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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Flea treatment - £3.83 or £9.75?

21 replies

Snog · 31/12/2021 15:03

Just paid £9.45 for one Stronghold flea treatment at my vets and realised thanks to mumsnet that you can buy this online for £3.83. Feel a bit fleeced by my vet and won't be buying it from them in the future!!!

Just wanted to pass this on in case others may benefit. As I have 2 cats buying this way will save me £135 over the year and £2,025 over a lifetime assuming my cats live to age 15.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 31/12/2021 15:24

Don't you need a prescription to buy that online?

Original poster

Snog · 31/12/2021 15:59

That's what I thought and I think it may have been the case at some point but not the case now

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 12:31

@Snog the websites I've just looked at still require a prescription. What website have you seen it on that doesn't?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 01/01/2022 12:33

Very interested to know where I can buy without a prescription.

Mind you mine seems fine and flea free with advantage which is over the counter.

Shmithecat2 · 01/01/2022 12:34

You need a prescription, which vets often charge for. That might negate any saving.

FlamingGoat · 01/01/2022 12:34

Stronghold is a POM so I'd be suspicious it's not the real thing.

Original poster

Snog · 01/01/2022 18:19

Oh no I think PPs are correct and you do need a prescription. Aaargh.
I might see how much a prescription costs at my vets.

Or maybe PetsatHome will be a bit cheaper, ours has a vet in it.

OP posts:

SanFranBear · 01/01/2022 18:24

Prescriptions still normally work out cheaper as your vet would likely make it a repeat? At mine, the prescription was about £16 but the savings on the meds made it worth it.. mind you, this was for heart meds and pain stuff which were pretty pricy from the vets - for the £6 you'd be saving each time, it might be less of a 'bargain'?

Original poster

Snog · 01/01/2022 18:41

Yes you may be right as they would write two prescriptions no doubt, one for each cat....it just seems such a rip off.

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/01/2022 21:13

You can get a prescription from the vet and buy online. I've always done this for all non-urgent prescription medication and the vet has never had an issue with it.

Memyselfandfood · 01/01/2022 21:30

I always get a prescription and get advocate however im now thinking of using advantage as they are indoor cats.
I get a prescription from my vets and get few months worth.

I get my meds and treatment from a great site, they’ve always been so helpful. I had so many questions when i first started doing this, they even rang me to talk me through it!

I’ve always Avoided anything with fipronil as fleas seem to now be immune to it.
Used to be able to get by johnsons that didnt contain fipronil for mil that she swears by, but its getting harder and harder to find.

Memyselfandfood · 01/01/2022 21:31

Prescription still works out cheaper than a flea infested house, or a cat with lung worm.
My cat was not happy at being defleaed
That was the end of shop bought flea treatments!

dementedpixie · 01/01/2022 21:36

@Memyselfandfood

I always get a prescription and get advocate however im now thinking of using advantage as they are indoor cats. I get a prescription from my vets and get few months worth.

I get my meds and treatment from a great site, they’ve always been so helpful. I had so many questions when i first started doing this, they even rang me to talk me through it!

Advantage has the same flea treatment as Advocate but advocate also treats some worms so you'd need an alternative worm treatment

JaffavsCookie · 01/01/2022 21:42

It is part of how vets earn their living, still ridiculously cheap compared to how much you would have to pay for your own treatment

CombatBarbie · 01/01/2022 22:03

Not quite the same, but our previous vets (pets at home, only changed as we moved) used to tell us the human equivalent and just give us a day or 2 of their medication. The prices are ridiculous in comparison although they can't suggest a human equivalent for everything ie injections.

Sunshineandrainbow · 01/01/2022 22:05

Can you only use the prescriotion once? Sorry if stupid question.
I have been using advantage.

Original poster

Snog · 01/01/2022 22:52

@JaffavsCookie I certainly don't spend £100 per annum on flea treatment for myself!!!
So cannot see that flea treatment for my cat is ridiculously cheap???

OP posts:

Whattochoosenow · 01/01/2022 23:13

Vets are bound by a cascade prescribing law. They have to prescribe animal listed drugs in the first instance even though the human generic medicine can be cheaper. They can go off license only when there is no animal listed option. Price is specifically listed as not being a valid reason to go off license

Prescriptions will usually state how many repeats you can have. The prescription is generally emailed to the pharmacy of your choice.

JaffavsCookie · 01/01/2022 23:44

@Snog not flea treatment in particular 😳
Just the comparison between human ab vet treatment

Memyselfandfood · 02/01/2022 23:52

Advantage has the same flea treatment as Advocate but advocate also treats some worms so you'd need an alternative worm treatment

Yes i know, why im debating n
Switching to advantage.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 02/01/2022 23:57

I used to use advantage, swapped fo bravecto and then went back to advantage but my cat was unwell after it - vomited x 10. It might not have been related but I'm going back to bravecto as too nervous to use advantage again!
Not my cat gets advantage, he was crawling with fleas and it shifted them mega quickly with no side effects

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