Is Advantage Bad For Cats?

Advantage is a topical flea prevention. It is 98 percent effective in killing adult and pre-adult fleas within hours, even if only applied to one animal in the household. To ensure your cat's health and safety, there are a few important things you should know about Advantage and the prevention of flea infestation.

  1. Identification

    • Fleas are little biting insects that range in size from flecks of pepper to about 1/8 inch long. They survive by drinking the blood of their host. Only 1 percent of a population of fleas are breeding adults. The rest are eggs, larvae and pupae. Using a topical flea killer like Advantage kills 98 to 100 percent of all adult and pre-adult fleas within 12 hours, even if only one animal in the household is treated. This is because the larvae feed on flea feces, or the dark brown or red flecks of dried blood you see on your cat or its sleeping area.

    Effects

    • Flea infestations can be aggravating for cats and humans alike. Infested animals can develop allergic reactions to flea bites. Fleas can transmit worms and other parasites through their bites. Some cats have been known to lick away all the fur on their backs and tails in an effort to give themselves relief from flea bites. This results in the development of hairballs, as well as skin lesions. Fleas develop quickly under warm conditions, especially when there are multiple animals in the household or when pet sleeping areas are not regularly cleaned and vacuumed. Vacuum bags must be emptied after every use when dealing with a flea infestation, or the fleas will simply hatch inside the machine and migrate out.

    Considerations

    • If you have a multiple-cat household, there is a risk that one cat could ingest Advantage while grooming another. Mother cats can ingest too much Advantage while grooming their kittens. They can also transmit an overdose of Advantage via their milk. For this reason, pregnant or nursing cats and kittens younger than 8 weeks should not be treated with Advantage or any other insecticide. Cats who have overdosed on Advantage may drool, twitch or show signs of muscle weakness, leading to asphyxia and death. According to the Advantage website, however, no adverse effects occurred during testing at up to 5 times the normal dose.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The safest way to keep fleas off your cat is prevention. Keep sleeping areas clean and vacuumed daily, throwing away the bag every time. Use HEPA bags to ensure that all fleas, eggs and larvae are not blown back out into the room by your vacuum cleaner. Treat your pet once every month by squeezing Advantage from the tube between the cat's shoulder blades, behind the neck. Be sure the medicine comes in contact with skin, not just fur. Keep treated pets away from pregnant or nursing pets. Do not allow cats to lick away the medicine when grooming one another. Consult your vet or take your pet to an emergency clinic if you see signs of overdose.

    Potential

    • Keeping your pet free of fleas is a vital step in disease prevention, especially the prevention of hookworm, roundworm and flatworm infestations. Some types of worms, such as roundworms, can infest humans as well as animals. Worm infestations can cause weight gain, lethargy, diarrhea, heart arrhythmia, asthma, dehydration and eventual death from malnutrition.