Pets are often threatened by blood-sucking insects. In summer, in addition to fleas, lice, and ear mites, the Ixodid tick, a dangerous and bloodthirsty insect that causes discomfort to animals and carries serious diseases, also appears. A variety of insect repellents for cats and kittens are available today, including shampoos, sprays, drops, and tablets. According to consumer reviews, flea and tick collars are considered the most popular, cost-effective, and safest.
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Tick and flea collars
Experienced veterinarians recommend treating an animal infested with fleas with drops or sprays. Special shampoos can also be used. These products have one drawback: they must be applied every two to three weeks. For most cats and kittens, bath time is a difficult ordeal. And if there are no fleas, applying drops or spraying the animal means exposing it to unnecessary chemicals (insecticides) or essential oils (repellents).
A comfortable water temperature for cats is 38–39°C; the air in the room should be heated to a temperature of at least 22°C.
For prevention, and during the tick season from April to October, it's best to use a long-lasting product—a flea and tick collar. Some also repel other insects, such as horseflies, lice, mosquitoes, and lice. The active ingredient—an insecticide or repellent—is slowly released throughout the collar's life, killing or repelling parasites. You can choose a collar that lasts for six months or more.
The collar is a strip of rubber that releases a chemical, gradually killing the insects: first, the fleas run to the cat's tail, become lethargic, and eventually die.
After treating the animal with drops or spray, it is recommended to put on a flea and tick collar after 10-14 days.
In addition to the traditional plastic collars, ultrasonic collars that repel insects with a special signal have become available. These collars are unimpregnated and can be safely considered hypoallergenic. However, sales are low due to their high price.
The ultrasonic collar emits signals that are completely safe for the cat, but repel insects at a certain distance from it.
Some owners have learned to make their own flea repellent by soaking a flannel strip in thyme, eucalyptus, and lavender essential oils. Dry the cloth in the sun without wringing it out, then place it on your pet.
Criteria for choosing a collar
Key points to consider when choosing a flea collar:
- price category;
- convenience of the product for the cat;
- reliability of the fastener;
- the presence of allergies and other diseases in the pet;
- age of the animal;
- collar elasticity;
- the presence of a specific odor in the product;
- the period of validity of the active substance (sometimes the manufacturer indicates a period of validity longer than the actual one.
The more budget-friendly the collar option, the shorter its lifespan.
Comfort for your cat is the most important criterion when choosing a collar.
Allergies or individual intolerances to the medications used for impregnation are extremely rare. One collar will last for six months or more. In comparison, drops are applied at least once every three weeks.
Table: price-quality rating
| Name | Price, RUB | Time actions, | Smell | Reviews+/–, % | Activity components | Country manufacturer |
| Celandine | 80–90 | 3–4 months | weak | 50/50 | low | Russia |
| Gamma Bio | 85–100 | 2–3 months | blurry | 50/50 | average | Russia |
| Leopard | 95–130 | 2–3 months | weak | 50/50 | low | Russia |
| RolfClub | 180–220 | 5–6 months | blurry | 50/50 | average | Russia |
| Beaphar | 250–300 | 5–6 months | blurry | 85/15 | high | Holland |
| Bayer Bolfo | 400–450 | 5–6 months | weak | 80/20 | high | Germany |
| Hartz | 450–500 | 6–7 months | weak | 98/2 | high | USA |
| Bayer Foresto | 1550–2000 | 6–7 months | weak | 98/2 | high | Germany |
Beaphar and Bayer Bolfo offer a great combination of price and quality. The budget-friendly range (under 200 rubles) is used for prevention only. Pre-treatment with antiparasitic drops is recommended.
Buy animal protection and treatment products only from specialized stores. Check the packaging for integrity and product certification.
Photo gallery: a variety of flea collars for cats
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- The Bayer Foresto collar can protect your pet from unwanted parasites for almost a year. Moreover, the product's unique matrix regularly controls the release of the active substance from the collar only when necessary and with the required degree of protection.
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- Bayer Bolfo collars are water-resistant, and a clear advantage of this product is that the collars are divided into several groups designed for animals of different weights.
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- Bars collars are best suited for those animals that rarely leave the house.
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- Beaphar products will appeal to all lovers of natural products: the collars contain plant-based insecticides
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- Hartz collars are capable of quickly dealing with fleas, ticks, and lice, which deservedly attracts the attention of cat lovers. They are quite durable and retain their effectiveness and ability to fight parasites even when they come into contact with water.
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- The Celandine collar does not cause resorptive-toxic, skin-irritating or sensitizing effects on the animal's body, it is approved for use on sick and weakened animals, and is allowed for use on pregnant and lactating cats.
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- The Gamma collar is made using highly effective, modern medications that are safe for animals and humans and approved for use by the Russian Veterinary Department.
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- RolfClub collars can be divided into two groups according to their purpose: the first are for fighting fleas, lice, and ticks, and the second are for fighting ecto- (ticks, etc.) and endoparasites (nematodes - roundworms)
Collars for kittens
Manufacturers indicate in the instructions the recommended age for a given product. Typically, each brand has a separate line for kittens, pregnant cats, and nursing cats. Bolfo, Bars, and Gamma Bio are universal and suitable for animals aged two months and older.
Fleas and ticks pose a very serious danger to small kittens: a severely bitten kitten is very weak and can become anemic due to partial blood loss.
After using the shampoo, you should put on a flea collar after 3-5 days!
Instructions for using a flea and tick collar
When putting a collar on an animal, you should follow the following algorithm:
- Please read the instructions carefully.
- Remove the collar from the sealed packaging.
- Attach the product to the cat's neck so that it does not disturb the animal, leaving a gap of 1–1.5 cm between the neck and the collar.
- Cut off any excess length, but leave some extra in case the collar becomes loose.
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap.
When choosing a collar, consider your pet's health and comfort. If your cat leads an active lifestyle, walks, and plays a lot, such a collar can become an obstacle and an inconvenience. Allergic reactions, epilepsy, and a tendency to seizures can all be reasons to avoid collars, especially budget-friendly options.
Reviews
Gamma Collar for Cats Against Fleas, Lice, Ticks, Mosquitoes, and Horseflies - Good. Disadvantages: None. We decided to give our son a kitten for his birthday... After some time, we put the Gamma collar on him. The results were immediate. It's a very comfortable collar, I can tell because the cat didn't try to take it off. And it really does work. The price is next to nothing for such a miracle.
I bought a Hartz collar at a regular pet store. It costs 399 rubles. It seems expensive, but this collar also offers unconventional protection. Most collars only provide protection for three months. The Hartz collar provides protection for up to seven months... It provides good protection against fleas for the entire stated seven-month period. I really liked the collar's fastening. It's quite secure and comfortable. The active ingredient in the collar is tetrachlorvinphos... The dosage is significant, and I don't recommend using this collar on a kitten under 12 weeks old or 3 months old.
Over the past three years, I've probably tried every cat collar available in our pet stores. The quality and effectiveness weren't always impressive, but to find the best in terms of price and quality, I had to try at least a couple dozen. We recently bought a Rolf Club collar for our cat; it's a well-known brand, though not cheap. He has no fleas and doesn't itch, even though it's not flea season here—they're more rampant in the heat—but even after a day without the collar, he's already scratching and twitching.
We bought a Foresto collar. And oh my god, we won. It's been three weeks now, and there are no fleas. I check my cat every day. And here are the pros about the collar itself: 1. It's great because it's completely odorless (I'm just remembering the one I bought before, it smelled like crazy). 2. It's effective (I haven't found a single flea in three weeks). 3. It's gray, which is perfect for us, and it's practically invisible on my cat. 4. It has reflective clips (we tried them, but we still don't understand what they're for). Cons: 1. That's the only downside: it's expensive, starting at 1,300 rubles everywhere, but we were incredibly lucky because there was a special offer on it at the store and it only cost us 835 rubles. And overall, I want to say, I don't know about ticks, but it's very effective for cats against fleas.
Of course, the BARS insecticide-acaricidal collar is a chemical that carries potential dangers, but over several years of using it, we've never noticed any negative or allergic reactions in our cat. Therefore, this collar works well for our cat, but I'm absolutely certain it won't work for every animal, so I don't rule out the possibility of an adverse reaction. The BARS insecticide-acaricidal collar is quite effective, but there have been some complaints, and I'll explain why. The collar works great against fleas; we've never had any problems with this parasite. However, we were bitten by a tick last summer, and it took our cat almost a week to recover from the shock. Overall, the BARS insecticide-acaricidal collar for cats is a good option, but don't expect 100% protection against parasites. Despite some shortcomings, I still recommend it, but please keep in mind that this product may not be suitable for your pet.
I bought my cat another collar, this time in red from the Dutch brand Beaphar. It claims to protect her from fleas and ticks for six months. The collar doesn't interfere with her daily activities; she can groom herself and eat without any problems. It has a convenient clasp. She's been wearing it for three weeks now, and there haven't been any side effects. She's acting and feeling just like before. From the first day, she's been completely oblivious to the collar. The result is a clean, happy cat, free of parasites and the risk of them!
Choosing flea and tick protection isn't difficult. Price, durability, and even color (in some models) can be tailored to your needs and your cat's preferences. The key is to consider your pet's well-being.
