The best flea and tick collars for cats

Collar against blood-sucking insects is the simplest and most effective method of combating parasites. All companies specializing in the production of pet care products release their models. But sometimes a cat flea collar does not help. Let's try to figure out why this is happening and how to choose the right remedy so that it is not just an accessory. Consider how a flea collar works.

The principle of action of the protective agent

Flea collars for cats work on the principle used to create shampoos, drops and sprays against bloodsucking insects. The flexible base of polyvinyl chloride contains microcapsules containing insecticides and repellents that kill adult insects that parasitize the body of an animal and scare away newcomers. Before using the collar, stretch it several times, as a white coating appears on its surface. This insecticide is partially released from the capsules and the cat flea collar is activated.

The insecticides that are enclosed in the flea collar for cats are organophosphates (tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon), peritroids (cifenotrin, deltamethrin, imidacloprid and flumetrin) amitraz, fipronil and carbamate pesticides. But they have one principle of action - upon contact with an insecticide in an insect, the transmission of a nerve impulse through the presynaptic cleft of neurons is blocked. The muscle fibers they innervate spastically contract and cease to function. A paralyzed insect dies.

Used insecticides are substances of contact-intestinal action. The drugs have a low (3-4) toxicity class and, subject to safety rules, cannot lead to serious cat poisoning.

Important!

Be sure to follow the safety rules. Even though insecticide poisoning is very rare, it is necessary to exclude licking and chewing of the collar. To do this, you need to properly fit the product in size, the extra strip is cut off. Keep the flea collar for cats tightly packed so that the active substances do not collapse under the influence of air or light.

Some developers inject S-metoprene into the capsule, which damages the juvenile hormone involved in chitin production. As a result, the insect at the stage of larva and egg develops abnormally and dies.

Repellents - natural substances from essential oils, plant extracts that repel cat fleas its smell. The active substances “stick” to the surface of the coat, spread in the lipid layer of the skin when the animal moves, penetrate the hair follicle and the cavity of the sebaceous glands, providing a prolonged insecticidal-acaricidal effect.

Criterias of choice

A wide selection of protective accessories for four-legged friends is presented on the shelves of pet stores. Therefore, the pet owner, confused among the variety of models, asks the question: "how to choose the best?" The collar must match the neck volume of the animal. Products are produced with a length of 35-40 cm. There is a latch on the tape with which it can be fixed by adjusting in volume.Between the collar and the neck of the cat there should be a space of a few centimeters, sufficient not to squeeze the neck and not cause the pet discomfort.

Many collars have a specific smell, but there are odorless products. Which flea collar is best for cats can only be resolved by trying several types. On the package there is a detailed instruction, composition, how the agent acts on parasites, especially the use. Collars are made of moisture resistant material and the insecticide is not washed off with plain water. Even if the coating was broken, after a week it is restored.

Flea collar for cats, the instruction to which recommends the rules of handling and safety, is a therapeutic and prophylactic. But to enhance effectiveness, it is better to put it on a pet after bathing with a special insecticidal shampoo or other external treatment against blood-sucking insects. How much a flea collar for cats works depends on the number of microcapsules and the type of active substance. The standard validity period is 1-2 months, but there are manufacturers who guarantee the effectiveness of a flea remedy for six months.

Important!

How much to wear a collar, determines the owner of the animal, examining the hair of a cat. But if the pet has an allergic reaction after several days, then the product must be removed and replaced with another model or other means should be used in the external pest control. If the collar is planned to be used for protection against kitten parasites, then you should choose a special model.

Owners of furry pets should ask the seller or the consultant how long the protective accessory starts to work. Some types of insecticides have a delayed but prolonged effect. If you put such a collar on a cat, then it starts to work only after 3-8 hours. During this time, infection may occur. This is especially dangerous when infected with ixodid ticks. After digging into the skin of a cat, they will not leave it even after activation of the product.

How to wear a flea collar on a cat is described in the instructions.

Advantages and disadvantages of the product

A flea collar for a cat has its advantages:

• easy to use;
• can be used if the animal is afraid of water;
• special models are used to protect kittens and pregnant cats;
• the insecticide adversely affects ticks, allowing the animal to shake off the parasite;
• the presence of a collar ensures the safety of the cat when trapping stray animals;
• with constant use, the animal is protected from blood-sucking insects for a period of 2 to 7 months.

Does flea collar help cats, can be installed only after careful observation for several days. There are other disadvantages of this remedy:

• the service life may be reduced due to constant wetting;
• a hyperactive animal runs the risk of being injured by being caught in a collar;
• whether the collar is effective against fleas depends on microclimatic conditions, individual characteristics of the animal’s body, and the level of immunity;
• when buying counterfeit, intoxication of a cat with insecticides is possible.

Will a flea collar help if fleas already exist? Judging by the assurances of the producers and customer reviews, if the animal is wearing it all the time, it will be possible to get rid of the imago in a period of 2-3 days, and then just have to wait until the larvae hatch from the eggs.

The owner of the pet can decide for himself whether the collar is harmful to his pet. With proper selection and following the recommendations of the instructions for use, the product is safe and effective. And harm can be caused by a poor-quality product or if it is worn during an animal’s illness when the pet is weakened. In other cases, a protective accessory will not affect the health of the pussy.

Overview of the best collars

There are many domestic and foreign, cheap and expensive collars on the pet market.Here are some of the models that, according to reviews, received the highest rating:

1. Leopard (AVZ) - the active substance fipronil is active against fleas, ticks , lice, mosquitoes. Producer "Agrovetzashchita" (Moscow). Owners of animals note that this collar for cats from fleas and ticks is not inferior in effectiveness to expensive foreign means, but much cheaper. Has a shelf life of 120 days. It can be used to protect cats from the age of 2 months. Water resistant.
2. Dr zoo - manufacturer Zooclub (Russia), contains diazinon, is safe and effective, but has a relatively short period of validity - 2 months. Dr. Zoo flea collar does not cause allergic reactions and is inexpensive, so reviews are good.
3. Beaphar - Products of the company of the same name, which produces homeopathic preparations for animals. The active ingredient is natural - margose extract. There are products for kittens from 1.5 months and pregnant cats. Almost odorless, does not cause allergies and irritation.
4. Bolfo - A prestigious, expensive flea cat collar. Manufactured by Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Germany. Excellent quality, has several options with different dosages of the active substance, depending on the body weight of the cat. It has a short validity period - from ticks 2-3 months, the duration of protection against fleas is 120 days.
5. Celandine. It contains permethrin - the active substance, coniferous fragrance, additional components. They accumulate in the hairline and sebaceous glands of the animal, exerting a destructive effect on parasitic insects.
   

   

6. Hartz- products exist in several modifications, have a different color, are effective in combating blood-sucking insects. Hartz 2 in 1 is valid for 5 months and contains tetrachlorvinphos. Hartz Control includes not only an insecticide, but also metoprene, so within 5 months it effectively destroys all forms of flea development - eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. The Long Life modification lasts only 90 days, so it is recommended to use it in the months with the highest tick activity. Has a reflective strip.

Many flea collar options allow you to choose the one that best suits your cat, taking into account all individual characteristics and age. It is impossible to say which of the listed and existing flea and tick collars for cats is considered the best.

If the owner does not want for any reason to use the flea collars available for sale to a cat, then it is easy to make them yourself. There are many ways to make a flea collar for a cat with your own hands. But there is a simple and natural remedy - tea tree oil, lavender, pine. It is worth soaking them with a tape of flannel or any hygroscopic material and drying it in air - the collar is ready.

Any flea and tick tick collar for cats has a variety of reviews, so it is better to focus on trusted brands or consult a veterinarian. Products have contraindications for use. So a specialist consultation will be useful.