Choosing the CORRECT flea and tick treatment

It’s that time again! Time to re-treat your cats for ticks and fleas. With so many different types of medication, which one are you going to choose?

Cats are overly-sensitive to some treatments and can cause severe health issues. Some over-the-counter medication can be toxic to kittens. Here is a quick guide for what to look out for when buying a treatment.

Watch out for permethrin!

This ingredient is used in dog flea treatments is highly toxic to your cat [1]. As their fur is highly sensitive, you need to be mindful it is not inside your cat’s treatment.

If you do see this ingredient in your treatment (and you have already used it on your cat), watch out for these symptoms:

Twitching
Seizures
Fever
Incoordination

So, what do I use?

The two most common treatments for all pets are: the topical on-spot medication and the oral treatment. Some oral treatments need to be taken through a weekly or monthly course if your cat has developed fleas or ticks. This medication will help breakdown the eggs living in their fur.

On-spot treatment is to be taken once and is usually a lot easier to give them compared to the oral treatment. This treatment is not water-resistant, so you will need to refrain from bathing your cat for atleaest 24-48 hours. [2]

TIP: Also refrain from washing your cat 48 hours prior to giving them this type of treatment.

Check please!

As stated above, you should research the tick product you are going to use or are currently using. You need to check the ingredients and the dosage to make sure it is safe for your cat. [3]

Here is a list of additional things to watch out for:

Minimum age for the product to be used on your cat
Whether the product kills fleas and ticks at all life stages (not just the eggs)
How long the product is to be used for