My cat has fleas and bloody scabs. What's the safest treatment?

Flea treatment shouldn't cause too much more irritation to the skin, especially since it is mostly given just at the base of the head and no where else, if properly administered. I would recommend Revolution topical (Rx), because in my opinion it is the most effective and reliable treatment for fleas in cats. If Oliver has an overabundance of fleas on him and you need extra protection, then I would recommend giving him a Capstar (Nitenpyram) tablet 1 hr before applying the Revolution as a fast acting flea killer to reduce the flea load. Capstar kills all fleas on pets within 45 minutes after giving, then the Revolution is there to prevent further fleas from bothering him.

I am sorry to hear of the flea issues you are experiencing. That is certainly an unusual response to Capstar and it would be worth reporting this to the veterinarian that you purchased it from. You are right not to put the advantage onto the scabby skin, it could worsen the irritation. A safe way of helping to remove some of the fleas is to give your kitty a bath with blue dawn dishwashing detergent. Whilst it has no protective effects it is safe and gentle to use. Capstar is only one effective for about 24 hours so it may actually have worked, it just isn't helping longer term. Environmental treatment for fleas is always very important too. Wash all of your cat's bedding and any blankets etc that she likes to sleep on. Your own bedding too if she is frequently on your bed. Consider steam cleaning all carpets and rugs in the house, and any fabric furniture too (like couches and chairs). You may need to resort to a 'flea bomb' product or call an exterminator if the problem is not easily controlled. You can also look on your cat's body to see if there is an area of skin that is NOT scabby, where you could maybe apply the advantage instead. The back of the neck is preferred since the cat cannot lick it off, but you can certainly apply it elsewhere if needed.

They make several topicals such Frontline and Advantage that last for 1 month and do not require a prescription and can be purchased from a vet or a pet store. They make a topical called Bravecto that will last for 3 months or a tablet called comfortis that will last for 1 month but do require a prescription. Typically a flea problem is more of a problem in the environment than the pet so you may want to look in to treating the environment also

Bravecto is a good topical that last for 3 months but is a prescription. The change in duration helps control the environment and get ahead of the life cycle. The majority of a flea problem comes from the environment so it is essential to treat that area also. You may also look in to a Seresto collar that is not a prescription and it can last up to 8 months.

I can give you a great flea treatment program for Princess. First, I would give her Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

That wound on his foot looks swollen which is concerning for a deeper infection or a wound to the bone structures in the leg. I recommend to get this examined since a physical exam is the first step in determining the extent of the injury. As for the fleas, top products for cats are topicals such as Revolution and Cheristan. There is also an oral product called Comfortis that both dogs and cats can take. You will need to switch all the pets over to a good flea product. Make sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian first. These products are generally safe for all pets but there are some conditions which are contraindicated for the oral products. Cleaning up and treating the house and yard will also help but it will not clear all the fleas. The main control is making sure the pets are on good products. This is what will ultimately stop the infestation. Also remember every female fleas lays about 50 eggs a day and it could take up to 6 months before the eggs hatch. Therefore, you will need to treat for at least 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Advantage treatment is a good start. If your kitty has flea allergies it is necessary to keep fleas from biting her. So: Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian (Advantage is fine) and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust. Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas.