Expert: Norman Auspitz - 10/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: Family members are getting bit.  What products are best to be using.  Frontline, Advantage or Capstar?  I hear so many opinions on each that I dont know which to pick.  Also, what do you treat the house with? A spray? Powder? Also what brand if you know which works better.  

Any additional information will be appreciated.

ANSWER: Matt,

Remember, I am not a vet, so I would, of course, discuss this with your vet.  We have used Frontline+, but are going to have to switch. In 15 years the vets in the county where I live have used Frontline or Frontline+ exclusively and seemed to have inadvertently bred Frontline+ resistant fleas around here.  So, we are considering Revolution, instead.

Capstar appears to be great if you think your cat has picked up fleas from somewhere else as a one time treatment to kill the fleas currently on the cat, but I have doubts about it as a long term treatment.

In addition to the topical treatment, you will need to bomb your house.  Of course, if the cats go out and are bringing them in from out of doors, you have a problem virtually untreatable except by something topical and longer lasting.

One more thing, if they have fleas, assume they have tape worm and, once the fleas are under control, they should be wormed specifically for tape worm.

Best regards... Norm.



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

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply.  We don't have Revolution here, and I have never heard of it either.  Our cat is a house cat, but I believe she acquired fleas because she sometimes darts outside when given a chance.  What are you views about Advantage?  Also about bombing the house, does that mean treating the whole house? And with what product?


Answer
Matt,

You should be able to get revolution off the Internet.  I have never used Advantage, but you could check with your vet to make sure the ingredients are not the same as Frontline+.  Frontline+ works in many locales unless it has been overused.  So you can check with your vet on that one too.  We have usually bought our flea bombs from the vet, so, if your vet does not sell it, maybe they could recommend what and where you can buy it.

Anywhere the cat sleeps will have to be bombed.  Fleas can live in furniture and bedding for a very long time without an animal host, so, bombing is a very wise idea.  I would avoid pet shops or pet supermarkets for buying anti flea stuff as there have been some problems with the products they sell for cats!

One more item,  whatever you use MUST NOT have Durstban <sp?> which is good for dogs but very harmful to cats!!!!!!!!!

Best regards... Norm