My cat is scratching and unsettled after flea medicine. Is it normal?

If they were scratching due to fleas then it is not unusual they are still itching. The bites from the fleas will not go away overnight (imagine if you had mosquito bites, these persist for quite a time after the bite occurs) and often the die off of fleas will cause increased itching for a day or two. If the itching is severe your vet may prescribe medication to help, or if they are still itching excessively in a few days, seek veterinary care.

It's not likely to be a symptom of the fleas but it could be a symptom of the flea treatment you use, some of them can cause a side effect of lethargy and lack of appetite which usually does not last more than 24 hours. if by tomorrow Jax is not better, i would recommend taking him to your vet to get checked and treated.

Cap star is safe to use with other flea treatments and generally any topical can be applied 2 weeks after another with no problems. It is not uncommon for a change in stool after a deworming. If they are not normal after 24 hours from medicines then I would worry and have them checked

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Excessive skin itchiness is listed as one of the potential side effects of Capstar. The symptoms are supposed to be mild and transient. Sadie should be back to normal within 24-48hrs, if not please, take her to your local vets for a check.

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.

I wouldn't have a concern about Advantage for felines, especially if Cheeto has had it before. Sometimes the feeling of the medication on their skin can feel weird, and we apply it in an area so that they can't easily groom it off, which could cause some anxiety. Keep an eye on Cheeto and if he isn't back to normal in a day or two, have him examined by your vet.

Panting is usually a sign of serious respiratory distress in cats and I would not expect this as a side effect of nitenpyram or piperazine. I would recommend taking Pudge to an emergency veterinarian if you continue to see him panting. If he has fleas it's not uncommon for them to cause discomfort or increased itchiness as they start to die so I wouldn't be concerned about scratching. Nitenpyram only lasts about 24 hours so you should follow up with a longer term flea preventative.