How To Choose Flea Collar For Cats ( And Flea Pipettes )

 To choose a flea collar for cats, it is advisable to know your animal well: does he usually wear a collar? Has he ever had allergic reactions to certain products? More of an apartment cat or a true wanderer? Indispensable to the well-being of the cat, the flea collar can prove to be a solution for masters wishing to free their minds with these stories of fleas.

What Is Flea Collar For Cats?

Designed to diffuse insect repellents to get rid of fleas continuously, flea collars are specially designed to be effective over the long term. In contact with the cat's skin, the flea collar supports distributing a product, whether natural or antiparasitic. Many references exist, and you must learn to sort through them to find the ideal model for you and your cat.

How To Choose Your Cat Flea Collar

Choose a flea collar for cats according to the substance used

Whether you are a fan of natural products or not very careful about the composition of a product, you can ideally choose a natural or chemical flea collar:

The flea collar with natural insect repellents: in general, it is a collar soaked in a mixture of essential oils known to act on fleas and prevent them from approaching the cat or settling there; the pest control collar: is in the form of a fine powder or gas that acts with the cat's body heat, these collars release their active ingredients over the long term. These active principles are distributed on the cat's coat until its action is exhausted.

Analyze your cat's daily life

The protection of natural flea collars is slightly lower. Suppose your cat is more of a living room cat, and his only contact with the outside is limited to visiting your friends' animals at the apartment. In that case, you can ideally use a flea collar for cats based on essential oils, as they are sufficient to protect him. If he is a great outdoor explorer, the pest control collar seems more effective because it is stronger to protect your tomcat during his outings. On the other hand, chemical flea collars will be the right choice when it comes to a cat with such an active life, as they provide higher protection.

A flea collar but with maximum comfort

Depending on the age or size of your cat, it is better to find out which size flea collar for cats to choose. There are different sizes of collars that can be adapted to your cat's neck circumference. Kitten or adult, slender or strong, must be comfortable because the collar should not be around his neck. The action of the collar will also be more effective if it brushes the tomcat's fur.

An easy-to-live-with flea collar for the cat… and the guardians

Many references to flea collars now allow you not to change them too regularly. These new formulas of flea collars for cats are generally practical enough to last 6 to 8 months (duration which varies according to the cat's habits, if it tends to get wet or not, to roll in the ground or not). So comfortable, these flea collars allow you not to bother your cat too often and not to worry about it too quickly.

A Final Tip For Choosing The Best Flea Collar 

If you want to invest in a flea collar for cats, in addition to local treatment, you must check that your cat will not show contact allergies with the products contained in the collar. To do this, open the packaging, protect your fingers, and test it on the tip of your cat's ear, then wait 48 hours. If your cat doesn't show any changes in hair, redness, or scaling, you can be sure that it will handle it just fine. However, be careful not to tighten the collar too much so as not to hinder your cat's movements and that it does not rub too much on his skin.

Best Products for Cats

What are pipettes for cats?

Pipettes are small single-dose plastic containers that contain a liquid to kill external parasites. This is the most efficient way to apply the antiparasitic to the skin, allowing it to be distributed subcutaneously so that it has its effect against external parasites such as fleas and ticks, among others.

These pipettes have a protective effect, but they also eliminate parasites the animal may already have. The product, utterly harmless to the animal, reaches the blood, where it acts effectively, killing parasites.

How to apply pipettes for cats

Cat pipettes are an essential part of the pet deworming protocol. Although very easy and comfortable to apply, we must always use specific products for cats that do not cause adverse effects on the animal's health.

Find out what the function of pipettes for cats is, how they work and how to apply them at home according to the instructions of veterinary professionals. Then, keep your pet's health and safety at bay by using external antiparasitic drugs correctly.

 

How often are the pipettes put in?

The duration of the effect of a pipette for cats will depend on the manufacturer. There are some that only last four weeks, and others that can last up to 3 months.

Choose the type of pipette that is best for your cat according to his weight and state of health, always following the recommendations of the veterinarian.

Put a pipette for cats step by step.

It is so easy to put the pipettes for cats that you will not have to go to the vet every time you renew the dose. Take advantage when your pet is resting or relaxed to avoid stress during the procedure.

Prepare the pipette in advance, breaking through the application area. You should apply it in an area where the animal cannot clean itself with its tongue, so the preferred area for this is the nape or the top of the head.

Separate the hair well and apply the antiparasitic directly on the skin. Let it dry completely, avoiding getting the area wet for a couple of days.

How do antiparasitic pipettes for pets work?

The animal's body absorbs the contents of the pipette over the two days following its application. And its active ingredients protect the animal for several weeks. These vary according to the specific product applied.

Some natural ingredients like general repel mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Others have a more drastic action. This is the case, for example, with metoprolol. This can inhibit the growth of fleas and prevent their reproduction. Or Fipronil. This alters the central nervous system of insects in such a way that it quickly kills them and is valid against fleas, canine lice, ticks, and mites.

Tips for the use of antiparasitic pipettes for dogs and cats

Always apply the pipette directly to the animal's skin. You must separate the hair well so that it does not get wet and can be well absorbed by your body through the skin.

Do not apply the pipette to your cat after his bath. At least 48 hours should pass between the bath and the application of the pipette. So his skin will be less sensitive.

Never bathe your cat after applying the pipette. It is key to prevent it from getting wet in the hours following its application. Better if you can avoid it for 48 hours after use. Don't lather it up; the soap would be more aggressive and take away part of it.

Please note what type of animal each pipette is recommended for. 

Check how much your pet weighs before applying the pipette.

Wash your hands well with soap and water after applying the contents of the pipette to your cat.

 Now that you know how antiparasitic pipettes work and the tips for safe and effective use, all you have to do is choose the right one for your cat.

Possible side effects of pipettes

Today, cat pipettes are safe and do not pose any risk to the animal. However, some pets that show hypersensitivity may suffer adverse effects, mainly due to ingestion of the product if they lick the area.

Some cats may suffer from hypersalivation and even lose a small amount of hair in the area where we regularly apply the pipette. However, you should not worry at all if the signs are mild.

Yes, you must pay attention to the symptoms of pipette poisoning in cats since they negatively affect their nervous system. This intoxication presents symptoms such as dilated pupils, vomiting, uncoordinated movements, increased respiratory rate, and excessive drooling.

If your pet begins to feel unwell after applying the pipette, clean the area where you have put the product and quickly go to your veterinarian for a check-up.

Diseases Transmitted By Fleas And Ticks In Cats

Depending on their environment, cats can contact many unwanted parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and external parasites. These are very common and yet sometimes little known to owners. However, it is essential to understand how to recognize them and to fight against their invasion to avoid the appearance of certain diseases, which are sometimes very severe.

Fleas and ticks: what are they?

Fleas and ticks are hematophagous external parasites, i.e. they feed on the host's blood and parasitize by sting (flea) or bite (tick). Fleas belong to the class of insects and are primarily found in the environment, especially in homes with many animals. Ticks are part of the arachnids and are found mainly in the forest, under ferns, or in dry grass in the Mediterranean region.

These parasites are feared because they can be vectors of diseases. They can carry pathogens in saliva. They are transmitted to the parasitized animal during the blood meal of the flea or tick. The disease's symptoms appear between 24 and 72 hours later.

 

What diseases are transmitted by fleas?

Dipylyidiosis or Tapeworm

Dipylyidiosis is a frequent but generally benign disease common to humans and animals. It is due to the presence of a worm called Pyridium, or tapeworm, in the intestine of the infected individual. During its toilet, the cat becomes contaminated by swallowing fleas present on its coat and infested by tapeworm larvae.

Its body is made up of several hundred rings, detaching as it grows, and thus found in the animal's stool. In addition, the presence of worms can be responsible for itching. The cat will thus rub its anus on the ground or lick itself excessively. The simple treatment consists of administering a dewormer prescribed by a veterinarian.

Bartonellosis, or cat scratch disease

Bartonellosis is a disease caused by a bacterium, transmissible to humans as well as to dogs and cats through a flea bite. It is called “cat-scratch disease” in humans because it is commonly transmitted. Indeed, the bacteria responsible for the disease is present in the excrement of fleas, ending up under the cat's claws when the latter scratches.

The signs of the disease in cats are varied and non-specific; that is to say, they are found in many diseases. However, the most common symptoms are fever, inflammation at the flea bite site, enlarged glands, loss of appetite, and depression. In some cases, other complications may occur, such as damage to the nervous system and inflammation of the mouth or eyes. A veterinarian makes the diagnosis via a blood test. The treatment is relatively long and consists of administering antibiotics for four weeks.

DAPP, or Flea Allergy Dermatitis

DAPP is not strictly speaking a disease transmitted by fleas but rather caused by fleas' presence on the cat.

Some cats develop hypersensitivity to repeated flea bites, resulting in symptoms such as itching, feline miliary dermatitis, i.e. the appearance of small scabs and scales on the lower back suggesting sandpaper when you caress this area against the grain, as well as areas of depilation, red and oozing, called eosinophilic granulomas—so many symptoms which, in the long term, can worsen and lead to severe skin diseases.

What diseases are transmitted by ticks?

Lyme Disease or Borreliosis

Lyme disease is a relatively well-known disease, especially in humans. It's also found in animals, more rarely. So it's always interesting to understand this disease.

Lyme borreliosis is transmitted by ticks, carriers of the pathogenic bacteria. The disease can be found anywhere in France, but the North and East are the most affected areas. The season also influences this pathology since spring and autumn are more favorable to the latter's development. A cat affected by Lyme disease rarely shows symptoms in 5 to 10% of cases.

Initially, the disease manifests acutely, with a sudden, painful limp and stopping for periods. Fever, depression, swollen glands, and loss of appetite can sometimes be observed. After several months, the disease evolves, giving way to a chronic form, revealing a less severe lameness, diffuse pain, and cardiac, renal, and nervous disorders.

The diagnosis of this disease is very delicate because of the absence of symptoms most of the time. Therefore, the treatment is long and consists of administering antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for several weeks to several months.

Feline Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis is a disease transmitted by tick bite via the inoculation of a pathogenic bacterium. The latter attacks the red blood cells of the cat, thus causing disastrous consequences, sometimes irreversible. Observable symptoms are fever, fatigue, joint pain, and vomiting.

In some cases, the symptoms may disappear on their own and then reappear a few weeks or months later. The cat is still infected, and the disease becomes chronic and much more challenging to eradicate. Treatment is sometimes tricky and consists of the early administration of antibiotics.

Feline hemobartonellosis

Hemobartonellosis is a severe disease, also transmissible via a tick bite. The latter transmits a parasite destroying the cat's red blood cells. The observable signs are fever, dejection, refusal to eat, weight loss, and pale or even yellow gums.

Treatment consists of the animal's hospitalization and the administration of anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Blood transfusions may also sometimes be necessary.

How can the risk of transmission of these diseases be reduced?

It is recommended to antiparasitic your cat regularly, according to its environment and according to the product used. The latter forms are varied and can be pipetted, applied between the neck hairs, in contact with the skin, or tablets to be swallowed by your cat regularly.

In addition to the chemical prevention mentioned above, brushing your cat regularly to detect the presence of fleas early on, often found through their droppings left on the animal's coat, is also essential. For this, you can use a cat brush or a flea comb. The regular search for ticks when the cat has access to the outside, especially in the countryside or on the edge of the forest, is also essential because it allows them to be removed quickly and thus avoids any risk of transmission of the diseases described above high.

Fleas and ticks are fearsome pests that are best known and important to be wary of. Diseases transmitted by them are, in most cases, curable. The best weapon against their development remains the preventive method to reduce the risk of transmission.