Are these flea/ tick medicines safe and effective?

aristotle

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*Please move this thread if it's in the wrong forum. I didn't know whether to put it in health, care, or stray cats forum. :p*

So, a stray came up to our house wanting food and petting (which we gave it), and now it's decided to stick around a while. :p I'm currently feeding it 4Health no-grain cat food which it seems to like. Anyways, if it sticks around for a bit longer, I've decided (as a step before taking it to the vet) to buy him some flea/ tick medicine. Oh, and I'm talking about the gel/ liquid kind that is applied to the back of the neck, not the collars or sprays. Anyways, I stayed away from Hartz Adams, and Sergeants brand due to hearing so many bad things about them. I've limited it down to Frontline, Advantage, or PetArmor. The first two is $40-$50 and the latter is about $25. I was unsure about which to get, and where's a better place to ask than a forum full of cat gurus? :D Thanks for reading! :)

Fyi, if you all haven't heard about PetArmor before (which I'm sure you have), here's a link to the product. http://www.walmart.com/ip/19714748?...23111590&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34189507390&veh=sem

Thanks :)
 

otto

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Yes, those are safe, but I'd skip the Pet Armor and go with frontline plus or the advantage multi.

Hurray for you for caring about the kitty! :clap:
 
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aristotle

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Thank you, Otto!
 I just can't help myself when it comes to friendly kitties.
 Definitely this one since the only one we have indoors tries to bite me half the time I try to pet it. She only likes my mother.
 Anyways, any other feedback is appreciated! Thanks! :)
 
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aristotle

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Does anyone know if Frontline or Advantage repels mosquitos, too? I don't remember the box saying they did. I've noticed the pesky bugs seem to enjoy landing on him more than me.
 

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Revolution will get rid of heart worms, which are caused by mosquitoes. I'm not sure about Advantage or Frontline preventing heart worms. The last time I checked... They do not.

Here, I googled "heartworm preventative comparison" and this came up: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_heartworm_preventive_compariso.html

Seems like Advantage Multi does prevent heart worms. 
 
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aristotle

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aristotle

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It appears Petco and Petsmart in the neighboring towns only sells what the local Walmart sells concerning Advantage meds.
 

peaches08

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I think Revolution is still vet or by script only. I don't know about Advantage Multi.
 
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aristotle

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Ok thanks peaches08, that explains that. :p It turns out that (at least on Petco and Petsmart websites) those stores don't offer Advantage Multi, but on Walmart's website (not in the store, at least not in mine), they DO offer Advantage Multi. They're currently sold out though. I'm going to check at my pet store first, though, and see what they have.
 
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maniacmaddy

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I see my boss's vet as a patient (I clean his teeth!) and I always get his opinion on pet related stuff when he's in my chair, and he said cats aren't known to get lyme disease so ticks aren't as much of an issue as they are for dogs. I believe that's why advantage II doesn't have any tick protection. This vet in particular is very much into feeding wet food only for cats, so I tend to respect his opinion. His office is kinda out of the way for me so that's why I don't use him as my primary practitioner. That, and the awkwardness of him being my patient if something were to go wrong with my animals under his care.
 

kayla13

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My parents were using Frontline and still somehow managed to get their entire basement infested! I suggest NOT getting it from walmart if you're going with Frontline (or any other brand) Being thats where my parents went just to save a few bucks. It may due to how long it sits .. or maybe something else. I don't know. Just be careful!
 

goholistic

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My parents were using Frontline and still somehow managed to get their entire basement infested! I suggest NOT getting it from walmart if you're going with Frontline (or any other brand) Being thats where my parents went just to save a few bucks. It may due to how long it sits .. or maybe something else. I don't know. Just be careful!
Frontline Top Spot for Cats (the cheaper one) only kills live adult fleas and ticks.

Frontline Plus for Cats kills live adult fleas, ticks, flea larvae and flea eggs. Frontline Plus controls all stages of the flea life cycle and aids in better long-term flea control.

Always double check the package to make sure you are buying the one made for cats. Inadvertently putting the dog version on a cat can be fatal.
 
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aristotle

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Thanks maniacmaddy for the info! I never knew cats were less prone to get lyme disease! And thanks for the tips, Kayla13 and GoHolistic!! I've been trying to pay attention to what the meds said they covered. I was going to get Advantage II but it never mentioned anything about worms or ear mites, etc., just fleas. That's why I'm searching for Advantage Multi still. My local Fred's sells Frontline Plus, but the ratings for Advantage products are better than Frontline. Here's three random questions concerning something unusual I've noticed with kitty meds. The Frontline Plus says it covers ticks, but none of the Advantage products say they do. Am I mistaken or is that correct? The Frontline and Advantage brands have products that cover ticks, worms, ear mites, and all stages of fleas, but the cheaper brands such as Hartz say their products repel mosquitos. Why doesn't Advantage and Frontline do that? haha Oh, and this other brand I've mentioned called PetGuard says it prevents chewing lice. Is chewing lice referring to ear mites? I don't remember Advantage Multi saying it prevented 'chewing lice'.
 
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Willowy

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I believe Advantage Multi is prescription-only (in the US all heartworm preventives are prescription meds). The Walmart pharmacy probably has it but you'll need your vet to write you a prescription, or buy it directly from the vet (some vets price match, so make sure you ask!).

The cheaper meds repel mosquitoes because they have pyrethrins. Which are fairly toxic to cats. I wouldn't risk it. Dogs have a higher tolerance.

Frontline, IME, isn't great at killing ticks, but this shouldn't be a huge problem for an indoor cat :).
 
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aristotle

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Thanks for replying, Willowy! :) I remember you helped me with a question like a year and a half ago.
 I'll check with the Walmart pharmacy today (since I work there). :p I plan on calling the vets in town to see what they offer. I didn't know that about the cheaper meds. They should tell you on the package. "For cats but may be fatal"
 Derulo (what I've decided to name him) is strictly outdoor, but, in all honesty, I live in town where we don't really have that many ticks. I've gotten like two ticks off of me from my yard within the past 20 years. I would put him indoor, but that area belongs to our first cat (the one that dislikes me). Does anyone know about the chewing lice = ear mites thing? I appreciate all of your help!
 
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aristotle

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I just called the four local vet offices and none have Advantage Multi.
 They (depending on which one) offer Comfortis, Assurity, Vectra, Frontline Plus and Advantage II. The last two I can buy at grocery stores. One of the ladies that answered said a lot of people call asking for Advantage Multi. :p Update: Just called seven more vet offices in neighboring towns and finally found ONE place that carries it for $15 a dose!
 
 
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angels mommy

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Yes, advantage Multi is prescription only. That's what I used on use on Angel when he used to go outside, because it was also for heartworm. Now, he has been indoor only for a yr. now,  so just gets Heart Guard.
 
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