My 3-month-old kitten has fleas and eggs. Flea collar failed. Help!

Capstar is a great medication to kill fleas present, but it has no preventative qualities. Also, not all flea collars are created equal. The only one I recommend is Seresto. Many of the older collars have older drug formulations in them that can lead to more side effects or less effectiveness . I would recommend a dose of Revolution. It will kill internal parasites and prevent fleas at the same time. Tapeworms are created by an animal ingesting a flea so it is important to treat your cat for tapeworms in the present situation.

With the exception of Seresto collars ( https://www.petbasics.com/cat-products/seresto-for-cats/?pref=cat ), flea collars do not work well for cats and can cause skin irritation, so I do not recommend them for cats. I would consider removing the flea collar and see if the skin lesions go away. If you have also applied a topical flea medication that should work better than the flea collar. If the skin lesions do not go away or become worse, you may need to have your veterinarian examine Luna. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble finding an effective flea med! Most over-the-counter options are not very effective in my experience, including Advantage - although it's probably the best of the currently available OTC options! Flea collars do not work well, and can often be toxic to cats. Instead, I would recommend getting a prescription flea medication like Revolution or Bravecto from your veterinarian. This will be safe for your kitty, and much more effective. If it's been at least 1-2 weeks since you applied the Advantage, it should be safe to go ahead and use a new medication from your vet.

The majority of a flea problem is environmental. It is best to have the cats treated at a vet's office while your home gets treated at the same time. Flea collars do not typically work well. The most important part of treating fleas is breaking the life cycle which takes 3 months of consistent treatment.

Fleas can be frustrating to treat. I know that many people have a lot of success with Seresto collars, but I have not. In order to treat Bandit’s fleas, I recommend using a good quality topical product, such as Advantage (use monthly) or Bravecto (prescription based and used every 3 months). Flea shampoos are rarely effective and can cause irritation to the skin, so I tend to steer clear of them. Be sure to vacuum daily, dispose of the vacuum bag frequently, and wash Bandit’s bedding in hot water. Continue to apply flea medication regularly in order to disrupt the fleas’ life cycle to prevent a recurrence. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Bandit!

Fleas are never a fun surprise! Indoor cats can acquire fleas if they come inside on your clothing, through open windows, or on other pets in the household. Even though you have removed all of the adult fleas on Daisy, those adults have likely already laid eggs that will be impossible to remove. Flea collars (with the exception of the Seresto collar) tend to be very ineffective. It is possible that the collar may be affecting her negatively. Since Daisy has been relatively lethargic since you put the collar on, consider taking the collar off and using a high quality flea preventative medication, such as Advantage, Bravecto, or Revolution. Be sure to use one of these preventatives regularly for at least the next few months to break the fleas' life cycle, but preferably year-round. Cats can acquire tapeworms by eating fleas infected with tapeworms, so it may be worth taking a stool sample to Daisy's vet. If Daisy remains lethargic, stops eating and drinking, or develops any vomiting or diarrhea, she will certainly need to go to her vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

I'm sorry you are having such flea problems with Gizmo. Typically flea collars and powders are not effective, and flea baths and sprays only work temporarily. I will give you the flea treatment program I always recommend, and it's very effective. First, I would give him 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 his 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. Good luck, I hope this helps!