ways to prevent fleas. An overdose for most flea preventions could result in the following: Profuse drooling. Vomiting.
How long do fleas live in the environment?
Flea eggs and larvae can live in the environment for days or weeks. It is best to regularly vacuum all the locations of your home where your pet spends time, wash all bedding in hot water, and keep your pets on flea prevention.
How to apply Bravecto to cat?
Bravecto. Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow.
Where to put hair on dog?
You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck. Read the instructions on the package; most direct you to apply it all in one spot on the neck, while a few will have you apply it to several spots along the back that the pet cannot reach (for larger dogs).
Where to apply hair spray for dogs?
You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.
Can you treat fleas in your home?
Your Home Hasn’t Been Treated for Fleas. In conjunction with topical flea treatments, you need to treat your home to provide the best defense against fleas. Most flea preventions do not repel fleas. Flea preventions kill fleas either by direct contact with the fleas or from the fleas feeding on your pet.
2. You used the wrong treatment interval
Remember that each flea treatment will have a recommended dosing interval. This is usually once every month, but it can vary. You should always follow the recommended interval because these instructions are specifically written to match the life cycle of fleas, which is about 1 month to go from egg to adult.
4. Fleas are still hiding in the household
It is a great idea to treat your household with a concentrated flea spray like this one every year, regardless of whether you have noticed fleas. But if you know that one of your pets has had fleas recently, treating your household as well as all in-contact pets becomes absolutely vital to guarantee complete extermination.
So, how do I get rid of fleas?
To recap: Use a quality product, follow the instructions, and be sure to treat your cat’s surrounding pets and environment to get the best results. Even if you do everything right, you may get an occasional breakthrough flea problem. It can feel like nothing is working.
Why aren't flea products working?
Another reason for products not working is by not treating your home and yard, where in some cases 80% of the flea life cycle may occur. Read how to control fleas indoors and outdoors.
Can Advantage II be applied on multiple spots?
For instance, for large dogs, Advantage II requires the product to be applied on multiple spots down the pet’s back.
Can pet hair medication be applied to skin?
This is something that can be somewhat of a challenge for thick haired pets; however, the pet medication will not work properly if only the hair follicles receive the medication – it must be applied to the skin.
Do pet owners see fleas?
All too often, a pet owner will come in and share their experience in which he or she regularly applies topical flea prevention, yet is frustrated that after several treatments they are still seeing fleas.
Can fleas be treated with oral flea medicine?
Consider switching to oral flea medications. The newer oral flea medications are becoming very popular and with good reason — they’re even more effective than topical treatments at killing adult fleas and keeping your pet flea-free.
How to control fleas on pets?
Below is a list of several options to help control fleas on your pet and in your home, even if your pet is already on a monthly flea medicine. Make sure to apply topical medications correctly ( do not split medications to use on more than one pet) Make sure your pet's skin is healthy so topical flea medications work well.
How to get rid of fleas in dog house?
Treat all shady areas in the yard, under fences, and in the dog house. Remove all leaf litter and material fleas can live in. If you mulch, use eucalyptus or cedar mulch to deter insects. Vacuum the house twice a week. Pay attention to mop boards, sofa cushions, carpets, and pet beds.
How do I get rid of fleas in my yard?
Only 1-5% of flea population lives on your pet, while the other 95-99% lives in your house and yard. Remove fleas, flea eggs, and larvae from the house and yard by using flea medication treatments that kill adult fleas (adulticides) and contain insect growth regulators (IGR's) to prevent eggs and larvae from developing into adults. For the yard: 1 Treat all shady areas in the yard, under fences, and in the dog house. 2 Remove all leaf litter and material fleas can live in. 3 If you mulch, use eucalyptus or cedar mulch to deter insects. 4 Vacuum the house twice a week. 5 Pay attention to mop boards, sofa cushions, carpets, and pet beds. 6 Treat all pets in the household with flea products.
How long does it take for a flea to emerge from a cocoon?
Pupal fleas mature and emerge as adults over a wide time span. They can emerge from the cocoon in as little as a couple weeks, or as long as several months-depending upon temperature, humidity, and the flea's ability to sense a suitable host.
What is Brite coat for cats?
Brite Coat Chews for Cats & Dogs. Treat your yard and home. Only 1-5% of flea population lives on your pet, while the other 95-99% lives in your house and yard. Remove fleas, flea eggs, and larvae from the house and yard by using flea medication treatments that kill adult fleas (adulticides) and contain insect growth regulators (IGR's) ...
What stages of fleas do you need to control?
Rotate flea control products to prevent resistance to any single product. Fleas go through 4 growth stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Flea treatments kill adult fleas and larvae, but no pet, house, or yard product kills fleas when they are in the pupal stage and wrapped in a cocoon. You have not failed.
What animals carry fleas?
The following wildlife carries fleas that infect pets: raccoons, opossums, deer, mice, cattle, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, skunks, ferrets, Florida panthers. Rotate flea control products to prevent resistance to any single product.
Why do cats lick fleas?
Flea spot-on treatments are designed to be applied to the scruff of the neck, and the main reason for this is because it is an area that your cat cannot reach to lick the product off! If you apply the pipette in a different area of the body or don’t get your aim quite right, your cat may lick it off and so , render it ineffective.
Do flea products need to be applied to the skin?
Flea products need to be applied to the skin, where they then diffuse across the body as they dry to provide protection. This means that you need to part the cat’s fur and ensure that you apply the liquid to the skin, and failing to do this and simply wetting the fur instead is likely to render the product ineffective.
Can you open a cat flea treatment tube?
You should only open a pipette when you are ready to use it, and remember that your products can become compromised if opened and left for more than a couple of hours before use, or if there is any damage to the immediate packaging.
Do flea treatments work for cats?
Every few years, one or more premium flea products for cats are brought onto the market and these tend to be more expensive than the existing alternatives and often, only available from the vet. This is more than just a marketing gimmick-over time, the flea populations in any given area build up a tolerance to the active ingredient contained within the treatment products, which mean that treating your cat with any given product might work well for years, but then begin to fail.
How to get flea medicine off Toby's neck?
While Toby is getting a massage, grab a rag, then go ahead and break the seal of the tube of flea medication. You’ll squeeze the tube onto the skin on the back of Toby’s neck – an area he can’t reach to lick off the medication. Part his fur until you see his skin, which can be tricky if he has long tresses. Place the open tip directly on Toby’s ...
How long does flea gel take to dry?
Let the formula dry for a full 30 minutes before allowing your mischievous chum to groom himself or before letting him come into contact with other animals in your home.
What to do if Toby isn't acting like himself?
If you notice Toby isn’t acting like himself after you've applied the product, take your fur ball to the emergency clinic right away as a precautionary measure. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines.
Can you put flea gel on Toby's neck?
But if the flea medication gets onto Toby’s hair on the back of his neck, he probably won’t be able to get to it. Just to be safe, take the rag and rub in any flea gel glistening on his fur. That way the formula can get closer to his skin to protect him from any crawling critters.
Can flea medicine cause vomiting?
If you leave wet flea product on Toby’s coat and she ingests it, or if another fur-covered family member pounces over and licks it off, severe complications can potentially result. Each type of formulation has its own warnings but, in general, ingesting even a small dab of flea medicine could lead to severe vomiting and drooling. In some cases, swallowing flea products can cause your feline to have tremors and no desire to eat. If you notice Toby isn’t acting like himself after you've applied the product, take your fur ball to the emergency clinic right away as a precautionary measure.
