Question 1

How do cat flea collars work?

Accepted Answer

There are three types of flea collars for cats. The first type work by emitting ultra-high frequency sound waves that tend to disorient fleas and make them not want to go anywhere near the source of that ear-splitting sound. The good thing with this type of cat flea collars is that the ultrasonic wave created can only be heard by fleas so it will not disrupt you or your kitty. Regrettably, there have been mixed responses as to the effectiveness of such technologies.

Question 2

Are cat flea collars safe?

Accepted Answer

When used properly, cat flea collars are perfectly safe. However, if it is too loose that your pet may actually lick on it, then potential problems can arise. It may also not be safe for cats that are hypersensitive to the active ingredient of the collar. This is one of the most important reasons why the product should have a readily-identifiable ingredient so you’ll know exactly if your pet is allergic to it or not.

Question 3

When can a cat wear a flea collar?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the type and brand of flea collar that you buy, a kitten can start wearing it as early as 8 weeks old while some put the minimum age requirement at 10 weeks. Still, there are others that wait until about 3 months before kittens can start wearing a flea collar. You need to consult your vet as to when exactly you can have your cat wear its very first flea collar.

Question 4

Can fleas from cats live on humans?

Accepted Answer

The natural host of cat fleas or Ctenocephalides felis is the domestic cat. However, because fleas are obligate blood-suckers, feeding off warm-blooded mammals, it is not uncommon that cat fleas can also bite into the skin of humans. This doesn’t mean that they will live on the skin of humans, however. It just so happens that because of our closeness with our pets, these pests do inadvertently latch onto our skin. Human skin is very different from cat skin so it will not really be very hospitable for cat fleas to thrive.

Question 5

How effective are flea collars for cats?

Accepted Answer

Some products are proven to start killing fleas within 2 hours of putting the flea collar on and about 6 hours for ticks. Such products continue killing up to 90% of all fleas by the end of the flea collar’s life. These figures are from the Seresto collar for cats. The product has been extensively tested that the brand can rightfully make such claims. Unfortunately, there are products that do not have scientific bases to back up their claims of effectiveness. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend getting only brands that are backed by clinical evidence.

Question 6

Are there alternatives to a flea and tick collar?

Accepted Answer

As we have already mentioned, flea collars are just one of the different ways in which you can control fleas on your pet cat. You can also use cat flea treatments that usually come as topical spot-on applications. These products need to be applied once a month, depending on the brand. There are also cat flea treatments that come in chewable formulations that can be given as is or included in your kitty’s food. There are also flea sprays. If you use such products, care should be taken that the solution will not be sprayed onto your kitty’s eyes. There are also flea shampoos if in case your tabby is the kind that loves to shower. Of course, there are also veterinary formulated and natural flea products that you may want to give a try.

Question 7

What happens if a cat licks a flea collar?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the active ingredient present on the flea collar, cats that lick their collars can present with a few digestive complaints. However, in certain instances especially in cats that are hypersensitive to any ingredient in the formulation, lethargy, anemia, and even seizures may occur. This is why it is very important to know the active ingredient so you’ll know exactly what to expect. Just because it says it’s natural doesn’t mean you should already put your guard down.

Question 8

How long does it take for a flea collar to work on a cat?

Accepted Answer

Again, depending on the active ingredient embedded in the flea collar, these may start working on killing fleas within a matter of hours such as Imidacloprid’s 2-hour onset of action against fleas and 6-hour onset of action against ticks. Some brands that carry different active ingredients may start working within 12 hours or even after 2 days. This is the problem with products that use natural ingredients. There really is no way to establish the onset of action of their active ingredients since these are usually taken in the general context and not as a per-product basis. They may claim that it works instantly. But the point is they cannot quantify the word ‘instant’.

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