See All Flea Control

Advantage for Cats

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Reviewed

July 2010

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

Kills adult fleas within 12 hours
Kills flea larvae
Kills chewing lice
Doesn't require a prescription

Cons

Doesn't kill flea eggs or ticks
Pets and children are exposed to insecticide
Messier than oral medications

Where to Buy

for $51.99

Our Analysis
Specs

July 2010: Advantage for Cats is a topical flea-control treatment that experts and owners say is very effective. It is applied at the nape of the cat's neck, where it's difficult for the cat to reach for grooming. It almost immediately stops fleas from biting and kills 90 percent of fleas within 12 hours. It continues to kill fleas and larvae on contact all month long, even if the cat has the misfortune to get wet. The biggest negative is that it is a topical treatment, so other animals or children can be exposed to the active ingredients. If that's a worry, Capstar for Dogs and Cats (*Est. $30 for six doses) is an oral pill that removes those risks.

Among experts, the most helpful recommendations regarding Advantage for Cats come from veterinarians such as Larry Cohen of DrLarryPetVet.com and Eric Barchas at Dogster.com. The U.K.-based Feline Advisory Bureau also has reports on topical flea control treatments, including Advantage for Cats. Look to SimpleSteps.org for information about the safety of Advantage for Cats. Owner reviews are available at a number of sites, including 1800PetMeds.com, Amazon.com, Petco.com and PetSmart.com.

Where To Buy

Advantage Flea Killer for Cats, Orange, Under 9lbs. 6 Month Supply

4 New from $51.99

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. SimpleSteps.org

SimpleSteps.org reports on the safety of Advantage for Cats. Editors say that -- as with most other topical flea treatments -- Advantage for Cats should not be overused, and that it should be avoided in households with pregnant women or children. Information is also provided about imidacloprid, which is the active ingredient in Advantage.

Review: GreenPaws Flea and Tick Products Directory: Advantage, Editors of SimpleSteps.org

2. DrLarryPetVet.com

Veterinarian Larry Cohen rates Advantage for Cats as a "good product." He says it is more effective at controlling fleas than Frontline. He advises caution when using topical flea control treatments around children.

Review: Flea and Tick Products, Larry Cohen

3. Dogster.com

Veterinarian Eric Barchas looks at topical flea control products like Advantage for Cats. He says that bad reactions or side effects rarely happen with such products. He adds that any reaction from Advantage for Cats is unlikely to be severe.

Review: Vet Blog Discusses Safety and Efficacy of Flea Control Products, Eric Barchas, May 26, 2010

4. Feline Advisory Bureau

The Feline Advisory Board is a U.K.-based charity that promotes information about cats. The site recommends spot-on flea treatments over oral medications. Advantage for Cats is among the recommended products that are sold in the U.S.

Review: Tackling Fleas on Cats, Editors of Feline Advisory Bureau, Nov. 2008

5. 1800PetMeds.com

Advantage for Cats, along with Advantage for Dogs, scores highly with owners posting here. The reviews for both products are grouped together, but you can change the sort order to see all the cat owner reviews first.

Review: Advantage, Contributors to 1800PetMeds.com

6. Amazon.com

At Amazon.com, Advantage for Cats is the most highly rated flea control product for cats, and it gets hundreds of owner reviews. The majority say Advantage quickly took care of their cat's flea problem. About a dozen reviews say it didn't work, or the cat experienced temporary side effects.

Review: Advantage Once-a-Month Topical Flea Treatment for Cats, Contributors to Amazon.com

7. Petco.com

Advantage for Cats also scores highly here, though there is substantially less feedback than at the sites above. One negative with Petco.com is that the site is more difficult to use than other online retailers because it only shows four reviews at a time, and reviews can't be resorted by rating or other criteria.

Review: Advantage Once-a-Month Topical Flea Treatment for Cats & Kittens, Contributors to Petco.com

8. PetSmart.com

PetSmart.com is a retailer of pet supplies that recommends Advantage for Cats. However, the flea control treatment has only been reviewed by a handful of users, so we aren't sure what PetSmart.com is basing its recommendation on.

Review: Flea Control Products, Editors of PetSmart.com

Frontline Plus for Cats *Est. $75 for a 6-month supply

4 picks including: Amazon.com, Petco.com…

Program Suspension for Cats *Est. $60 for a six-month supply

3 picks including: Main Street Pet Care, SimpleSteps.org…

Sentinel Flavor Tabs *Est. $90 for a six-month supply

2 picks including: Main Street Pet Care, SimpleSteps.org…

Advantage II for Dogs *Est. $60 for a 6-month supply

2 picks including: Petco.com, Main Street Pet Care…