Are Flea Collars Dangerous for Cats? A Vet Explains
Are Flea Collars Dangerous for Cats? A Vet Explains
In this video, Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ takes a look at flea collars and answers whether or not this common flea prevention tool is safe for cats.
Read more from Dr. Wooten on All About Cats: https://cats.com/author/sarah-wooten
Visit Dr. Wooten’s website: https://drsarahwooten.com
Learn more about the Seresto collar here: https://cats.com/seresto-collar-for-cats
View the Seresto collar on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fprf.hn%2Fclick%2Fcamref%3A1101l4atA%2Fpubref%3Ayoutube%2Fdestination%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Fseresto-flea-tick-collar-cats%252Fdp%252F46492
Learn about the best flea treatments for cats on All About Cats: https://cats.com/best-flea-treatment-for-cats
To report adverse drug reactions:
Merck Animal Health (Bravecto): 800-224-5318
Elanco Animal Health (Credelio): 888-545-5973
Boehringer Ingelheim (Nexgard): 888-637-4251
Zoetis (Simparica, Revolution Plus): 888-963-8471
If you prefer to report directly to the FDA, or want additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, see How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems.
Pet owners and veterinarians who have additional questions can contact AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov or call 240-402-7002.
Video Navigation:
0:00 Introduction
0:19 The Short Answer
1:42 Ingredients to Avoid
2:54 What About Seresto?
7:58 Tips for Safe Flea Prevention & Treatment
10:13 Conclusion
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links.
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I have two cat that contently groom each other is
it save if they accidentally lick their collars????
Just had a cat die while wearing a cat flea collar. Other cat was fine so it must be different. He was healthy, got fleas and we have been battling them. Noticed he disappeared a few days ago and we thought he got out. Found him dead hiding in a cabinet that he sometimes would hide in. He can get in and out of it so we know he was not trapped. Never again!!
Can I use both flea medication and the collar?
Currently using Seresto collars (that I bought at Walmart) and I still find fleas in the fur of my cats. No other really bad signs though
Man, next time I’ll do my research before buying four of them
Great video. Thanks for explaining everything in detail.
What about collars with geraniol? Are they working and safe?
i used seresto for my cat, but after a month I saw bald spots on the area where the collar was. I immediately took the collar off, gave him a bath and applied coconut oil in the area. my poor cat…
please let me know if geraniol at a 0.9 percent active ingredient is harmful 😭 i’m freaking out
How about Dr. Paws? I just ordered two and say all natural but after researching I find they are not real forthcoming about where they are manufactured. My order is coming from Shanghai!
I am so torn on what to give my 8 year old German Shepherd. He took Brevecto for years but I found out it’s so toxic and there’s a lawsuit against the drug company regarding this drug. My Shepherd has such itchy skin but I don’t see fleas. He’s always been itchy though. What is the safest collar or oral than really work?? It’s so hard to know what to use. Which oral or collar doesn’t have pesticides?
Flea collars suck!. They are toxic. Would you like to wear something that makes you sick around your neck 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
I bought a Pilou collar, an antiparasitic product for cats made in France ( Collier Antiparasitaire Repulsif cat). The collar contains ingredients such as Geraniol, Lavandula, and Icaridine. The instructions mention additional substances like LINALOOL, LINALYL ACETATE, GERANIOL, and EUCALYPTOL. I want to make sure it is safe to apply on cats. Thank you:)
I fitted a flea collar to my cat. It had a “stretch section” so she could theoretically pull it off. She disappeared, and I found her a month later, her flea collar was caught on a fence and she had slowly starved to death! She had been unable to pull out of it because of the way it was hooked to the fence.
Thank you for taking the time to post this. I just ordered 8 Seresto collars from Chewys when Frontline Plus completely failed them .. Follow-up .. for 7 cats they worked wondrously. Only Miss Lucy had an adverse affect and I took it off her as soon as I saw the problem. Oddly, even though she spends most of the time outside and has a very bad allergy from flea bites (sores /scabs) she hasn’t had any fleas even though she is unprotected by anything now, except whatever was left from the collar. So, I recommend them, just keep a close eye on them.
Collars with 🔔 are bad?
I use Pets Best Flea/Tick wipes and yes it has Peppermint oil but only 0.30% which is a very small amount. Essential oils can be bad if the pet is ingesting large amounts of it I would assume but never had a bad reaction with these wipes. Nothing is 100% safe and I would rather use a wipe with small amount of Peppermint Oil than a collar containing pesticides 24/7. Doctors are always against "natural" solutions even in human medicine.
Obviously Elenco or Alenco changed something in the monthly flea topical because I used it on my cats all their lives and the last 2 times I put it on them they lost their hair and seemed like they did not feel well. Not using that ever again. My poor cats ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Yes they are toxic to us to
That’s funny cause ive never had a problem until i gave my cat the pill form of flea and tick medication my loor cat got very sick from the medication!
Thank you so much for this informative video! I just put a Seresto collar on my 9 yr old doggie…I’m desperate to help her get rid of fleas and it was after trying several natural alternatives but she keeps getting them despite me cleaning, bathing, cleaning,n bathing, etc….I’ll keep an eye on her now that I know how this works. Thank you again. 🙏🐶
My vet gave me seresto for my cat because she said it’s safe for cats that have seizures and she has had 2 seizures. I am still very nervous to apply it to my cat does anyone have information on this?
DONT BUY ONE MY CAT JUST HAD A SEIZER AFTER HAVING IT ON FOR 1 DAY
I have used Soresto collars on my cat for YEARS. This time I got one off Amazon and it just is not working. I wonder if I got a fake….or if Soresto DID indeed change their chemical makeup somehow. So disappointed as Soresto was the only one that ever worked on her.
bought a seresto for my cat it nearly killed her beware she went downhill when i put it on i took it off and its took 2 days for her to come round beware
For those who have outdoor cats, but the collars should have a predetermined breaking point, otherwise your cat might get choked if he got stuck at a bush.
Thank you. I just bought some Seresto for my cats and monitoring them m. Hope it helps them and not hurt them
i dont want a collar on my cat , how are the pills??
I used that serestro collar and he lost hair around his neck and had seizures. Crazy that the pets that dont handle these STRONG CHEMICALS on them well dont matter. I watched him almost die because of a vet approved product . Not all the incidences were reported either. Think about what is going into your pets if its stong enough to kill pests its harmful to your pets
You know what else works good advantage that chewable they have to take it every day but it’s expensive. I got two male Maine coon cats and for Yorky Poo dogs so like a treating six animals I have been giving my dogs baths with Adams flea and tick shampoo, which kills the fleas right away, but the cats haven’t been treated for about a month so I bought them a Adams flea and tick collar for cats so I wanna see how that works I swear the cats give the dogs fleas because the cats are outside more than the dogs.. if the atoms, flea intake collar doesn’t do too good for the cats I’m going straight to Sreto for all the animals
My veterinarian recommended Soresto for my 3 cats who have fleas. I put them on Frontline but it hasn’t worked very well. I’m hoping that Soresto gives them some relief!
I just bought a Hartz Cat Flea Collar and this video was recommended and I’m so scared.
The thing is I have had to use R.I.P. Fleas Extra carpet spray to kill the fleas in the carpet which contains 0.5% w/w Permathrin. I followed the instructions EXTREMELEY closey and it says it’s safe for cats and was recommended by my vet. It says to spray and leave for at least 1 hour in a well ventilated room. I left it ventilated for 4 hours and had the door closed after my cat came home and haven’t let him in my room since (he is not happy but somehow I think he knows what I’m doing hehe), but it’s about 18 hours now since I sprayed just to be sure. Will be vaccuming it today as it says to leave it in for 24 hours.
So my question is avoiding Permathrin in the video here is specifically talking about that ingredient being in collars yes? Or did you mean the spray as well because now I’m conflicted about using the spray even after my vet told me it is fine. I trust you Sarah.
Ty in advance if you have the time to answer my query and ty for the video. Your videos are ALWAYS informative & helpful : ]
I’m very surprised. You mistakenly claim that they have treated 25 million pets simply because they have sold 25 million units of their products.
Is there a product does not last for the entirety of an animal’s life depending on the situation.
I’m sure it’s more like a quarter of that number at most
Revolution?
Please no one use that collar! All I’ve read has been serious! Even Death! It’s not worth the Risk!
Why would they put harmful stuff on cat collars?
Can you recomend a specific collar?
My 1 cat and 1 dog lost hair but my other cat was fine. I’m actually having trouble getting it on my cat who is very skittish having trouble and I need it on her!
I dont use deadly chemicals on my pets or in my home. My dog has seizures from dangerous chemicals. I use Sweetbottoms Baltic Amber flea collars. ALL natural, no chemicals. Because I love my fur babies. 🧡 #ILOVESWEETBOTTOMS 🧡 Their price is super cheap, shipping’s super fast.
Are cat collars made by Hartz any good????? They have one of the chemicals you mentioned. Thanks 😢
Great video. Taking a screenshot of your don’ts to make sure my furry buddies flea collar does not consist of them.
This lady is not a good person wheres the mention of over 25000 deaths and many things can happen inside the animals body that can be caused by the collar while ur oblivious to why this is happening almost 50% of dogs get cancer and they get old fast old bodies cant fight off the same things as young bodies u dont need to be risking anything
Does anyone have advice on how to get seresto off? Scissors aren’t strong enough and it’s not pulling apart.
What about if you have a cat and a dog? Would my cat being around my dog while it has it’s collar on be enough to hurt it? Or would my cat actually have to wear my dogs flea collar in order for it to be harmful?
Is there any one that you would recommend? Last one I ignorantly used on my cat was a Hartz Ultraguard Plus. And that does contain of 14.5% of an organophosphate pesticide called Tetrachlorvinphos. Luckily she did not have any major reaction, but I would like to do better for her, if possible. Do you have any recommendations?
what about "hartz .. ultra guard pro collar" it contains….
tetrachlorvenphos….and methoprene….
is it safe?
I’ve found Comfortis to be an excellent flea product for my cat–HOWEVER, you have to get them to ingest it and if they don’t, you just wasted $17. If you just put it in their mouth, they will keep it in their mouth until you’re not looking and spit it out, all day long. If you dissolve it and pour it into their food, you may trick them once, but after that, they will completely refuse to eat that food until it rots, period. At the vet, however, they have a tool that quickly (in a hot second) shoves the pill down their throat to where they can’t spit it back up. If you can successfully get them to ingest Comfortis, they will be flea-free for a month. ✔️
Seresto is still sold where i live.
Thank you Dr Wooten for this video and the many others you provide. I am a new cat owner. I essentially adopted a family of a mother cat and 6 kittens. One kitten was already adopted by a couple who are veterinarians, so I feel he is super well cared for ad safe. The kittens are now 7 months old. The mother cat is about a year and a half to two years old. We don’t know for sure when was momma cat born. She showed up by herself about a year ago, in the yard of the house where my mother and I live. We are both retired. A few weeks ago I noticed a lot of scratching among the kittens. Our vets provided little vials of some liquid between the shoulders of all 6 cats. It worked but I see little black things on the sofas and elsewhere. It seems like flea dirt. So I am learning how to deal with possible flea infestation here. I live with my mom and the cat family in Puebla in Mexico. Momma cat’s name is Tita. Once again, thank you for your very informative videos. Best wishes from Puebla in Mexico.
i don’t leave it on when inside the vet does give them treatme t but Tx fleas are so baaaad so seresto is good when outside like for some hours then off n in a blastic zipplog bag