Advantage® for cats.
Treats: Fleas
Pet type: Cats and kittens from 8 weeks of age
Formulation: Spot-on
Suggested frequency: Every 4 weeks
A flea infestation can mean misery for your cat. It’s not just the irritation and itchiness from flea bites that cats have to contend with. In fact, fleas can lead to serious health conditions. An allergy to flea saliva can cause flea allergy dermatitis in cats, which means just a few flea bites trigger severe itching and sore skin.
Infected fleas can even transmit diseases when they bite. They can also lead to your cat developing a tapeworm infection if a cat were to ingest an infected flea (which can happen during grooming). And because fleas feed on blood, a severe infestation may even lead to anaemia.
Unlike some other treatments available (for example those that come in tablet form), Advantage spot-on flea treatment for cats is applied as drops to the skin. The active ingredient spreads throughout the skin and can kill fleas through contact within 24 hours, so your cat doesn’t have to be bitten in order for the treatment to work.
The application of Advantage for cats is easy and fuss-free.
Step 1: Use the Advantage product that is suitable for the weight of your cat.
Step 2: Hold the tube in an upright position and twist and pull the cap to remove it. Use the reversed cap to twist and remove the seal from the tube.
Step 3: The spot-on treatment needs to be applied to the back of your cat’s neck at the base of the skull, so that your cat can’t reach to lick it off. Part your cat’s fur at the base of the skull until the skin is visible.
Step 4: Place the tip of the tube on the skin and squeeze it firmly several times to empty the contents directly onto the skin. From this application site, the treatment will then spread throughout the rest of your pet’s skin for full protection.
Step 5: Record treatment date and repeat monthly.
It’s important that you don’t apply the treatment to damaged skin and don’t allow recently treated animals to groom each other. If you’re unsure how to apply Advantage spot-on treatment for cats refer to the product information included in the pack or contact your vet.
Even the cleanest cat can get fleas and there are various ways they can catch them:
- Wild animals including foxes, hedgehogs and squirrels carry fleas, so when they visit your garden they can transfer them to your cat.
- Fleas can be passed on from other infested cats and dogs your cat comes into contact with whilst roaming the neighbourhood.
- The same goes for other pets in your home, so make sure you keep all pets protected with a flea treatment.
- And if you come into contact with fleas yourself, you might become the culprit who carries them into your home and onto your cat.
With oral flea treatments, where the active ingredient is present in the bloodstream, fleas must bite and feed in order to be killed. Advantage for cats is a spot-on treatment that is applied to the skin, and is able to kill fleas through contact – it does not require fleas to bite.1
It’s recommended that Advantage spot-on treatment should be repeated after 4 weeks all year round to protect your cat against fleas.
It kills fleas within 24 hours of treatment and remains effective for up to four weeks.
Re-treatment may be necessary depending on the scale of the infestation but never treat your cat more frequently than once weekly.
Advantage can be used on kittens providing they are weaned and at least eight weeks old.
You will need to buy the treatment which is suitable for your cat’s weight:
Small cats weighing under 4kg require Advantage 40 mg spot-on solution.
Larger cats weighing 4kg and over require Advantage 80 mg spot-on solution.
Each pack of Advantage for cats contains four single use pipettes; each pipette protects against fleas for up to four weeks, so a pack gives up to four months’ protection in total.
Advantage contains the active ingredient imidacloprid. Imidacloprid is able to kill fleas through contact; meaning they do not have to bite your pet to be killed.1 It also kills flea larvae in your home.
It’s recommended that you wait at least two days after applying Advantage before bathing your pet. After this time, Advantage remains effective if your cat should become wet. However occasionally re-treatment is necessary depending on the level of fleas in the environment, in these cases don’t re-treat more frequently than once weekly.
Ideally, you should wait at least two days after bathing your cat to apply Advantage for cats.
Always consult your vet before using Advantage if your cat is already taking other medication.
Speak to your vet before using the product in pregnant or lactating cats.
Parasites can get into your home without being invited, which means indoor cats aren’t immune from catching fleas.
Fleas can enter your home through many means, including on your clothing, on other pets and on rodents which may have also broken into your home. These fleas can then easily be passed to indoor cats causing an infestation in your home.
If you see any fleas on your cat, you’re looking at only around five per cent of the total number that might be in your home.
For every fully-grown flea you see, there will be many more eggs, larvae and pupae hidden away in carpets, bedding and upholstery, soon to hatch into new adult fleas. The best way to reduce the chances of flea infestations in your home is to use flea treatment regularly.
It’s important to treat all pets in your household with a suitable flea product. Fleas multiply quickly, so once one pet is infested, it won’t be too long before other pets are bitten too.
We don’t advise this. Always follow the instructions on the packet carefully and give your cat the correct dosage for her weight to ensure effective treatment. If you’re unsure of how to apply Advantage for cats, contact your vet.
Advantage for cats is a non-prescription treatment, so you can purchase it from your local pet shops, online and at the pharmacy.
As with any medication, side effects are possible. On rare occasions, skin reactions such as hair loss, redness, itching and skin lesions can occur. See the package leaflet for full information on side effects, and always speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your pet.
Some cats are hypersensitive to flea saliva, which causes an allergic reaction which leads to a skin condition called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).
This can be highly uncomfortable for cats, causing them to compulsively scratch their irritated skin, often leading to hair loss and skin lesions.
Advantage spot-on flea treatment can be used as part of a treatment strategy for Flea Allergy Dermatitis, where this has previously been diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon. The active ingredient in Advantage is able to kill fleas through contact, meaning they don’t have to bite your cat in order to be killed.1
See the Advantage pack for the expiry date and product information.
If your cat does catch fleas, your home can quickly become infested, as fleas lay eggs on your pet, which fall off into your home. The eggs hatch into larvae, which develop into pupae, from which new adult fleas emerge ready to bite your pet. These eggs, larvae and pupae will be present in carpets, bedding and upholstery, all around your home.
When a flea infestation has broken out in your home it’s important to act quickly. Ensure you wash animal bedding regularly and hoover your carpets and floors to kill fleas at every stage of their life cycle.
A veterinary approved household flea spray may also help with flea control.
For more in-depth tips about tackling flea infestations, read our essential guide to evicting fleas from your home
1 Mehlhorn et al. Parasitol Res (2001) 87:198-207, information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting.
