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Could a flea collar be poisoning my cat? He's vomiting and quiet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Male | neutered | 11 lbs

A few weeks after adopting my +-5year old cat, I put a flea collar on him as he was constantly itching. The product I used had the active ingredient S-methoprene tetrachlovinphos. A few weeks ago he started vomiting up his food, then wouldn't eat for a few days, and his behavior altered to extremely quiet. I took the collar off. Within a couple days he gradually improved and last few weeks he's completely back to normal, including itching. Could the collar have been poisoning him or coincidence?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 29th, 2018

These flea collars are extremely toxic and one should not use them anymore. Tetrachlorvinphos toxic to the nervous system and likely to cause cancer. The collar could indeed have caused these signs in your kitty. There are quite a few flea and tick medications on the market, such as spot-ons that are not detrimental to the health of your cat.

Here are safe flea products:
Spot-ons and/or chews
Advantage, Advantix
Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK)
Frontline (ticks as well)
Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats,
Simparica, Nexgard
Revolution (stronghold in the UK)
Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once)

Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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