Frontline is known for its effectiveness in treating pets for fleas, but can you give the dog brand to your cat.
Fleas are a nuisance to cats, owners and any other unfortunate warm-blooded creatures in the vicinity.
Cat fleas, or ctenocephalides felis, are the most commonly found fleas on both cats and dogs. These fleas prefer the blood of our feline friends, but will not hesitate to bite humans if they get hungry enough.
This makes cat fleas an unpleasant and itchy experience for the entire household.
Ridding your cat of a flea infestation requires cleaning the environment and using insecticides designed to kill the fleas on the cat. Frontline is a brand that manufactures and sells topical flea treatments for cat and dogs.
Can I Give My Cat Frontline for Dogs? Answer: No.
Frontline for Dogs can have negative side effects if given to cats. Topical flea treatments are effective in the long term because the ingredients are absorbed into the skin. As such they are each designed to a pet’s specific biochemistry to work effectively. The active ingredient in Frontline, fipronil is absorbed into the skin where it is concentrated in the sebaceous glands and from there the insecticide is released together with the natural oils of the cat for the following 30 days.
Dogs have the ability to metabolize and process different enzymes that cats cannot. For example, some topical flea treatments contain permethrins which can be hazardous to cats.
Can I Give My Cat Frontline Early?
Frontline is safe to use in cats from the age of 8 weeks of age. Each application is effective for a period of 30 days. Re-applying Frontline before the 30 days have passed does not make it any more effective. It’s not necessary to re-apply the treatment before the term is over as the active ingredient is slowly released through the cat’s sebaceous glands and research shows that it kills fleas for one month after application. It may initially seem like there are more fleas when you use Frontline.
The insecticide makes the fleas hyper excited and draws them to the outer part of the coat before dying, therefore they become more visible to the naked eye. Rather than a sign that the product is failing, this is a sign that it is having the desired effect and there is no need to re-apply the treatment. Do not give it early if you believe there is a new flea infestation, but contact your veterinarian for other possible solutions since there may be another reason why the treatment is not effective.
Can I Give My Cat Two Toses of Frontline?
Each dose of Frontline for cats is specifically designed to fit the needs of your furry feline friend. Therefore, it is not advised that you give your four legged companion more than one dose at a time. Frontline kills flea for 30 days after initial application, so it can be renewed on a monthly basis to ensure that your cat remains free of fleas. Applying two doses at the same time does not improve the effectiveness of the treatment and puts your cat at higher risk of overdose and having unpleasant side effects.
Can I Give My Cat Frontline Plus Twice in One Month?
Frontline Plus is a version of the Frontline brand containing an additional active ingredient, S-methoprene, that kills the eggs and larvae of fleas. Frontline Plus works in the same way as the regular Frontline, namely by being absorbed into the skin and then distributed through the sebaceous glands. Therefore, using Frontline Plus twice in one month does not make the treatment more effective and may disrupt the biochemistry of your cat. If you believe that it’s ineffective consult your veterinarian, and they can prescribe a different course of treatment.
Use the Right Medication
A flea infestation is difficult to get rid of and the frustration of their constant, unwelcome presence is understandable. However, Frontline has been shown to be effective in killing fleas for 30 days so re-applying the treatment before provides no additional benefits since the insecticide is already in the coat. Frontline can be given every month and this may be necessary to prevent new fleas from starting up a family in your cat’s coat. Consider other environmental factors and consult a veterinarian if your cat continues to suffer from a flea infestation after using Frontline.