Other options for flea control

[Sootyca]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Not sure what to go with yet - will look into them all.  She has finally forgiven me....she still flinches away from me at first as if expecting something bad to happen but then is quite affectionate when she realises nothing has happened.  I do think that the Frontline has caused her some pain rather than it being a sulky reaction (as good as she is at sulking!) so will definitely get something different.

Thanks again,

Karen

[clarenmax]

I use Advantage from the vets on Max, but has the same reaction, running off and sulking for hours, even when I've warmed it up, so I think it must either feel weird going on their skin, or smells really vile to their delicate little noses   

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Advocate is a really good prodcuct. It does fleas as well as most worms at the same time. I'm not 100% sure if it does ticks as well as fleas but it depends on your location as to whether that'd be an issue anyway. Check with your vet- most vets seem to be recommending it at the mo (So I am told at CP).

[Liz]

Ours get one lot of Program with their annual boosters and the other in 6 months

It is worth the cost for us as the majority of ours are ferals and it makes it asier - take them to the vet and all bar Sabrina, Pebbles and Storm are in normal boxes and even let the vet look at their teeth - more than we get at home!

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

My tortie is OTT with anything but when I try to be calm enough to try and catch her she gets stronghold!

[Millys Mum]

My torti is also OTT with frontline 

[Mark]

You could always warm the pipette in your hand for a few minutes.

[Sootyca]

Thanks for that.

I think with Robbie it is probably the cold - that was the first thing that came to mind.  It's Lilly's reaction that has been so out of character - she's a typical tortie and treats most of what I do with absolute disdain if things don't go her way but her reaction looked pain/fear based rather than cold.  She's still out and nowhere to be seen which isn't unusual for her - as long as she comes in at normal time I'll know we're forgiven!

As far as I know neither have an allergy to flea bites but will definitely have a chat with the vets and see what to do for the next application time!  Frontline is definitely not being used on either of them again though!   I'll have to weigh up the pros and cons of the vet trips for flea injections - Robbie gets so stressed going to the vets so it may not be fair on him to put him through that.  Lilly is much more easy going so would be a lot easier to sort out at the vets.  Can they have the injections at the same time as boosters or has it to be done on different days?

Thanks again,

Karen

[Liz]

The3 Clan cats are all on the injectable Program - basically one injection every 6 months about £30.00 per cat per injection and we have had no adverse reactions from any of our lot - and it also means they get a "second" health check in the year.

We have had no flea problems since using this - dogs are on the tablet form once a month so it works for us

[MrsR]

Definately talk to your vet hun, anything worth getting that actually works is only from your vets.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Think you need to talk to your vet and get them examined to see if it has caused a problem.

Frontline and others are in a base that is cold and its the cold touching there skin which makes them think they have had something terrible happen too them. If no harm has been done it helps to hold the pippette in you warm hand for a while before applying.

There are other spot ons from the vet and also injectable programme but it works in a different way so if a cat has an allergy to flea bites it is no good.

[Sootyca]

Just Frontlined Robbie (yesterday) and Lilly (today) and both seem to have had a reaction of some sorts to it.  Both have been Frontlined before with no problems and it is the same batch as the last lot they had.

Robbie is normally bomb proof with everything I do to him (defleeing, worming etc...nothing bad!) but he was desperate to get away after having the frontline applied so I suspect it may have bothered him somehow.  This has been nothing compared to Lilly.

Lilly has scared me completely!  As soon as she was let go she fled and was running round like her tail was on fire.  She wouldn't come near me and cowers away if I approach her - she has always been the confident, non-scared one.  She has had frontline before and acted like it was burning last time but I put that down to how we applied it as she moved when it was being applied and may have gone where it shouldn't have done - we cleaned it off her at the time and she recovered fine from it.  This time it was a perfect application but her behaviour following it has been heartbreaking - she looks at us like we have really hurt her.

Robbie is fine today but Lilly has made a great escape out the door for freedom - never seen her move as quickly! 

Anyway, no more Frontline for either of them - but what other options are there?  I seem to remember having one of my other cats injected - and I'm sure it lasted 12 months but looking around on the internet they only seem to be 6 months.  I am loathe to use any other spot-on treatments now but obviously need to keep them both flea-free.

Anyone any opinions on different products that I can use?

Thanks in advance,

Karen