Flea Collars

Both my cats currently wear flea collars and are due for new ones. They are indoor cats. They NEVER go outdoors with the exception of their vet visits and the last one for both of them was back in July.

Is it really necessary for them to wear them?

Thanks!

I wouldn't use a flea collar on my cats even if they were ourdoor cats. The risks far outway the benefits.

They work by releasing a gas into the bloodstream, and this can cause illness in cats. I would put on a *normal* collar, and put a flea collar chopped up into your vacuum, that way the gas will be released into the vacuum and kill fleas that get sucked up. Flea collars aren't that effective anyway, you are better off treating them with frontline or similar during flea season.
You'll probably get a similar answer from others here to.

Thanks, I never realised that about the gases. I did just recently see the idea about putting the flea collar in the vacuum (Kim & Aggie ~ How Clean is your House?) but she didn't chop it up, she just put it in there whole.

They were both treated with Frontline prior to us getting them in May. We got them flea collars as an extra precaution because we had planned on letting them go out. Now we've decided not to do that and just let them be house cats. We have enough cats that wander around the neighbourhood.

That's a good idea in my book, my adult cat was recently runover, it's heartbreaking.

Some people don't use collars at all here, sometimes it can cause balding around the neck, but that's your choice. My two wear collars. As much as you intend not to let tham out, it's still best to get them microchipped *just in case*. I would treat them with frontline again soon, and then leave it for the winter. Start again around March/April. You can get household sprays and stuff quite cheap if you want to do your home over the flea-season too.

If you have a bagless vacuum with a filter up the middle, wrap the flea collar around it backwards, so's that the *fluffy* bit is facing outwards.

They are both micro-chipped and neutered (they were rescue cats) so I don't have to worry about that part. I'm sorry that you lost your baby. It is heartbreaking as they become part of the family.

I have a canister vacuum so I was wondering how that would work.

Thank you for your suggestions.

There are documented cats of becoming very ill from wearing flea collars. Remove them and use Advantage or Frontline instead. It is far safer for them.

Flea collars are dangerous and not very effective. We always had fleas when using flea collars. No matter what we did to get rid of them there were constant large numbers of them. After using advantage we never had fleas again so long as we didn't miss a dose. The collars are also quite toxic and actually much more likely to cause side effects and illnesses than preventatives like frontline and advantage. Since these medications came out there is no reason to use flea collars. As far as I'm concerned the things shouldn't even be sold anymore.

i agree, i will only use frontline. i live an area with a huge deer tick population so i cannot be a day late putting it during the summer.

I agree about the flea collars, don't use them. My indoor kitty isn't on any type of flea control. I feel it is safer for her, plus, she is a Sphynx so flea control is a not good for her.

Instead of flea collars, what about using a flea control like frontline or advantage???


Valerie

I didn't realise this, but my husband said their collars are treated with Frontline. Would that make any difference?

I still wouldn't use them, even if they were???????? If they were treated with fronline, you would only be able to buy them from the vet, as it is precription medical treatment. You wouldn't be able to get them from any pet-shop.

It only cost about £15 for All-In-One Frontline Spot on for 3 doses. It would cost you more with decent flea collars when your suposed to change them. It would cost you about £30 for the entire summer for your cats.

My cat also needs a flea collar what do you think is the best?

Please, never, ever use flea collars. There have been some instances of flea collars causing death to cats. Please contact your vet for safe flea medication. Also, if you are concerned that fleas are in your house, sprinkle your carpeting/upholstery with diatomaceous earth (food grade) which is safe for your animals. Borax is NOT safe for your animals.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Please, never, ever use flea collars. There have been some instances of flea collars causing death to cats. Please contact your vet for safe flea medication. Also, if you are concerned that fleas are in your house, sprinkle your carpeting/upholstery with diatomaceous earth (food grade) which is safe for your animals. Borax is NOT safe for your animals.

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DItto

also for those with dogs the same applies ... and flea collars only protect up to 2 inches each side of collar so why risk it

food grade is often in the "garden " section NEVER in the pool section... if ingested it s worst thing is it could worm the animals