Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 7/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: I was going to buy Revolution Flea Treatment for my two cats (one inside and one outside), but it seems that it is sold on prescription only.

Is there a product that is as good and that does not require a prescription?

As of now, I cannot afford to take my kitties to the vet to have them checked out before I buy this product.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you so very much in advance for your time.

ANSWER: You're correct that Revolution is prescription only. The reason for this is because it also protects cats from Heartworms and many other parasites, not just fleas.

The only thing on the market that I think you can buy at a pet store that works are VetKem products like Ovitrol spray and the Ovitrol line. They don't make spot ons but they are better as they kill not just the adult fleas but they disrupt the entire flea's life cycle. Your biggest issue with fleas is not the adults but the eggs, larvae and cocoons.

Ovitrol spray will kill the adults and then if you get a room fogger (take the cat out for the day) or a floor spray it will kill the eggs and larvae. The only thing that can't be killed is the cocoons. That is why you have a new hatch of fleas in two weeks after treatments. But then you use the sprays again and it will kill them before they can lay eggs. Ovitrol is an IGR, or insect growth regulator. These are the only products that will really wipe out your fleas.

Here is a page from the Novartis site that tells you all about fleas:

http://www.ah.novartis.com/cab/en/cat_fleas_lifecycle.shtml

I use the spray by spraying a rag and getting it wet then rubbing the cats down with it. My personal favorite for flea control however is Sentinel Flea tabs. They protect my cat from fleas and heartworms. I have been using Sentinel for my dogs and cats since 1998 and I have zero fleas on my two acres. Even with the deer, possums, squirrels, skunks and other flea-laden critters coming through I still have no fleas on my pets. Of course it is a prescription but well worth the cost.

Good luck and please do NOT use the flea spot-ons at the store. They do NOT work and can cause severe to fatal reactions. Believe me, we have seen plenty of them!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so very much for taking the time to give me such a detailed answer.

I do have one more question.

Is Ovitrol safe if ingested? Both my cats and dogs lick themselves.

Thank you again.

Answer
Most cats and dogs don't lick Ovitrol because it tastes pretty gross. Cats are more likely to lick it off and will foam at the mouth from the taste- which is more an emotional response than the alcohol doing it. It's in an alcohol base.

We have never had an animal get sick from it- except the cat or two that foamed from the smell or taste.

The ingredient itself, the IGR is safe for cats and dogs both. It only affect insects with hard shells like fleas but it can harm ladybugs, so be careful where you use it.