How frequently can I ACTUALLY dose my cat w/ flea medication?

Question

We dosed our cat w/ some cheap flea medicine(from BigLots) two weeks ago. The fleas are still here. Was wondering if anyone knows if we could dose him now with Advantage. Too soon? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

It should be fine to apply a VETERINARY spot-on now. Here come the thumbs down - rightly so, never take advice from anyone on the internet. Check this with your vet, but this is the advice we hand out to clients.

You've learned what I'm always trying to tell people - store-bought flea products SO don't work! Stick with veterinary stuff!

Chalice

Answer 2

You should not dose your cat any more often than recommended on the packaging, usually once a month. More then likely your house is also infested with fleas and you need to treat it too. Zodiac has products for your carpet and yard, if it is an outdoor cat. You can also try bathing the cat with cat flea shampoo. (Do not use dog shampoo or flea control the dosage may injure your cat.) Clean all areas where you cats sleep. If it has a pet bed wash it or replace it. Wash any blankets/bedding the cat may sleep on and vacuum the house , including the furniture, throwing away the bag or emptying the cannister if bagless. Sprays don't always kill the eggs on the first application and they will hatch usually after about about 1 to 10 days depending on temperature and humidity. You maybe have to treat you home and pet for a couple of months in a row before you are finally rid of the fleas then you should treat your cat with a quality flea control like Advantage or some other vet recommended flea preventative to prevent re-infestation especially if your cat goes outside. The store bought flea control maybe cheaper, but it doesn't always work as well as the vet recommended kind and can be more harmful to your pet on a long term basis. As with anything discontinue use if you see any adverse reaction on you cat. Good luck. Fleas are a pain in the butt.

Answer 3

I have 8 cats so I consider myself a guru and a crazy cat lady. The flea treatment that I found best was "Advantage". Be careful about applying the medicine according the each cats individual weight. -Otherwise, you could poison them. Even still, my cats were itching for the first few days afterward. This is normal. Be sure to reapply in exactly 1 month. I did it for 3 months in a row and mine are flea free. I buy the big 6-8 tube packs to save money in the long run. Just remember, the cheap kind like you can pick up at the grocery store will not work! You definitley should treat the rest of your home too. One of my favorite ways (a bit time consuming but worth it) I buy a huge tube of the "Enforcer" Cinnamon spice, carpet flea treatment (WALMART). one bottle does my whole place for about $5.00. I cover my carpets and all other fabrics in the house. couches, under cushions, under furniture. also strip your bed(s) wash your sheets(s) and apply powder to the mattress too. You have to move alot of stuff, so you may need help. Don't forget your closets. I leave it on for longer than the recommended 30 minutes. It smells great too! Also i run a mop dipped in boiled water to clean my tiled floors. :)

Answer 4

if you can gt capstar or johnson's 4 fleas these re tablets and work within fifteen minuites of giving it will help but you need to treat the house as well. i use zodiac to treat the house one can does an average 3 bed house but you need to vacuum everyday and wash all their bedding on a sixty degree wash. you could bathe your cat several times and then apply advantage but talk to your vet first.

Answer 5

You should probably wait the amount of time it says on the cheap stuff (probably 1 month) and try giving him a bath in the meantime, vacuum every day, etc.