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Is it safe to use flea bath concentrate on cats that lick themselves?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed

Hello! I bought a flea concentrate in which solution I'm supposed to bathe my 2 cats but I'm afraid to use it on them (3 and 9 years old) because they lick themselves and each other all the time. The product is NEOSTOMOSAN and is for use on animals but says EXTERNAL USE ONLY. Is it safe to do so or do I better find another way to deal with the stubborn fleas? Thank you in advance for your answer.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Kevin Sanada, DVM

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 22nd, 2017

I worry about this product, because it contains a pesticide that can be toxic if used in too high of a concentration.

However, the way this is meant to be used is more like a bathing product. It should be diluted per the manufacturer's directions and then the cats should be bathed per the directions. After the bath, the solution should be thoroughly rinsed and is not meant to stay on the skin, so there should be no concern of them licking it.

I prefer other products for controlling fleas though, because this one would have to be repeated. Other products like spot-ons (i.e. Frontline, Revolution) or tablets (i.e. capstar) will control the fleas for an entire month.

Treating for fleas is not just restricted to the host, because fleas can reproduce and nest in the environment and continually cause an issue. Below is a link to a short article that explains treating the cats and environment for fleas:

https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/

I hope that helps and the kitties get better soon.
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