
Donnie Ray Jones on flickr / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThe summer is when most pet owners worry about fleas and ticks affecting their pets. Naturally, many people will look for an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment while they are shopping. After all, who thinks of a few fleas or ticks as an emergency?
What to do if a cat has been treated with dog flea and tick products:
Celeste Lindell (averagejane on flickr) / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThis is an emergency and your cat needs to be treated as soon as possible.
- Call your vet or closest emergency animal hospital.
- Bathe the cat/kitten with warm soapy water.
- Don't bother drying the cat/kitten - just wrap him/her in a towel and head to the emergency hospital or your veterinarian.
- Upon arrival at the vet or animal hospital inform whoever greets you that your cat has been exposed to a flea and tick treatment meant for dogs.
Why dog flea and tick products harm cats:
What is the ingredient in these flea and tick products that are so deadly to cats?
Not on cats but I would not use it on my dog either
Check out this investigative report by Joel Grover:
Trade or Other Names for Pyrethrins
Graham Smith on flickr / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 GenericThe ingredients to look for (and stay away from) regardless of the brand may be listed as:
pyrethrins
pyrethroids
permethrin
tetramethrin
phenothrin
etofenprox
allethrin
resmethrin
amitraz - belongs to a group of drugs called formamidines (which kills ticks)

Chrysanthemum
Cinerariaefolium
Ofimotox
Insect Powder
Dalmation Insect Flowers
Firmotox
Parexan
NA 9184
What is a Safe Solution for Flea and Tick Control?
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), suggests quite a few alternative treatments. The tips I feel are most helpful include the following:
- Use a veterinarian-approved pet shampoo. Start with warm water and begin a "ring of lather" around your pet's neck to prevent fleas from climbing up onto their head and face. Soap and water DOES kill fleas.
- Make your own insect repellent for dogs: Add 5 drops each of citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil and tea tree oil to 1 cup of warm water. Mix it well and store it in a spray bottle. This can be used even daily on your dog's coat. Plus it smells pleasant too.
- Vacuum pet beds, rugs and furniture often and wash any bedding once a week during flea season. NOTE: Flea eggs might be sucked up by your vacuum yet they can still hatch in the bag. So either seal it and put in the garbage or store it in a large ziploc bag (sealed) in your freezer after you vacuum until the bag is full.