Are Flea Collars Safe For Cats?
Yes and No, chemical flea collars are not safe, organic ones are. As cats are extremely sensitive animals. They are very irritant to chemicals most of the time.
Fleas are a significant risk to the health of pets and especially to cats all the time. Therefore there are a number of treatments available for them. A lot of research has been done to find out the safest way to deal with fleas. One of the most common ways a pet owner follows to prevent pets from fleas is the flea collar. However, flea collars, in general, are best for protection against fleas. However, they are not suitable for a pet suffering from flea infestation.
Are Flea Collars Safe For Cats?
Flea collars are the easiest way to prevent fleas, but the question is whether these flea collars are safe or not? However, this is a controversial question, but the most accepted answer is no. Chemical flea collars are not safe for cats because they work by discharging gases that are harmful to them, especially around the head and neck regions. These chemicals then travel throughout the whole pet's skin.
Hazardous Chemicals
Most of the time, the chemicals that a flea collar contains are hazardous pesticides that are extremely harmful to cats. When a cat licks its body, there are greater chances that it might ingest some of the chemicals that later causes many problems, such as vomiting, weakness, difficulty, and shortness of breath, and severe cases of paralysis and even death.
Allergic Reactions
Apart from this, cats are extremely sensitive animals. They are very irritant to chemicals most of the time. Cats develop allergic reactions to the collars. Some common allergic
reactions are itching around the collar, rashes over the neck region, inflammation, swelling, and itchy eyes.
Restricted Protection to the Neck and Head Region Only
Another reason is that many people think flea collars are not safe for cats because they only protect the cat's head and neck region from fleas. The rest of the pet’s body is exposed to them. In addition to this, many collars are only designed to prevent pets from fleas and are unable to kill them.
The Danger of Getting Caught in a Fence
Another reason is that once the flea collars are worn by cats, they are very tricky to pull out. They are secured tightly around the neck to make sure that the cat does not slip out of it. They are hence a big risk for curious cats. The cats that like to explore and love playing in bushes are at greater risk of getting caught on different objects like tree branches or railings, so there are chances for being stuck and getting hurt.
Risk of Developing Diseases in People Around the Cat
As we all know, cats roam around the owner’s house all the time so, there is a great risk for people developing allergic reactions because of the chemicals released from the flea collars. For example, when your cat rubs its body with your couch or sofa, the flea collars’ chemicals and ingredients are transferred to it. In this way, your body comes in contact with the chemicals indirectly or directly in any way, causing irritation and itching.
A Single Way to Use a Flea Collar
Apart from the above discussion, there is a way to use flea collars if you have already purchased one. Tear the collar into pieces away from the cat wearing gloves, and taking all precautions. Put all these pieces in your vacuum cleaner tank. The purpose of doing so is when the fleas are exposed to the chemicals of the collars in the canister, they will die, and you can empty the canister into the trash—cleaning your home from fleas quickly.
Tips To Remember:
Even if you decide on getting a flea collar for your cats and your vet has prescribed it to your cat, remember the following tips.
- First of all, have an appointment for your cat with a vet.
- Secondly, measure the weight and size of your cat.
- Read all instructions do and don'ts thoroughly.
- Do not use a number of products for flea prevention at once
- Check for the particular ingredients that your cat has allergic reactions towards.
- Note the reaction of your cat to the flea collar and act accordingly.
FAQs
Are chemical flea collars toxic to cats?
Yes, the chemicals used in flea collars can be toxic to pets, including cats.
What is the safest flea treatment for cats?
Use a natural flea collar for cats , spray or powder containing pyrethrins or natural pyrethrum. These are the least toxic of all the insecticides used on pets.
What happens if a cat licks a flea collar?
It can upset your cat’s stomach and can cause shortness of breath, diarrhoea, and vomiting in them.
How long does a flea collar last?
eight months.
Conclusion
Flea collars can be budget-friendly and most manageable to prevent your cats from fleas, but they have certain side effects not only to the pet itself but also to the people and especially kids who play with the cats all the time. As health comes first, it is important to look for the safest ways for prevention. Take precautionary measures that are human friendly also. I hope we have made your concerns clear in this article. Please do not forget to share your feedback as it matters the most, and keep visiting us for more information.
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Read more: Keep Your Cat Healthy with These 10 Simple Care Tips