Flea collar for cats: how it works, selection criteria, application

What caring owner doesn't worry about his cat? These meowing pets love to explore the world, so it is not surprising that the threat of fleas on their fur is extremely high. These parasites can turn even the quietest and laziest cat into an irritated and aggressive beast. There are several ways to save yourself from the scourge: bathing with shampoo, flea drops, combing, removal with tweezers, protective sprays. However, the best way to kill parasites is to use a special cat flea collar. Why? Let's look at it in this article.

How do flea and tick collars work?

The effect of the collar depends on the composition of the incoming substances. The instructions indicate that the drugs are aimed at preventing the appearance of blood-sucking insects, as well as their complete extermination. Products differ in the composition of substances and the basics of operation.

Main component: herbs. They are impregnated with extracts of various herbs: grain, wormwood, geranium, eucalyptus, pine cones, which poison and repel harmful insects. These safe impregnation options are suitable for adult cats and young kittens.
With insecticides. They are made of rubber, which has a specific smell. It contains various chemicals. Poisons destroy parasites on the animal’s fur within a radius of 0.5 m over a certain period of time.
With ultrasound. The special wave spectrum is harmful to hematopoiesis. Ultrasonic devices are not used in our country due to their high cost.
Plastic options. Their action is to repel parasites from the animal.

The most common type is insecticidal options (specially chemically prepared). They are not too expensive and cope with the task quite effectively - they have a negative effect on parasites. The main active ingredients are: fipronil (phenylpyrazole), diazinon, dimpilate and others. These elements do not have a harmful effect on adults.

How is destruction carried out? Vapors of toxic poisons are evenly distributed throughout the animal’s fur. At the same time, some chemicals kill adult insects and their larvae, while others repel harmful arthropods. In general, the active ingredients are not absorbed into the bloodstream, but remain on the surface of the epithelium.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of using flea collars for cats:

the most hygienic product;
easy to use;
efficiency is guaranteed;
long-term protective effect;
does not require large financial costs;
chemicals do not settle on the skin;
length adjustment.

Disadvantages of use:

Some animals may have allergies;
most products are not recommended for pregnant cats and young kittens (herbal or ultrasonic only);
presence of an unpleasant odor;
possible loss of hair on the neck;

In any case, you should not leave the animal without treatment. Even if the pet does not go outside and does not come into contact with stray animals, because the owner can bring the microscopic parasite to his home on his clothes.

Important! You should not buy too cheap fake analogues, which can be more harmful to the animal than parasitic creatures.

Attention! Insect parasites on wool are carriers of diseases dangerous to humans.

Features of flea collars

Of all the anti-parasitic agents, special anti-flea and tick collars for cats have gained the greatest popularity in use. They are convenient and easy to use, and if chosen correctly, they are effective and safe for the animal.

For kittens

Main features of the kitten accessory:

the dosage of poison is designed for a small kitten;
After the baby reaches the age of 2 months, it is possible to use a bio-collar, which does not contain poisons, but only repellent mixtures such as essential oils. Validity period – 4 months;
from 6 months, collars with a special dose are used;
Regular collars have been used on cats since they were one year old.

Pregnant and lactating cats

Features of collars for pregnant and lactating cats:

do not contain poisons, but are biological collars;
contains essential oils for repelling (for example, lavender).

TOP manufacturers: the best collars against ticks and fleas

Flea collars for cats are produced by a large number of companies. Some of them offer effective and safe products, while others do not. It's better to stick to American and European brands. In countries where there are no clear production standards (China, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc.), buying a collar is a roulette game: manufacturers may use low-quality materials and impregnations. With such products, poisoning from tick collars is possible. Below is a rating of the most popular products. So, which tick and flea collar is best?

Hartz collars

Hartz collars (USA) kill insects and ticks very quickly. Even wet Hartz continues to act. However, such collars can only be worn on healthy adult cats and female cats, because they are quite toxic (they contain tetrachlorvinphos, which we will discuss below). However, they all passed international veterinary control.

The undoubted advantage of Hartz products is not only efficiency. Therefore, Hartz products are one of the most expensive in our rating - this is its disadvantage.

Bolfo and Foresto from Bayer

German Foresto collars (manufactured by Bayer) have an insectoacaricidal and repellent effect, that is, they repel insects. Plus, Foresto poison infects parasites through their paws, that is, even before the bite. After this, paralysis and death of the flea or tick occurs. At the same time, the components of the collar do not penetrate into the cat’s blood: they are distributed over the skin.

German products Bolfo from the same company Bayer are waterproof and no less effective. Bolfo uses chemical insectoacaricides to kill and repel insects. Such products have restrictions on the age and health of the animal.

4 degrees of Beaphar protection

The Beaphar company (Holland) produces collars, drops, dietary supplements, etc. As for protection against fleas and ticks, Beaphar offers a four-step program: Step 1 - destruction of parasites that have already infected the animal; Stage 2 - protection against infection; Stage 3 - cleaning of animal habitats; Stage 4 – protection against worms.

The second stage involves the use of drops or collars with different impregnations. Among them are products with chemical insectoacaricides and a collar with a natural repellent - margosa extract. It is the collar with margosa that is the most popular, because... This is a bio collar that is the safest for cats.

The undoubted advantage of Beaphar products is the price-quality ratio: it is relatively inexpensive.

Wearing rules

Many collars emit a specific unpleasant odor, so cats do not like wearing them around their necks. Basic tips for the correct use of collars:

open the package;
put the collar on in such a position that your fingers can be easily held between it and the animal’s neck;
secure it with a special fastener;
trim the excess length of the tape.

The instructions on the package or from the manufacturer indicate a maximum shelf life ranging from a few weeks to six months. It is best to replace it at least once every 2-3 months.

Important! The period of protection against fleas is 4 - 6 months, against ticks is much shorter - no more than 2 months.

Terms of use

The anti-flea and tick collar for cats must be used with caution, as it contains aggressive toxic substances. Do not allow the animal to chew on the product or play with it. It should be firmly attached to the neck at all times.

Mounting method:

Remove the product from the packaging.
Dress it so that the cat's neck remains free.
Secure the accessory with a clasp.
Cut off excess length.

The instructions that come with the kit usually indicate how long you can wear the purchased accessory. The standard period of protection against fleas is 2-4 months, the anti-tick collar for cats is valid for about 2 months.

Does a domestic cat need a collar?

It is desirable for every animal to have protection against parasites. This is due to the fact that insects can enter the house, infecting even a domestic cat. They do this through other animals or together with items of human clothing and shoes. In this case, a collar will be a good preventive measure.

At what age can a kitten wear a collar?

A flea collar for a kitten can be used starting from 1.5-2 months of life. At this time, it is advisable to use safer models based on repellents, since they do not have a high toxic effect. From 3 months, the kitten can switch to stronger antiparasitic agents.

Is it possible for pregnant and lactating cats

Animals in a state of pregnancy and lactation are not recommended to wear a collar. A pregnant or lactating cat is especially vulnerable to insecticides, which can negatively affect her health and the health of her offspring. In the future, this can lead to developmental abnormalities in kittens and make feeding unsafe. If necessary, it is better to use models created using essential oils.

Precautionary measures

Due to the fact that the collar contains toxic substances, it is necessary to take precautions when handling it:

if the collar is ineffective and the pet shows signs of allergies, then an urgent need to change the manufacturer;
you need to purchase those products that, according to reviews, are recommended as effective;
use simultaneously with other drugs is prohibited;
correct placement of the collar on the animal to prevent harmful substances from entering the food tract.

Approximate cost of anti-flea accessories

The cost of collars varies depending on the manufacturer. Imported analogues are priced at 500-800 rubles, depending on the duration of action. There are copies priced at 3,000 rubles.

Russian analogues are priced from 50 to 250 rubles, depending on the composition and duration of action.

It is not recommended to use cheap Chinese analogues. The active substances included in their composition have not been studied. This can negatively affect your pet's health.

Types of collars

The following types of anti-flea accessories for dogs are produced:

chemical;
biological;
ultrasonic.

Chemical

The tape is impregnated with insecticides. Used for dogs older than six months, because puppies can be poisoned. Expensive products use chemicals that can be used from three months of age. Some individuals experience an allergic response to the components of the impregnation. Therefore, you need to observe your pet for a day after putting on the accessory. If something unusual appears in his behavior, the device is removed and the dog is given antihistamines.

Biological

They only repel insects. Externally, biological collars do not differ from chemical ones. Soaked in medicinal herbal extracts or essential oils. They are harmless for babies, so they are used on whelping and nursing mothers. The drugs have a limited duration of action. It should be put on before the dog is attacked by fleas. Doctor Zoo is in demand. Approximate price 50 rubles.

Ultrasonic

Manufacturers claim that a sensor is built into the collar that transmits radio signals that are alarming to insects and rodents, but elusive to the ear of humans and dogs. Of all the products mentioned, these are the most expensive. They are completely harmless, however, according to some users, they are useless. Approximate price 1500 rubles.

Ultrasonic collar

Reviews from veterinarians and buyers

Svetlana, Voronezh . In the summer, while at the dacha, our pet interacted with street cats and picked up fleas. No matter how much we tried, we could not cope with the problem. The imported version of Bolfo came to the rescue. Although the price is high, the effect is 100%. They put it on once and forgot about it, although the cat still had the same lifestyle. I recommend.

Valentina, Saratov . We live in a private house. We got a cat. Naturally, he constantly walks outside and communicates with other animals. The problem of fleas is urgent. We purchased a Hartz collar. Forgot about the problem forever. Now we just change the collar every 4 months.

Ekaterina, Ekaterinburg . We bought a Bars collar. An allergy appeared, the area on the neck turned red and hair began to fall out. They urgently changed the manufacturer. We bought Bolfo. The allergy problem quickly disappeared. Everything is fine now. Thanks to the manufacturer.

A flea and tick collar for cats is an effective means of combating parasites, as the animal is provided with protection from several weeks to several months. You must always ensure that it is flexible. Otherwise, it may pose a threat to the cat, which, for example, clings to branches. For domestic cats, it is advisable to use a collar containing essential oils.

How flea collars work

Before purchasing such a parasite control device, it is advisable to independently study the principle of operation of a flea collar and whether it can cause serious harm to the health of the animal. Such products are fastened strips of polymer material impregnated with one or another insectoacaricide. Today, the most commonly used chemical agents are permethrin, tetrachlorvinphos, imidacloprid and flumethrin. These are quite serious insecticides that have a high neurotoxic effect on parasitic insects.

In general, we can distinguish two methods of action that characterize this or that flea collar. The first method is that insects that are only in the immediate vicinity of the poisoned strip of the product can be poisoned. The rest leave the animal's body due to the fact that the flea collar emits a repellent odor, producing a repellent effect on parasites. The second method is more effective. Toxic substances spread over the entire surface of the cat’s body, penetrating the skin, subcutaneous fat, and hair follicles. This flea and tick collar for cats is considered more effective than a repellent collar, and most leading manufacturers offer such options.

Before purchasing such a parasite control device, it is advisable to independently study the principle of operation of a flea collar and whether it can cause serious harm to the health of the animal

This method of spreading insecticides does not harm the health of the pets themselves. This is absolutely safe due to the fact that, accumulating in the skin and fat, insectoacaricides do not enter the animal’s systemic bloodstream. Therefore, the cat is not poisoned, and preventive protection against ectoparasites becomes effective for a fairly long period.