Are Hartz Flea Drops Anygood???

The warm weather will soon be coming and flea and tick season will be
upon us once again. I am the proud owner of 2 one year old cats ( 1
male, 1 female ). Last year, I adopted the 2 cats who are brother and
sister and who were left as strays in a cardboard box on a boating dock.

Anyway, even though they are both fixed, the male goes outside now
because he is the bigger of the two, and he is a GREAT hunter because he
catches mice for us that wander near the house and/or garage. But the
thing that worries me is that the people who live next door to us (
about 10 feet separates our houses ), have about 20 **** Zu dogs running
around in their yard ( chain fenced ). They also run a dog breeding and
dog grooming service, so there are dogs constantly coming and going.

I have seen both my cats starting to scatch themselves all over the past
few days, and now I am worried. Hopefully its just dry skin, and not
dredded fleas!!!!! But to be on the safe side, I still want to protect
them with fleadops. I have read that "Advantage" is the best, but its
also expensive, like $45 dollars I think. I have seen cheaper ones in
the store such as "Zodiac" flea drops for as little as $7.99 which says
100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back, as well as "Hartz
Advanced Care" flea drops for $12.99 which claims to kill both fleas and
flea eggs.

But are these ones any good??? Do they work or are they a waste of
money??? Are they safe??? I would like to get "Advantage" but I am
currently only working part-time, and can't really afford it, but I
don't want fleas in my home, but from the cats scatching up a storm, it
may be to late??? Do the "Hartz Advanced Care" flea drops work, or do I
need to buy the "Advantage"??? Any info. will greatly be appreciated!!!
Thanks!!!

They will give you your money back BUT will they replace your cat?
Don't use any product other than Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.
The price you mentioned ($45) would be for a package of three. These
can also be purchased on line. Try http:www/noahspets.com


-MIKE

On Tue, 9 Mar 2004 07:29:01 -0500 (EST),
(---MIKE---) wrote:

They will give you your money back BUT will they replace your cat?
Don't use any product other than Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.
The price you mentioned ($45) would be for a package of three. These
can also be purchased on line. Try http:www/noahspets.com

Over the counter preparations usually aren't as strong or effective as
prescriptive ones. I got a big bottle of Frontline spray from the vet
for £18 (what's that in dollars - about 40?) and it lasts for ages.

Don't forget if your little furry friends do catch fleas, you have to
treat the environment too. Most of the eggs lie in carpets and soft
furnishings so if you remove them from your cat but not your sofa the
wee buggers just lie dormant then hop right back on again and start
the cycle all over.

First off I want to say thanks for all of your GREAT information, I
really do appreciate it. But I have another question. Doesn't
"Advantage" kill the flea eggs as well, or it does something to the
fleas so that they can't lay eggs anymore, so in theory it breaks the
lifecycle of the fleas, or do I have to flea bomb the house with one of
those flea foggers???

Advantage kills on contact and keeps on killing for 3-4 weeks. As flea
eggs hatch, they die.

Like you, I hate to flea bomb. Advantage (or Frontline or Revolution) is
effective enough that I don't have to bomb. As fleas jump from the rug to
the cat they are killed. Vacuuming helps, as well, if you bag and discard
the vacuum bag.

I also heartily recommend taking up all cat bedding and giving it a good
wash (bagging it tightly in plastic if you don't wash right away).

Just as an aside, another great flea product is Capstar, which kills fleas
immediately and kills for about 3 days. We use it in our rescue work, for
new young arrivals. Capstar is safe even for very small kittens (4
weeks).

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats
www.campuscats.org

"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message
. washington.edu...

Advantage kills on contact and keeps on killing for 3-4 weeks. As flea
eggs hatch, they die.

Like you, I hate to flea bomb. Advantage (or Frontline or Revolution) is
effective enough that I don't have to bomb. As fleas jump from the rug to
the cat they are killed. Vacuuming helps, as well, if you bag and discard
the vacuum bag.

I also heartily recommend taking up all cat bedding and giving it a good
wash (bagging it tightly in plastic if you don't wash right away).

Just as an aside, another great flea product is Capstar, which kills fleas
immediately and kills for about 3 days. We use it in our rescue work, for
new young arrivals. Capstar is safe even for very small kittens (4
weeks).

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats
www.campuscats.org

In addition to the pointers listed here and in some other replies, you could
cut a flea collar into fairly pieces and vacuum a couple of them in the
vacuum bag or cannister. This would help to control any eggs or stray fleas
that might be collected. Incidentally, I would *never* use a flea collar on
my cats. Mine are indoor only, so I rarely need flea control -- but when I
do, I use Advantage.

MaryL

"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message
. washington.edu...

Advantage kills on contact and keeps on killing for 3-4 weeks. As flea
eggs hatch, they die.

Like you, I hate to flea bomb. Advantage (or Frontline or Revolution) is
effective enough that I don't have to bomb. As fleas jump from the rug to
the cat they are killed. Vacuuming helps, as well, if you bag and discard
the vacuum bag.

I also heartily recommend taking up all cat bedding and giving it a good
wash (bagging it tightly in plastic if you don't wash right away).

Just as an aside, another great flea product is Capstar, which kills fleas
immediately and kills for about 3 days. We use it in our rescue work, for
new young arrivals. Capstar is safe even for very small kittens (4
weeks).

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats
www.campuscats.org

In addition to the pointers listed here and in some other replies, you could
cut a flea collar into fairly pieces and vacuum a couple of them in the
vacuum bag or cannister. This would help to control any eggs or stray fleas
that might be collected. Incidentally, I would *never* use a flea collar on
my cats. Mine are indoor only, so I rarely need flea control -- but when I
do, I use Advantage.

MaryL

Advantage kills on contact and keeps on killing for 3-4 weeks. As flea
eggs hatch, they die.

Like you, I hate to flea bomb. Advantage (or Frontline or Revolution) is
effective enough that I don't have to bomb. As fleas jump from the rug to
the cat they are killed. Vacuuming helps, as well, if you bag and discard
the vacuum bag.

I also heartily recommend taking up all cat bedding and giving it a good
wash (bagging it tightly in plastic if you don't wash right away).

Just as an aside, another great flea product is Capstar, which kills fleas
immediately and kills for about 3 days. We use it in our rescue work, for
new young arrivals. Capstar is safe even for very small kittens (4
weeks).

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats
www.campuscats.org

I have to disagree with Jaqueline. IF you catch the fleas early enough,
treating the cats should be enough. Any fleas that hatch will jump on
the cat for blood and promptly die. The treatment usually lasts about 6
weeks. I goofed on the site. It's http://www.noahspets.com


-MIKE

On Tue, 9 Mar 2004 12:43:38 -0500 (EST),
(---MIKE---) wrote:

I have to disagree with Jaqueline. IF you catch the fleas early enough,
treating the cats should be enough. Any fleas that hatch will jump on
the cat for blood and promptly die. The treatment usually lasts about 6
weeks. I goofed on the site. It's http://www.noahspets.com

If you catch the fleas early enough, but how do you know if you have?
By the time you see one, chances are there are thousands of 'em
hopping around. It's estimated that for every one on the cat there are
200 just waiting to hop on for a free meal.

If you use one of the stronger preps (like Frontline), regularly every
month or 6 weeks as instructed you'll kill the ones that hop back on
the cat, but if they're still laying eggs and breeding in your carpets
you could still get a few bites on the ankle! Fleas can lie dormant
for up to 2 years in carpets without feasting. *shudder*

Incidentally, quite worried by someone's suggestion to use dog
preparations, as I know some flea treatments used on dogs are toxic to
cats. I'd say check with your vet first.