How often to you use worm/flea treatment?

[purplemunkey]

Our cat is 4 and we don't regularly use any treatments. She's always had a clear bill of of health at her annual check-ups and has never, to our knowledge, had any flea or worm infestations (I've looked up symptoms and she's never shown any of these).

From reading around though it seems like you're meant to use treatment every 4-6 weeks, is this what everyone else does or do you only use treatment if your cat is infested?

[cozietoesie]

Does she go outside/hunt, purple ?

[purplemunkey]

Yes, she goes outside but never goes far. She's quite small and there are lots of other (bigger) cats on our street so she tends to stay close to home. We keep her in at night as well. But yes, she does hunt - she's brought in a few mice over the years.

[cozietoesie]

Here's a thread which one of the vets who post put up earlier this year - you may find it interesting reading.

[purplemunkey]

Thanks cozie, that is very interesting and I suspected as much. Just because she always seems well doesn't mean she is! DP doesn't think we should worry but I'm starting to feel like we should be giving her something regularly. She is due a check up soon so we'll ask the vet.

[Deux]

I use Profender spot on for worming and I've recently switched to Stronghold spot on for fleas (I think it does ear mites too).

I was using Frontline Combo spot on for fleas and the bastarding stuff stopped working. We have fleas in the house which I think I'm finally on top of. My ankles are shredded and the washing machine is going to blow up due to the amount of washing I've done. It is hideous as the fleas are only biting me. I've spent £60 on RIP Fleas house spray. I've turned into some crazy person with trousers tucked into socks and liberally applied mosquito repellent. Cautionary tale ...... You don't want this. I'm having nightmares about fleas.

If your cat goes outside you really should flea and worm them. Mine is a prolific hunter too. Vet products are the most effective though. You can get a script from the vet and buy online as much cheaper.

[cozietoesie]

I don't think it's a question of 'worrying' as much as taking prudent precautions for her health and - in the case of fleas - for your sanity also. As Deux's cautionary tale suggests, once a flea infestation is established (and she only needs to pick up that one flea from somewhere) then it can be the very devil getting rid of them. Better to take prophylactic measures.

[purplemunkey]

Thanks for the advice Deux. We haven't had any bites ourselves so I think we've been lucky so far but it sounds like we should be taking preventative measures anyway.

[DraaaamaghAlpacaaaagh]

I do our two cats roughly every three months because they are both prolific hunters. I've never noticed any fleas. Not sure about worms, they don't use a litter tray so I wouldn't know, but I'm hoping regular treatment is a preventative.

[Deux]

Don't use Frontline Combo. The vet nurse said that they are no longer recommending it as so many complaints about reduced efficacy. I am so cross as I was using it religiously.

I use flea spot on once a month and wormer spot on every 3 months.

I think I might start my own thread about fleas, just to vent.

[PinkSparklyElephant]

I use Profender every 3 months and Advocate every month for H. I admit I'm not as regular as I could be at using it (especially the Advocate as it's so bloody expensive) but I am trying to do it as an when I should - I've even downloaded the Jungle app to remind me!

[purplemunkey]

Thanks Draaaamagh & PinkSparkly, it's good to get an idea of what everyone else does. I will definitely be starting treatment from now on.

Deux - sorry to hear about your flea situation, it sounds like a bloody nightmare.

[juneybean]

Sorry to piggy back on your thread, our local vet does a care plan which includes a year supply of worming and flea treatment, are there any brands I should avoid? Not rightly sure which brands they use but don't fancy paying for a care plan with shit products!

[Deux]

From what I can gather, it is Frontline Combo ( the vet product) that has reduced efficacy. I'm not sure if it's a formulation change but vet nurse said they think the fleas have become resistant to it.

I'm sure those better informed than me will confirm but the rated brands for flea treatment are Stronghold, Advocate and Advantage.

Also there is a 6 monthly injection available that stops fleas breeding. I'm going to see about that too. Belt and braces.

Once I've got over this flea fiasco. Just been sobbing again whilst hoovering. It's utter misery. I feel so unclean. And just got a text to say a friend of Dds has headlice! If DD has headlice it's going to tip me over the edge. Sorry to hijack.

[elinorjane]

I use Profender every 3 months as mine hunt. The vet said every 6 months is fine if they don't. They also have Stronghold every month. I need to do them now but DH is away until tomorrow and I need him to hold them for me while I do it!

[cat234]

I generally recommend flea treatment monthly and worming every three months.

Exceptions to that...cats that hunt lots and/or are in houses with small children I often recommend worming every month. If they are hunters they will pick up worms easily from that. Some worms (tapeworm) are zoonotic, so if there are small children in the house, imo, its not worth the risk of less frequent worming, obviously up to owners to decide, but I warn them off the risk.

If cats are predominately indoor/dont hunt etc, then worming every 6months, or even 12m if indoor is sufficient. But once yearly is still worth doing.

With fleas, so many people never treat, and never have a problem. BUT, the risk is, if you get fleas it can be a nightmare to get under control, often people getting flea bites, having to spray the house etc. So depends if you want to take the risk with it. Often people will stop treating over the winter, as much less risk of fleas. Just be careful if thats what you do that you dont stop too early. Lots of people are coming in now with flea problems, they stopped using treatment a month or so ago, but as the weather is still so warm, theres still lots of fleas around.