Cat Flea Medicine

"Remember that pharmaceutical companies are in the flea business to make money, not because they particularly like cats. Vigilance is our job as pet owners. So read the labels, read the labels, read the labels�"

Using the wrong flea medicine has been a big problem for pet owners in the past and unfortunately, a lack of regulation has led to the death of some animals (dogs, too).

With improper labeling, ingredients toxic to cats, etc., you would think that there would be more scrutiny. You really have to be a well-informed consumer - that's the only way to ensure that your cats stay healthy. A good vet and the Internet can be gold for you as a cat owner.

Remember that pharmaceutical companies are in the flea business to make money, not because they particularly like cats. Vigilance is our job as pet owners. So read the labels, read the labels, read the labels�

Here are some things to be aware of in connection with cat flea medicine. Make sure that none of the products you use contain pyrethroids, organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion), organocarbamates, amitraz, permethrin, or diazinon (which is especially toxic to Persian cats).

Recommendations:

Ask an experienced vet which cat flea product to use.
Always check the ingredients, read the instructions and follow them by the letter.
Never use flea products that say 'for use on dogs only'. They can kill your cat.
Never use cat flea medicine on young kittens, pregnant cats, old cats, or sick cats, unless your vet (whom you trust and has a lot of experience) tells you to.
Do not use any product containing organophosphates, including permethrin, phosmet and diazinon. (if your cats live outside, don't use any of these substances as insecticides in the yard, either)
Always watch your cat after using the product. If your cat develops symptoms like drooling, tremors, difficulty walking or seizures, wash the product off immediately with mild soapy solution, rinse with water and go straight to the vet. If the vet is not in, try to get the animal to an emergency clinic. Sometimes cats develop an allergy to a product, which means you have to switch to another product.
Always use only one product. Do not mix cat flea medicine products.

We used to use Frontline products, which contain Fipronil (which is a synthetic adulticide) and Methoprene (an insect growth regulator), and it worked great. But it just got too expensive for us with 4 cats, so we switched to Biospot, Spot On flea & tick control for cats, which contains Methoprene (same as in Frontline) and Etofenprox (a new class of insecticide, supposedly less toxic to animals). So far we are happy with it.