Our cats have fleas and we've tried everything. Are there any real alternatives to Advantage? We have 5 adult kitties and 4 kittens, so advantage is cost-prohibitive. I'm allergic to flea bombs, but I haven't reacted badly to flea powder, so I could sprinkle that liberally on the floor, if need be. Suggestions, anyone?
2006-09-14 17:36:47 · 13 answers · asked by fireincarnation 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Advantage always worked for me, but if it's not working for you, I would say maybe take them to the vet.. Good luck!
2006-09-14 17:40:28 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 gazillion cats, and swear by Frontline Plus. While I am not suggesting or recommending the following, I am simply relaying what someone other than me does about Flea Control. it saves her ALOT of money, but **I cannot recommend it - only passing the story along FYI.**
This person told me that the Frontline Plus for extra large dogs contains the same chemicals as the Frontline Plus for cats. Only the amount (the volume) is greater in the dog size. And, the costs are not that different. They take a syringe, and very carefully draw out the same amount that is in a cat size dose (0.5 ml or 1/2 cc - same thing) out of the extra large dog vial. They then remove the needle, and apply the small dose that is in the syringe onto the cat.
Considering the x-large size contains 4.02 ml, they are able to treat 8 cats with one x-large dog size. They tell me they get very satisfactory results using even less than 0.5 or 1/2 cc in smaller cats. Remember, a regular teaspoon contains about 5 whole cc's or ml's - and the proper cat dosage is 1/10th of a teaspoon, so, there's no way to measure accurately such a small dose without a proper syringe.
They are using one of the ingredients in Frontline (fipronil) for pest management in corn, and it has been used for quiet some time in a roach control product. If it's cheap enough for crop use, something tells me we are really exploited when it comes to paying the prices we are forced to pay for Frontline. It seems like these companies would realize that if they made the products more affordable, it would make them more available, and still not hurt their bottom line. I think it's unfair that they have the technology, and a good profit, but still allow many pets to suffer because their moms can't afford the premium products. But, that's just one of my soapboxes anyhow..
2006-09-15 04:18:57 · answer #2 · answered by drbernice843 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frontline plus is good because it kills different stages of the life cycle of the flea. and it doesn't wash off like advantage does. it isn't cheep either, but it works, and if you're going to have 9 cats, you maybe should consider that caring for all of them won't be cheep. you have to treat every animal in the house, and you have to treat the house. ideally, that means vacuum the floors, furniture, clean bedding, drapes, etc. and everything the cats sleep or play in or around several times a week. the flea eggs fall off the cats, and most powders, shampoos and collars only kill the adults, so when you use those treatments, you don't even touch all the eggs that are out there. treating fleas is tough no matter what you use, but a good product like frontline plus can help a lot.
2006-09-15 00:46:27 · answer #3 · answered by docal 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi there..consider using Frontline as an alternative if Advantage isn't working well. Sometimes one will work better than the other. You can purchase this directly from 1800 Pet Meds: http://www.1800petmeds.com/cat.asp?LV=10
For around the home use Borax (boric acid) on the flooring found at any grocer or drug store (approximately USD$3)...kills fleas both by causing dehydration and by acting as a stomach poison in a matter of minutes. In laboratory tests boric acid damaged sperm and caused miscarriages. Just sprinkle and vacuum up and repeat two weeks later. http://www.pesticide.org/fleas.html (See section Less Toxic Chemical Controls)
2006-09-15 01:02:22 · answer #4 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Quite honestly advantage is one of the best products on the market at getting rid of fleas. It would cost more money to continue to purchase Over the counter products that don't really work than to purchase the advantage. Another benefit to advantage is that it kills 98% of fleas within the first 24 hours.
We have 13 cats right now 6 kittens and 7 adults all of whom are treated with advantage. To make it more cost effective we purchase the large dog size advantage (same medication in both advantage for dogs and for cats) and we use a syringe with no needle to measure the proper dosage for each cat. For the kittens it is .4ml and for the adults it is .8ml. The tube for large dogs contains 4ml so you can treat 8 kittens with one tube.
You can dose exactly 5 adult cats with one tube of the large dog size advantage so to treat all of the adults and the kittens you would need 1 and 1/2 tubes. You can order a 6 month supply (6 tubes) relatively inexpensively at www.petshed.com
2006-09-15 00:45:41 · answer #5 · answered by MsDolittle 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not the vet but your local pest control company will have a formula that is applied to the back of the cats neck. It is stronger than the one you get at the vet and it works.
As for the fleas in the house this will sound strange but put a saucer of water with a few drops of lemon joy in it and set it on the floor. The fleas will flock to it. It is amazing how this works.
2006-09-15 00:42:28 · answer #6 · answered by sunshine 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this problem a year or so ago and I did some research one thing I found very interesting was that the larvae or eggs that may already be in your carpet can hatch because of vacuuming so if you spray or powder your carpet and then vacuum treat the carpet again. As for your cats Adams works really well but that is also costly but the spray can be bought in several sizes but be careful if you use to much on a cat it could make them sick. Adams also has a shampoo.
2006-09-15 01:43:04 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had luck with Frontline and Advantage. Talk to the vet, there's other kinds like that. But yeah, they are expensive. What I did this last time, we have a farmer's Co-op store, they had this Frontline spray (in a bottle). It was 45.00, treats dogs and cats (I have 5 total) It's worked on all of them, except my one dog, and his hair is real thick. Bottle's lasted me about 3 months.
2006-09-15 00:44:07 · answer #8 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have only one cat who used to have fleas when I got him; Frontline worked a treat. It was recommended to me by a couple of my friends who have a cat and a dog and had tried everything (the dog going outside did tend to bring in fleas on a regular basis), and Frontline was their conclusion. The cat version I saw worked for my kitty.
Note: you shouldn't use Frontline for dogs on cats. NOT! It can be poisonous.
2006-09-15 02:50:18 · answer #9 · answered by AlphaOne_ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 7 week old kitten got a dose of something that fights fleas, worms and ear mites. I wish I could remember what is was called. You should ask your vet. It makes the bugs sterile.
2006-09-15 01:52:01 · answer #10 · answered by ned 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have NEVER had ANY luck with frontline. And weirdly enough, it did not work for any of my friends' animals either. The only one that has EVER worked is Advantage. If you want it cheaper than going to the doctor... Go to www.1800petmeds.com
2006-09-15 06:05:59 · answer #11 · answered by ♫tiggerluver1901♫ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋