Is is safe to put Frontline on a cat after 3 weeks?

Question

One of my adopted cats still has fleas, despite having Frontline put on her 3 weeks ago and been groomed with a flea comb regularly. I have sprayed the carpet and furniture with Staykil from the vets so I don't understand why she has still got fleas. Can I put Frontline on her a week early or will this hurt her? Could I get Programme for cats or is it dangerous to give the both treatments? Serious answers please.

Answer 1

I am a BIG fan of Frontline. I have used it on cats, dogs, snakes and lizaeds. After treating your cat I would suggest you hoover at the whole house at least twice weekly... if you are not doing so already. With regards to retreating you moggy... yes it is safe to retreat after 7 days has passed. Which Fronline product are you using? Also I never spray the house... the reason for this is due to our modern lifestyles. We have central heated homes these days and this ensures all flea eggs will hatch within three weeks. As a flea live for just a couple of weeks at best this means you will have rid of all fleas within 2 treatments... or eight weeks. I would retreat you cat, stick with the hoovering twice weekly and consider hoovering the beds too!

Fleas will hang around for a good while waiting for their next victim. After you use your vacum cleaner... empty the bag or drum too. Fleas, eggs and larve you have collected will develop in the vacum dust collection system.

Please do let me know how you and you moggy get on.

All the very best!

Sean

Answer 2

Your probably bathing your cat too soon before you put the frontline on. Try bathing her in Dawn dish liquid, it will kill all the fleas present, then after 3 days apply the Frontline. If it still seems the fleas are coming back before the 4 week treatment cycle, try switching to another flea product. Never use flea treatments purchased from the store though, they contain hars chemicals that can KILL your cat. Only use products purchased from the vets office, or a vetrinary supply store.

Answer 3

yes it is safe to put frontline on after 3 weeks. i have a cat with a flea allergy and he starts scratching after about 3 weeks, the vet said its fine to do it again.
i too have sprayed the house, but a cat can go out and a flea hops on. the flea will eventually die, but it is not instant. also, read the spray can, some (most) sprays kill adult fleas but not the eggs. when the eggs hatch is starts over again until the spray in the carpets begin to kill them off.
do not use any other flea treatment ie, collars or programme at the same time as you will overdose your cat.
if this problem continues, consider the fleas may have become immune to frontline, so once the 3-4 weeks are up then switch to an alternate like programme.
good luck.

Answer 4

You can get a pill from your vet called Capstar. It instantly kills all the fleas on the cat -- very thorough -- and is quite safe to use, even on kittens. It will not kill eggs, however, which is why people use Frontline Plus or Advantage. And unless you get rid of the fleas in the environment (your vet can advise you on how to do this with something beyond the carpet spray, but it probably involves setting off a pesticide "bomb" in your home -- after getting all living creatures out first, of course), then you will have a flea problem. Fleas can live without cats to attach themselves to for months on end, so unless you kill all the fleas and flea eggs in your home, your cats will be at risk. Also, unless you're using Frontline Plus, Frontline doesn't kill the flea eggs, just the fleas. Once the eggs hatch, you have fleas again.

I assume this cat isn't allowed outside, because if she is, that would explain why spraying the carpeting and furniture isn't helping.

Answer 5

I do not know officially if it is classed as safe to reapply frontline on cats after 3 weeks but i have 3 who all got fleas i treated the whole of the house including curtains bedding mattresses with the spray frontline although your not supposed to. My cats are two babies aged 1 and 1 old moggie 18. I treat them 3 weeks apart for up to 3 months as i am paranoid about fleas and eventually the fleas have gone and none of the cats suffered any ill effect

Answer 6

Sounds like you have an existing flea problem in your house and/or yard. You can apply the Frontline..but i wouldn't do it too soon after trying another flea preventative. If you can..try a bath..that might take a lot of doing. You may have to try a flea bomb in your house which will require removing yourself and your cat from the premises for at least 3-4 hours. However, war on fleas can be something that takes a lot of doing. Do what you have to do. Otherwise you will continue to have this problem. Have never known one flea collar that worked..matter of fact had cats that got allergic reactions and one almost choked on one.

Answer 7

I don't understand why your cat should still have problems after only 3 weeks, the packet I have to hand says that one treatment kills 98-100% of flees and is effective for up to 5 weeks. The question is do you let your cat outside where there might be Ferrel cats or hedgehogs etc moving about your property? If so try keeping your cat indoors for a while and see what happens.
I am also sure there is an injection for animals that kills the flees and also the eggs still to be lay ed.You seem to have done the proper things like spraying the house for every flee on the cat there is a lot more in the house on carpets etc.But if you have any doubts check with the vet. some cat's suffer from flee bites, as mine does, his skin breaks out in sores, so it's more important for your cats health ,to check every chance you have.
Good luck with the problem I hope you get it sorted.

Answer 8

I would say no. There is a danger of overdosing the cat on the chemicals in the frontline. Have you only used frontline etc just the once? as it's my understanding that a couple or more treatments will start to cure the problem ie after a few months. I would advise waiting a couple more weeks and then re-appying Fronline again and see where you stand after that treatment.

Answer 9

Hi, I would wait at least another week, i know its difficult when they have fleas but just keep grooming. Have you seen the frontline on the net, i just type in frontline for cats and the webpage comes up. Its a lot cheaper than the vets.So good luck with your cat.

Answer 10

I use Frontline (spot-on) every month as well as the (liquid) 'program' (made by Novartis) that the cats swallow. As soon as I started using both and fumigated the house the fleas have never returned. My vets suggested both so not a problem. One week early for spot-on shoudln't do any harm but check with your vet before you go against any advice in the packet.