Flea Tick Products: Cats

Keeping your kitty free of fleas can require the use of flea and tick products for cats. Bear in mind though that flea and tick products are nerve toxins.

Safety Issues With Flea Products

Much care should be taken when choosing a flea preparation for your cat. Did you know that you can not use the same product for your cat that you use for your dog?

(There is only one exception to this rule that we know of) Many of the flea products for dogs contain a chemical that is lethal to cats, but less toxic to dogs. (They are ALL toxic to some degree)

The Problem With Hartz

Many of the products sold in the pet stores have not all been proven to be safe for your cat. There is one brand, Hartz, that has caused numerous deaths, neurological problems and immense suffering amongst cats and the product is STILL being sold.

(The product has been banned, but Hartz were given a very generous amount of time to get the product off the shelves. In the meantime loving cat owners are unbeknownst to them possibly killing their cat by using their flea product.)

Possibly The Least Toxic Flea Product

One of the products that appear to have the least and less dangerous toxins is Advantage. Even though Advantage can also have adverse reactions, it is possibly the most safe flea product on the market. Advantage & Advantix Flea Killer Plus - Guaranteed lowest prices at PetCareRx. 

We recommend that Advantage, or any other flea prep for that matter, be used minimally. There may be no need for monthly applications. Bi monthly may be enough to keep the fleas at bay. Given the toxicity of these products, it is best to be observant and only use them when needed.

Using flea products in the winter is, in our humble opinion, insane. (Unless you live in a climate where winters are warm) Only use flea products when needed.

Natural Flea And Tick Prevention For Felines

Natural flea pest controls  can help your kitty stay flea free. If your kitty goes into the yard you can get beneficial nematodes that will eat the flea larvae and thus keep the flea population to a minimum, possibly eradicate them is not expensive and not toxic.

We use beneficial nematodes with great success, even in the south. We have not needed to use Advantage for over 2 years even though the fleas are active (and fierce!) year round where we live.

Flea Away is a product containing diatomacious earth which will kill adult fleas. This can be rubbed into you cats bedding, or even carpets. It is non toxic, but care should be taken not to breathe the dust. Flea Away can also be misted on the grass to kill adult fleas waiting in ambush for your kitty. You may find Flea Away locally at your health food store.

Boric Acid can also be used in the house on carpets and furniture. Boric acid is what many professional cleaners use to remove fleas from a house.

Cedar chips or saw dust can be sprinkled outside doors or your patio where fleas may make entrance into your home. We use it outside the perimeter of our yard.

Baking soda kill fleas? Yup, it can be used with equal amounts of salt, brushed into your carpet and then vacuumed 24 hours later.

Finally, a high quality diet will make your cat more flea resistant. We recommend a balanced raw diet.

A multi pronged approach can make the usage of commercial flea and tick products almost non existent. Why put nerve toxins on your cat unless you really have to?