Is there any alternative to flea treatment that actually works?

[Tygertiger]

I use spot-on for fleas and tapeworms. I don’t think there’s an alternative for worms and I wouldn’t want to take the risk as my cats are hunters, but I’m feeling increasingly uneasy about the impact of insecticides on the environment and thinking that if I could stop using the spot-on for fleas, that would at least reduce the impact a bit. But is there any alternative that actually works? Has anyone found anything with less environmental impact that still works on fleas? Thank you!

Drontal tablets cover round and tapeworms.

There also the Program flea injection.

But, I assume that as cats (generally) don't swim in watercourses/ponds/lakes there's less risk to wildlife from their spot-ons.

Would be interested in knowing. I hate flea treatment, it’s so nasty, so only give it to our pets in the warmer months. But now we’re in the midst of fleamageddon - in the middle of winter! Such a pain in the arse as it’s so difficult to fumigate everything and wash all the bedding etc in winter. So now I think we’re going to have to treat them all year round. Fleas are just becoming indestructible.

You'll regret it. Once your house is full of them you'll wish you had chosen differently.

Nexgard does both and works really well

Unfortunately the risk is still there as the products are excreted in urine so cats which toilet outdoors release the chemicals into the environment. A lot of the active ingredients in spot-on treatment are banned for use in agriculture, so it seems odd they’re still permitted for domestic use. I live rurally and hate the idea that my cat ownership is damaging the environment in this way 😕

This is why I’ve not given them up yet and am asking for decent alternatives….I would have assumed that was evident from my OP 🤔

This is a spot-on which is what I am trying to move away from!

There isn't any.

You could set the traps around the house to catch them I suppose. But your cat will still get fed from.

No you can't get it in tablet form

I use Serresto collars for my cats. They still have chemicals but they last for nearly a year so the frequency is not as much as using spot-on.

Whats the problem with spot on and calling it nasty? Is it that if you have another pet they might lick it?

I don't know how your cats are about taking tablets op but I was tearing my hair out last year with those spot on things from the vets. I told him it's just not working and he gave me Credelio tablets and so far ( touch wood) I haven't seen a flea since. And they were cheaper than the spot ons!

Had the same issue. The tablets are the best, they have to be prescribed by a vet though, so they will need to see the animal and weigh them the 1st time.

See my OP. Spot-ons are bad for the environment and implicated in killing of insects such as bees. I am just keen to see if there are any less toxic alternatives I could move to which actually work.

I’ve thought of these but my cats don’t tolerate collars at all, and I also have children and wouldn’t want them touching the collars.

Thanks, they’re not brilliant with tablets but I would certainly persevere if they work. I’ll look into these.

You could try Diatomaceous earth. We had an infestation last Autumn and it was one of the things we used and I didn’t see any fleas after that point. Sprinkled round the house and on the cats themselves (but with a bag over their heads to stop them breathing in the loose dust as it was sprinkled over them - sounds cruel, I know, but they weren’t overly freaked out by it).

And then there was the incessant hoovering, brushing, washing….

What I've found works is the soft stick things from Aldi, I mould it round the tablet, it tastes nice (to them, haven't tried them myself 😁) and they just munch away happily. I wish you luck, its such a pain when they keep getting the fleas, I was covered in bites!

I use Billy no mates for my dogs. One of them is allergic to fleas but I dislike the thought of chemicals every month. Last year was the first full year of use and we had no fleas at all it was great!

It's a herbal mix - liquid/or actual dried herbs. I'm sure you can use it for cats too.
https://www.theneemteam.co.uk/csj-billy-no-mates-herbal-flea-deterrent.html you can also get on Amazon

Sometimes you get lucky and have cats that don't get fleas.

I've managed to have 3 outdoor cats that never brought back fleas so I just didn't bother.

But then last cat not only brought them home, he's allergic as well.

Worms is easier, there are tablets, they taste nice and you can chuck them at the cat like a treat. If that fails, I also recommend the cat stick treat method, the cheaper the better (we use Lidl) as easier to squish than the Webbox original.

......... don't buy clothes from Charity shops ....... and
.............. don't even go into Charity shops ............and
..................... don't talk to or go near anyone who goes into Charity shops ?

Two cats. Boy doesn’t suffer but the girl gets horrible reactions from fleas and bites herself so much she’s bald on her back and bleeding. Nothing worked we tried until she went to vets for her vaccinations. They gave me some flea treatment which was a spot on her neck as they couldn’t give flea jab at same time as vaccinations. I’m so amazed. Her fur is back fully, she’s fluffy. She’s gained weight so is a proper chonk now. She’s so much happier too. I think it cost like £20-30 at vets and it lasts 3 months.

My dog now has an annual injection for fleas. I believe they are available for cats?

@LuckyBluePhoton You just reminded me of an old friend who had a load of stuff for charity dropped at her vicarage. Took her bloody months to kill the little buggers, and she was covered in bites for most of that time too.

I never use flea dollars. My 16 year old cat I adopted from her owner 5 years ago had worn flea collars all her life and is now bald round the neck with deep scarring from the chemicals on her skin. Poor thing had been scratching for years and her owner had thought that meant fleas. She'd been scratching because her neck was so painful. Her fur has never grown back. I treat her with prescription flea stuff from the vet twice a year in spring and autumn. She hasn't had any fleas since and no skin problems.

I used Johnson's flea tablets for cats and kittens as well as alternating between Front Line and Advantage spot ons for cats and the same for my dogs too. I treat them every month. I definitely don't want fleas on my cats or dogs.