One of the less-pleasant parts of cat ownership is dealing with the nasty little creepy crawlies that like to live on them. There's nothing quite like snuggling up with your cat in bed--they rub up against you, they purr, they roll over to have their belly scratched... and then you see the black little flash crawling scross their abdomen. Gross.

Because I usually am treating 10+ cats each month, most of the time I use the inexpensive Bio Spot Stripe-On. Last month, though, I discovered fleas on a cat that I had just treated several days earlier with the Bio Spot. It was time to break out the big guns so I headed to the veterinarian's office to purchase Frontline Plus For Cats.

Product Description
From packaging:Kills fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and chewing lice.
--Fast acting
--Kills ticks including those that may transmit Lyme Disease
--Waterproof
--For cats and kittens 8 weeks and older

Using Frontline Plus For Cats
This product is a topical treatment that you simply apply through the fur to one spot on the skin between their shoulder blades. According to the company, 100% of fleas will be killed within 48 hours of application. Each vial provides one month of protection against fleas, ticks, and even cat lice.

How Does This Product Work?
When you apply this item to your cat, it spreads via body oils across skin and comes into contact with fleas along the way. Frontline Plus For Cats works by disrupting the nervous system of a flea. It blocks stabilizing ions in their nerve cells and this causes hyperstimulation which ultimately kills them. The company warns in their frequently asked question section that fleas may appear to be more active soon after applying this product but such activity indicates that Frontline Plus For Cats is indeed working.

Ingredients
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Fipronil (9.8%)
S-Methoprene (11.8%)
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS (78.4%)

Packaging, Cost and Availability
This product is sold in 3-packs and 6-packs which provides 3 or 6 months of protection if you own only one cat. If you own 3 like me, you're looking at purchasing a large box of Frontline Plus For Cats every other month or so. The 3-pack costs anywhere between $35 and $45 while the 6-pack sells for close to $70.

You can purchase this item from your veterinarian but that, of course, would be your most expensive option. Frontline is also sold in independent and chain pet stores and on many pet supply web sites. I bought two 3-packs from my vet and paid dearly for it at $43 per box. If I hadn't needed the treatment immediately, I would have ordered it online from Drs. Foster and Smith who sell it for $35 each.

It is important to note that there is counterfeit Frontline Plus For Cats out there just like there are counterfeit medications for humans. You need to purchase this product from a reputable source to ensure that you are getting the authentic treatment.

Problems With The Product
Well, aside from the price, the only complaint that I have about Frontline Plus For Cats is that it is difficult to put it in a spot where the cats can't reach it. I have tried putting it between shoulder blades, on the backs of their necks, and everywhere in between--but the cats always seem to be able to reach the application spot and then start licking the pesticide. I usually wind up sitting with them for an hour or so and just distracting them with something else every time they start to lick.

Also,some people have reported adverse reactions in their cats caused by Frontline Plus For Cats though I have no personal experience in that area.

Overall Opinion
Frontline Plus For Cats is an effective way to control fleas. I ran a flea comb through my cats 24 hours after applying this product and did not find a single live flea. It worked as thoroughly and as quickly as the company promised. I checked their coats one week and four weeks after application and there still were no fleas on the cats which was a wonderful thing.

This product is expensive, there's no denying that. But when you're dealing with tough fleas that aren't killed by the cheaper treatments, Frontline Plus For Cats is what you need.





Recommended: Yes