External parasites represent a considerable risk to the health of cats. Indeed, many cats develop severe dermatological disorders (intense itching, loss of hair, scabs, infections, etc.) related to allergies due to flea bites. Indeed, the saliva of fleas is very allergenic and, in sensitized cats, a single bite can cause catastrophic reactions. In addition, some intestinal worms are transmitted by fleas. This is why it is essential to protect cats by giving them regular antiparasitic treatment. In addition, most of these treatments are also effective against ticks or scabies.

The vast majority of anti-fleas proven to be effective are insecticides since their purpose is to kill fleas. However, these drugs can only be authorized if their safety has been demonstrated (ie the absence of harmful effects on cats and humans in contact with them). There are two main different modes of action: 

• either a local action with a product toxic to fleas which spreads and persists on the surface of the skin;
• or a so-called systemic action with passage through the blood. Among the drugs with systemic action, there are insecticides or a particular product (lufenuron) which has no effect on the life of adult fleas, responsible for bites, but blocks their reproductive cycle by making the flea eggs and larvae not viable.

Cats are sometimes complicated to care for. Some people do not tolerate restraint (holding them firmly), others refuse to swallow the tablets. Also, it is important to choose the most suitable shape for your cat.

Pest control pipettes

There are a large number of specialties marketed in the form of pipettes or spot-on to apply in the neck of the cat. The effectiveness of the product depends on the quality of administration. It is essential to part the hair well to draw a line of bare skin, between the shoulder blades, at the base of the neck. The product must then be deposited in contact with the skin. If the quantity of product is too large, another line can be drawn, next to it, in order to prevent the excess product from going into the hairs and therefore being inactive. Localization is recommended to limit licking, but medications are designed not to be harmful if the cat manages to lick a small amount. This can then cause excessive salivation for a few minutes. Among these drugs, some will spread all over the cat’s body. They will persist, for the most part, for a month. In this case, it is important to limit the baths so as not to rinse the product. Others will pass through the skin and join the bloodstream. The duration of action of these products varies between 1 and 3 months, depending on the brand.

Antiparasitics in tablet form

More and more antiparasitics are marketed in the form of tablets. Some are palatable, like candy. They should generally be taken with a meal. They can therefore be crushed with a small amount of food (mash, bites, cottage cheese, etc.) or placed directly at the bottom of the mouth. If the cat is particularly recalcitrant, there are tools to help with administration (tablet launcher, appetizing bites to coat the tablet). The advantage of these tablets is that there is no loss of active principle (product applied to the hair, swimming, etc.) and they are very effective. They should be administered monthly. Be careful, however, because some are only effective on fleas and not on ticks.

Pest control collar

If you do not want to repeat the administration of the treatment every month (or every 3 months for some drugs), there is an effective collar against fleas between 6 and 8 months. Its mode of action is based on the diffusion of the active principle on the skin and it is also advisable to limit swimming. In addition, this collar is only effective if it is tight enough to be in contact with the skin. To position it correctly, tighten the collar by sliding one or two fingers between the cat’s neck and the collar. It was theoretically designed to unhook under tension and is not believed to present a strangulation hazard, especially for outdoor cats.

Fipronil spray

Finally, for kittens or if you have a large number of cats, fipronil sprays can be an attractive option. The dose can be adjusted with a number of pressures per kilogram of the cat’s weight (for example, one pressure for 500g or 6 pressures for a 3 kg cat).

In some cases, the choice of antiparasitic treatment is of particular importance. On the one hand, this is the case for cats with an allergy to flea bites. In this case, the slightest sting should be avoided. It is therefore necessary to favor the safest drugs, the effectiveness of which does not depend on the quality of administration, such as tablets. They must be given rigorously and very regularly, all year round. This is because fleas are present in winter in regions with mild temperatures and, even during cold winters, they can persist indoors with new hatching of eggs for up to 6 months after laying.

On the other hand, in pregnant or lactating females, certain active ingredients can be toxic to the young. It is therefore preferable to consult your veterinarian so that he can prescribe a suitable medication.

What to remember

In conclusion, there are many medications available to prevent flea infestations in cats. You can therefore choose the most suitable according to your cat, his character and his lifestyle. It is important to treat regularly against fleas, in a preventive way. 

Indeed, in cases of early infestation, fleas are generally not observed because the cat ingests them while grooming (and thus infests itself with intestinal worms transmitted by fleas). So, if you wait to see fleas to treat, the number of parasites in the cat’s environment is already very large. It will then be necessary to treat the cat for several months to hope to clean up the environment, little by little. Finally, be careful with so-called natural treatments, which are often not or not very effective or even sometimes toxic (garlic, in particular). 

In addition, cats are not small dogs: giving a cat dog treatment, even in small amounts, can be life-threatening (especially for treatments containing permethrin). As antiparasitics are medicines in their own right, it is strongly recommended to seek advice from your veterinarian, especially since many of these treatments are subject to prescription.