Best Natural: Wondercide Flea & Tick Spray For Pets + Home
Amazon
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Can be used on pets or household surfaces
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Smells good
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Some pets are afraid of spray nozzle
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Avoid the peppermint scent version
If you prefer to use more natural ingredients, Wondercide sprays main active ingredients are lemongrass and cederwood oil, which are naturally repelling to a variety of insect pests. This spray can be used directly on your dog, or used as a room spray to kill fleas and ticks on furniture and carpet. It comes in a number of different scents, but we dont recommend the peppermint scent, because peppermint essential oils can be toxic to dogs and cats.
When spraying your dog, be sure not to miss their armpits and in between their toes, two favorite hiding spots of parasites. However, it’s unclear if this product has residual effectiveness, so you will need to reapply it frequently to your pet.
The Best Oral Flea Control Product
Comfortis Chewable Tablets start killing fleas within 30 minutes and offer a full month of protection with one easy-to-give flavored pill.
Pros: Fast-acting treatment starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes, safe for kittens 14 weeks or older, easy to give alone or in food
Cons: Does not kill flea eggs or larvae or prevent parasites other than fleas, not labeled for use in kittens younger than 14 weeks or breeding, pregnant, or nursing cats
Parasites prevented: Adult fleas
Duration of effectiveness: 30 days
Safe for: Cats and kittens 14 weeks and older, weighing at least 4.1 pounds
Not labeled for use: Breeding, pregnant, and nursing cats
Prescription: Yes
Our top choice for an oral flea control product for cats, Comfortis Chewable Tablets, is fast-acting and good for cats that can’t tolerate topical flea preventives. Its active ingredient, spinosad, starts to work within 30 minutes and kills 98% of adult fleas on cats within four hours.
Although topical flea control products are typically easier to use , there are some cases when an oral preventive is a better choice. For instance, some cats with sensitive skin can’t tolerate a spot-on treatment. “An oral flea preventive product is better if a cat has had focal hair loss related to the application of a topical product or if it has a severe flea-related allergy,” said Sawyer.
Wash Bedding In Hot Water And Dry On High Heat
Fleas die at temperatures over 95 degrees F or 13 degrees C for a prolonged period – this means that theyre no match for the high temperatures in a hot washing machine and dryer. In addition to overheating the fleas, these appliances have the ability to kill fleas of all life stages by drowning, dehydration, detergent poisoning, and physical battery.
Alternatively, leave your cats bedding and any other potentially affected items outdoors on hot, sunny days with very low humidity. After several days, the heat and dehydration should have destroyed any adult fleas, larvae, pupae, or eggs living in the bedding.
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Do Otc Flea Pills Work As Well As Prescription Flea And Tick Pills
Capstar and Advantus are both over-the-counter products that kill adult fleas very quickly. They can be very useful in instances of severe flea infestations, when the adult fleas need to be killed quickly and safely.
While they work on flea infestations, they should not be used as your dogs regular flea preventative, as they do not have lasting efficacy. Any flea larvae or eggs on your dog will still become adult fleas, and the infestation will start all over again.
If one of these products is used, it should be followed up with a prescription flea prevention product.
Avoid Natural Flea Control Products
If you’re considering using natural flea control products that contain essential oils, exercise caution. Some essential oils can be toxic to cats.
All three veterinarians we consulted do not recommend natural products, which do not work nearly as well as veterinarian-recommended topical and oral flea control products. “They are just not proven to be really effective,” Bourgeois said. “My biggest concern with natural products is, even if they’re safe, if they’re not effective, that’s not helping our pets. I get more concerned about the secondary ramifications for the pet if we’re using something that hasn’t been proven to be effective, versus products that have been proven to be effective and well tolerated.”
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Does Flea Medicine Expire
Flea medications dont arrive with any expiry date. However, they appear stamped with their manufactured date and their effective usage for up to 2 years, in general. Meaning, individuals can still use them, but their potential in killing insects is not so good and reduced. Apart from that, do note to see where such a manufacturing date is present. If it is present on a medications box, then that means no seller should sell it after its expiry date.
What Should I Avoid While Giving Advantage Ii To My Pet
Advantage II is for external use on dogs and puppies 3 lbs or more and 7 weeks or older, cats and kittens 2 lbs or more and 8 weeks or older, or ferrets weighing 1 lb or over and 10 weeks of age or older. This product causes eye irritation in humans and is harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with skin. Call poison control center if swallowed. If on skin, wash with plenty of soap and water. If in eyes, flush with plenty of water.
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Best Flea Comb For Cats: Safari Flea Comb With A Double Row Of Teeth
This combs two rows of fine teeth will help you to thoroughly go through your cats coat, removing flea dirt and fleas from their body.
The fine teeth effectively grab and remove fleas. Remember that theres no way that this comb can trap the fleas permanently, so youll still need to immediately dunk them in soapy water.
Why You Should Trust Me
As Wirecutters pets writer, Ive covered everything from essential oil myths to how to get rid of fleas. Im also a lifelong pet owner and a shelter volunteer with over a decade of experience whos dealt with her share of pets with fleas, ticks, and other pests.
For this guide, I spoke with six professionals, from veterinarians to pesticide experts, about how to select the best flea and tick treatment for your pet. I spoke with Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist at the National Pesticide Information Center, and Ken Labbe, a spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about pesticide regulation. I consulted Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, about how to select the appropriate medication for your pet. I asked Dr. Tierra Price, a spay-neuter surgeon and founder of the BlackDVM Network, and Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer at , about their favorite flea and tick medications. And I discussed product safety with Dr. Tina Wismer, senior director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
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Advecta Plus Flea Squeeze
- Fragrance-free
- Easy to apply
Apart from all those regular medications for getting rid of fleas, this one kills in just 12 hours after applying. Advectas Plus flea treatment kills not only fleas but also eggs and larvae effectively. Thus, it helps to break the cycle completely and prevents re-infestation of fleas in felines. Being a cheap flea medicine for cats, it has active ingredients as pyriproxyfen & imidacloprid. These ingredients arrive formulated in many top flea and tick medicines, making this suitable for the best results. All in all, this one offers high-quality results without any compromise.
Advecta flea medication is efficient in preventing reinfestation for up to 4-months. Individuals can apply the pet flea and tick control treatment on their paw mates with great comfort. Besides, it comes as a topical solution without being harmful to animals in any way. This flea therapy is waterproof and free from fragrance, thus catering to its use without any side effects. Since it does not require any efforts in killing fleas, it becomes an easy-to-use product apart from causing no harm. Also, it is available at a reasonable price.
Why Does My Dog Need Flea And Tick Control
While trying to decide whether flea and tick pills are right for you, you might have wondered whether parasite control is even necessary at all. As we mentioned in the introduction, fleas and ticks are found nearly everywhere and almost all dogs will be exposed. Once infested with fleas, your dog can pass them to other pets or you.
Dealing with a flea infestation in your home can be expensive, frustrating, and extremely itchy! Keeping fleas away from your dog in the first place is much easier.
Fleas can also spread diseases, not just to your dog but to you as well. Have you ever heard of the Black Death bubonic plague from medieval times? Guess what pesky little bloodsuckers were responsible for spreading that one? Dogs can also get tapeworms, an intestinal parasite, from swallowing infected fleas.
In severe cases, a dog can be so heavily infested with fleas that they become anemic from blood loss.
Ticks are responsible for spreading diseases as well, the most well-known of which is probably Lyme disease. Tick-borne illnesses can be tough to diagnose, expensive to treat, and may ultimately prove fatal.
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The 3 Month Flea Pill
Bravecto flea pills for dogs and cats is a relatively new product. It is the only pill that works for 12 weeks, which means after a single dose, your pet will be safe from fleas and ticks for 3 months. Unfortunately this is not available over the counter, so you have to talk to your vet about that first.
I hope you found this guide helpful. If you are ready to try out flea pills, you can .
About the Author
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The Fleas On Your Cats Body Are Just A Symptom Of A Larger Infestation
When you treat your cat for fleas, you need to treat your home and outdoor surroundings as well.
Remember that fleas lay their eggs in crevices and corners throughout the house. These eggs and the larvae that hatch from them may lurk in your bedding, around cushions, deep in the carpeting, and in curtains. Theyll be particularly prominent in your cats beds, trees, and in any cat-specific living areas.
Heres a helpful video sharing advice for those who need to eliminate the fleas in their home:
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Frontline Plus For Dogs And Cats
A topical version of Frontline®, this formula will repel fleas and other pests at all life stages for a full 30 days. This helps to prevent re-infestation and keep your home clear of fleas for a month at a time. Like other Frontline® products, it is free of potentially harmful insecticides and water-resistant.
Tips For Giving Your Cat Pills Or Tablets
Unless recommended by your vet, you should never grind or crush pills before giving them to your cat. Ground pills can taste bitter, which means that your cat will be able to tell there is something alien in their food. It also means that your cat may not get all of the medication. Instead, try the following tips to help get tablets down your cats throat.
1 Protect Yourself
Learn how to wrap your cat in a towel, like a baby in swaddling clothes. The towel will prevent your cat from being able to use their feet and claws. It can save your arm and it means that your cat wont be able to get away until you want them to.
2 Use A Pill Popper
A pill popper looks like a syringe. You pop the pill in the end, which goes towards the cats throat, and then you push the syringe quickly so that the pill hits the cats throat. This will set off your cats gag reflex and cause him or her to swallow. They will probably lick their lips a few times afterward, but the pill should be all the way down by that point.
3 Hide The Tablet in Food
Its an age-old trick, but one that works in most cases. Most of us have tales of cats that could detect pills from ten feet away and avoid even the tastiest treat, or those that eat the treat and spit out the pill. For the most part, however, you can push a tablet into a cat treat and feed it successfully. Always ensure that the food you choose is safe for your cat to eat.
4 Use A Pill Pocket
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Can A Flea Collar Harm Your Cat
The safety of flea and tick collars has been in the news lately, specifically the bestselling Seresto flea and tick collar, which was developed by Bayer and is now sold by Elanco Animal Health. On March 2, 2021, USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting published a report maintaining that the Seresto collar has been linked to thousands of adverse incidents, including pet deaths and incidents of harm to humans.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition in April urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cancel the registration of the Seresto flea and tick collar. A week later, the American Veterinary Medical Association published an article addressing the controversy surrounding the Seresto collar. According to the AVMA, Seresto’s “manufacturer has defended the collars as safe and effective, and veterinary experts say they have seen no cause for alarm.”
Additionally, Elanco published a statement on its website calling the media coverage “misleading” and stating that the company stands by the product. “All data and scientific evaluation used during the product registration process and through Elanco’s robust pharmacovigilance review supports the product’s safety profile and efficacy,” the statement reads.
What To Look For In Oral Flea Treatments For Cats
Its unfortunate that pet product manufacturers make more edible flea treatments for dogs than cats, but the market for dog products is much larger than it is for cats. Flea tablets for canines are more profitable and popular because dogs are more willing to consume or swallow pills than felines. Although you can use a multitude of topical treatments for cats, there are some advantages to using an edible tablet.
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Buying Guide For Best Cat Flea And Tick Medication
Warm weather may bring an explosion in the flea and tick population outside, but the bugs can survive and thrive year-round inside your house, where its warm and toasty. So, while your cat is more likely to get attacked by fleas and ticks in the spring and summer, they can actually be plagued by these little pests any time of year.
When that happens, you need to get the right medication for your cat or cats. No two cats are the same, and what works for one wont necessarily be right for another. An important tip: only give your cat flea and tick medication that is specifically designed for cats. Giving a cat medicine for a dog could be fatal.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a flea and tick medication for your furry friend. For example, youll need to decide whether to go the oral route or the topical route. You also need to know what kind of adverse reactions to watch for. Choosing a flea and tick medication for your beloved pet can be a bit daunting, but weve done the legwork so you can easily determine the best course of treatment for your fluffy friend.
Comfortis Chewable Tablets Best Overall
Comfortis Chewable Tablets are designed to be palatable. They are chewable and easy to handle, and they are designed for small breed dogs as well as cats. Comfortis claims that their flea treatment kills fleas and prevents reinfestation for a period of up to a month, which is about average. The tablets are meant to be given with food. This not only helps ensure better delivery of the ingredients, it can also help prevent your cat from vomiting the tablet back up.
The Comfortis Chewable tablets are strong and, as a result, some cats struggle to keep the tablets down after swallowing. Some owners have found that the best solution is to break the large tablets in half and feed them a few hours apart. The size of the tablet can also be an issue, as some cats will not be able to swallow it whole.
To conclude, we think the Comfortis chewable tablets are the best oral flea treatments for cats this year.
- Doesnt work on eggs or larvae
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Pills Vs Topical Vs Collars
Now that we have your attention regarding the need for flea and tick control, lets talk more about the pros and cons of the most commonly used methods.
Flea And Tick Collars
For many years, collars were about the only options if you wanted a long-lasting flea and tick control method. They are still one of the cheapest options, especially if you use a collar purchased over the counter. Flea and tick collars can be effective but must be correctly fitted around your dogs neck to work properly. In addition, they usually lose their effectiveness if they get wet. Not all collars are created equal, and those who opt for the over-the-counter option may not be pleased with the results.
Topical Products
Flea and tick products applied to the skin are another option you could choose. These types of products have also been in use for a long time, so long that some fleas and ticks are becoming resistant to their active ingredients.
While their specifications vary, many topical products not only kill fleas and ticks but actively repel them away from your dog. Because of this, they are a good choice for dogs with flea allergies who break out at even the slightest touch of a flea.
Pills