Flea tablets for cats - an effective solution to combat parasites

Today we propose to pay attention to methods of combating insects that parasitize pets. This article will discuss various remedies: tablets against ticks and other parasites for cats and Comfortis dogs, drops on the withers, folk remedies, etc. Along the way, we will familiarize you with the instructions for using each drug and precautions for use.

How do flea tablets for cats work?

Flea tablets are a new word in veterinary medicine.
They have the following mechanism of action: the drug is absorbed through the intestinal mucosa and penetrates the systemic bloodstream. When the parasite feeds on the animal's blood, it absorbs the insecticide and dies. The drugs kill both larvae and adults.

There are tablets that only act against fleas (for example, Comfortis), and there are products that fight both fleas and ticks (such as Frontline Nexgard, Bravecto,

Features of the insect

There are different types of fleas, and the choice of remedy depends on what type of insect you encounter. They are divided into:

• Mouse and rat;
• Dogs and cats;
• Sandy;
• Basement, earthen;
• Bedding.

We are interested in cat fleas. How are they different from others, what do they look like? Body length usually ranges between two and five millimeters. The exception is the fertilized female, its length can reach 15 mm. The dark brown body of the insect is densely covered with bristles, which make it easy to move along the animal’s fur.

The main difference between a cat flea and a dog or rat flea is the flattened forehead and close-set eyes.

Why are fleas dangerous?

The main danger of fleas is not the inconvenience it brings to the animal, but the spread of infections. With its bites, a flea can transmit more than 200 types of dangerous diseases. Some of them are dangerous, including for people.
That is why you need to start fighting as soon as possible. The earlier you identify the parasite, the greater the chances of dealing with it with little blood.

Symptoms of infection

It is quite difficult to miss the moment of flea infestation: the animal immediately begins to show anxiety and itch. Swelling and red blisters appear at the bite sites. It’s easy to identify an infestation—just part the animal’s fur and carefully examine the skin. You can also find larvae when combing your pet.

Advantages and disadvantages of using this tool

This method of getting rid of parasites has several advantages:

• High efficiency and speed of action - the drugs completely destroy insects, the result is visible within a few days after the first use;
• Safety (in the absence of contraindications);
• It is allowed to be used for skin diseases, wounds, etc., when other means are contraindicated;
• Easy to use. As a rule, the tablets have meat flavorings that attract animals.

But there are also some disadvantages:

• Possible individual intolerance;
• There are contraindications; it cannot be used for kittens and elderly animals, as well as for pregnant and lactating cats;
• Quite a high cost.

What are there

Blood-sucking parasites cause itching and transmit dangerous diseases (encephalitis, piroplasmosis). Preventive protection and treatment are carried out with drugs contained in different forms:

1. Shampoos – remove insects, not suitable for long-term use.
2. Collars - contain natural essential oils (repel), chemicals (gradually released, accumulate on the surface).
3. Drops - applied to hard-to-reach places (withers, between the shoulder blades, back of the head), are not absorbed into the blood, accumulate in the sebaceous glands, and paralyze.
4. Tablets - have an attractive smell, taste, substances are absorbed and distributed throughout the body.
5. Spray - sprayed over the entire surface, it takes time for the fur to dry, it can scare away and paralyze.
6. Injections, injections - used in case of severe infection, lack of effect after other types.

For lactating and pregnant animals, products based on herbs and essential oils are suitable.

Sprays are convenient for treating rooms, bedding, and kennels.

Instructions for use

The tablets are intended for oral use and are available in various dosages. The required dose of medication is calculated for the animal individually, strictly in accordance with its weight.

Attention!

It is not recommended to exceed the dose, as side effects are possible.

For example, here is a table of dosages depending on weight for the most popular drug - Comfortis.

The tablet is given in its pure form before or after meals. Meat flavorings are usually added to preparations.

Comparison table of characteristics

In order to compare the products presented, we recommend that you study the following table:

Possible side effects and contraindications

Usually the tablets are well tolerated by animals; side effects are possible in case of individual intolerance or the dose is exceeded. Manifest in the form:

• decreased activity, lethargy, apathy;
• Digestive problems - loss of appetite, vomiting or nausea.

In general, these drugs are safe for pets, but there are still some contraindications:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• systemic diseases;
• weakened body, old age;
• age up to four months;
• pathology of the nervous system, epilepsy;
• simultaneous use of other medications (in some cases, consultation with a veterinarian is required for clarification).

Prevention measures

To prevent a cat from becoming infected with fleas, preventive measures are needed:

• regularly carry out wet cleaning, thoroughly vacuum furniture and carpets;
• treat animal bedding and toys with disinfectants;
• limit the interaction of cats with street animals;
• periodically bathe the cat with a special shampoo;
• You can place herbs near the pet’s place: wormwood, sage, chamomile;
• use a collar or drops for preventive purposes in the summer, when the pet is taken to the countryside or into nature.

Fleas on cats are a common and unpleasant occurrence. But don’t panic, they are easy to get rid of with the help of special means. If you use them according to the instructions and follow the advice of the veterinarian, your pet will be healthy.

The most popular products: review and reviews

Comfortis

One of the best and most popular means for combating blood-sucking insects in cats is the drug Comfortis.

The active ingredient is spinosad. The drug is absorbed and enters the blood, and fleas that feast on the blood die from paralysis.

Additionally, flavoring additives are used so that there is no difficulty in giving the tablet to the cat. Its highest concentration in the cat’s body is achieved in 4-12 hours.

It is eliminated from the body naturally in a couple of days. The dosage varies and is selected according to the weight of the pet. The medicine has passed clinical trials.

Advantages of the drug:

• High efficiency and speed of action;
• Convenience and ease of use;
• Safety (however, contraindications must be taken into account).

Flaws:

• High price;
• Does not affect ticks, only fleas;
• Not sold everywhere.

Owner reviews:

• “I have a very sensitive cat, he is allergic to many medications. That's why I was wary when the veterinarian prescribed Comfortis for fleas. I was afraid that I would vomit. But there were no side effects, and the result was impressive. This medicine saved my pet from fleas. His health and appearance improved. A very good drug!”
• “In my review, I want to say that Comfortis is an ideal option for ridding cats of fleas. Collars are mainly suitable for prevention; shampoos only work for the first few days. The drops are also effective, but my cats are constantly trying to lick them off each other.”
• “Only the pills helped. True, after the first dose there was vomiting, but then everything was restored. You can forget about fleas for a whole month, or even more, if you give your pet Comfortis. Unfortunately, the drug is quite expensive. But the result is worth it."

Capstar

Capstar is a safe and effective product. The manufacturer has been on the market for 10 years and has proven itself well.

These are chewable tablets whose active ingredient is nitenpyram, which causes paralysis in parasites.

The action begins within 20 minutes after administration. The maximum amount of the drug accumulates in the blood 2-4 hours after treatment.

It is eliminated from the body within a day. The minimum dose is 1 milligram per 1 kilogram of weight.

Unlike other similar products, Tsapstar can be given even to pregnant and lactating cats, as well as kittens older than one month. No side effects were detected by laboratory tests.

Important!

It should be noted that the substance is active against adult fleas, so repeated treatment may be required after new fleas emerge from the larvae.

Owner reviews:

• “My cat had an allergic reaction to many of the tablets. But Tsapstar did not give any side effects. Super drug! The only thing is that it is quite difficult to find. I recommend."
• “My cats are becoming allergic to many topical flea treatments. Sphynx cats are very sensitive to skin treatment, but fleas gnaw on them no less than fluffy ones. So I had to give my girls flea tablets. The result pleased me - the parasites simply fell off.”

Nexgard

Nexgard is a broad-spectrum product from Frontline designed to treat fleas, ticks and allergic dermatitis caused by parasites.

This drug can also be used to combat internal parasites. The active component of this medicine is afoxolaner.

Flavorings are also added to the composition, so the tablet can be easily given to your pet; he will perceive it as a treat. The tablet can be given either with food or separately. Available in various dosages.

This drug should not be used in animals weighing up to 2 kg and under 2 months of age.

“I learned about flea tablets from a doctor, but he immediately warned that it would be difficult to find them. I found it, bought it, and fed it to my cat. The fleas got rid of instantly and there were no side effects. So I’m happy with the tablets.”

Important!

Before giving the drug to your cat, you should consult your doctor.

Bravecto

This drug is effective against fleas and ticks, but at the moment it is produced only for dogs, it cannot be given to cats. Perhaps in the future the manufacturer will take care of cats.

How to treat bedding, carpets, furniture?

It is convenient to use sprays and aerosols to treat the room. Use a spray bottle to spray the cat's bed, corners of the room and all places where the cat could leave fleas. Bedding and clothes are thoroughly washed at the highest temperatures; if the fabric allows, they are boiled.

In a cat's house or box, you can put a sachet with aromatic herbs that repel insects: wormwood, geranium, lavender. If the cat was bathed in a decoction of wormwood or hellebore water, then you can wash the floors and walls with these liquids, and wash home rugs in them. Essential oils of geranium, eucalyptus, cedar, and lemon repel ectoparasites. You can spray the corners of rooms and furniture with them.

Operating principle

The tablets enter the gastrointestinal tract along with food intake. Through the mucous membranes of the stomach walls, the active substance enters the bloodstream after 2-3 hours and begins to function. The insect, sucking blood, receives a dose of nerve poison. As a result, the parasite's connections in the transmission of nerve impulses are disrupted, causing paralysis, leading to death.

That is, the death of a tick occurs when a dog is bitten by a parasite; the insect does not have time to attach itself, which completely eliminates intoxication and the risk of infection.

The medicine is excreted naturally (with feces, urine, bile). The half-life is usually about 2 weeks.

Purpose

Anti-tick tablets for dogs are used for both prevention and treatment:

• acarosis caused by ixodid, sarcoptoid, psoroptoid and demodectic mites (more than 20 varieties);
• entomosis caused by fleas;
• from intestinal parasites (helminths, nematodes, microfilariae, etc.).

Prescription of anti-tick tablets for dogs

Risk factors

With the onset of spring, blood-sucking insects become more active. Among the most dangerous are ticks, the bite of which leads to serious health consequences and sometimes death. The high activity of ticks in the warm season is explained by the peculiarities of their life cycle and reproduction.

The following types of ticks are common in dogs:

• Ixodes tick (ticks of the genus Ixodes carry many infectious diseases, including Babesiosis);
• Scabies mite (mites of the genus Sarcoptes scabiei form “burrows” in the skin of pets, most often inhabiting less hairy parts of the body)
• Subcutaneous mite (Demodex mites grow excessively inside the hair follicle, leading to baldness and purulent skin lesions);
• Ear mites (mites of the genus Otodectes cynotis are the cause of otitis externa).

Types of ticks dangerous to dogs - risk factors and symptoms
Parasites live outside and inside dogs and usually go unnoticed by owners. There are many types of ticks, fleas and worms that are dangerous to dogs. These parasites have one thing in common - sooner or later their presence can lead to health problems or discomfort. In addition to dogs, many parasites can also harm their owners, especially children.