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Cats - Front Line or Advocate?


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Old 27-09-2016, 17:21
Cassini
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Our cat has a 6 monthly Program flea jab but still occasionally needs a topical treatment thru the summer. As I understand it the Program jab does not stop fleas from landing on the cat or biting her - it just stops them from laying eggs thus preventing more fleas.

I have been using Advocate thru the summer and wondered if Front Line is as good? Does anyone know - other than anecdotally - which is better and why?

My local chemist will supply Advocate but the vet cost just for prescription alone is £12 so I would not be saving much. I understand Front line can be bought without prescription.
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Old 28-09-2016, 12:35
Lily_M
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In my experience, Advocate works better. No product will stop fleas landing on or biting your cat, but Advocate (according to the nurse at my vets) has a shorter kill-time - so fleas will die within a couple of hours of landing on your cat.

The kill-time for Frontline is much longer so you are more likely to see fleas even f you've used Frontline. Also, there are 2 kinds of Frontline - the non-prescription one just kills live fleas but Frontline Combo which is prescription only also interferes with their breeding cycle and any eggs they lay do not hatch.

There is also now Broadline, which has the same chemical as Frontline but also treats worms. i used it on one of my cats for 3 months recently but still kept finding fleas on her. I went back to using Advocate on all my cats last month and haven't seen a single flea since. My only problem with Advocate is that it doesn't kill ticks, but I can live with that.

Hope that helps!
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Old 29-09-2016, 19:54
Cassini
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Thanks Lily.
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Old 29-09-2016, 19:59
moox
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My vet seems to be pushing Stronghold (by Pfizer). Seems to work.
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Old 30-09-2016, 20:27
Cassini
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Our vets were pushing the Program flea jab so we thought it might be worth it as it lasts 6 months. However we have still needed to use Advocat in the summer months. Our local chemist does flea treatments on prescription slightly cheaper than the vets but you still need the vet prescription which is another £12 so doesn't save much.
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Old 01-10-2016, 13:06
SilverCrown
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We bought Frontline for our cats, and it didn't work at all. I looked on the internet and found one called Advantage. Flea'd out cats with it a week ago, and had no signs of them returning so far. Seems to be working perfectly. Found Frontline a waste of money.
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Old 01-10-2016, 16:39
radioman2
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I'm annoyed that they're still marketing this stuff and people are still selling it.It's simply useless in most cases.Stronghold,Advantage and Advocate all seem to work well.Have had around 10 cats to treat and the Frontline failed miserably.
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Old 01-10-2016, 17:38
Lily_M
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I think Stronghold and Advantage have the same active ingredient (I could Google them but I can't be bothered!). I've used Stronghold in the past and found it effective. I won't use Frontline/Broadline again, I also think its a waste of money.
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Old 03-10-2016, 10:10
Hank Schrader
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My three cats got fleas after I moved to a new home. I used Frontline on them as well as blitzing the house and it did absolutely nothing. Last night My 18 year old boy Domino died and I'm devastated. He had a thick coat and was difficult to brush. I caught and killed at least 50 fleas leaving him before I had to wrap him in a towel. I had no idea he had so many, never saw one on him whilst alive, just the flea poo. My dad is going to bury him, I can't stop crying. I have no idea if the fleas killed him or contributed but can't stop blaming myself. PLEASE, take your cat to the vets if the flea treatment doesn't work.
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Old 03-10-2016, 10:27
stud u like
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My cat's fleas were immune to Frontline. Advocate worked very well and I was very pleased with it
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Old 03-10-2016, 10:36
Hank Schrader
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I'm annoyed that they're still marketing this stuff and people are still selling it.It's simply useless in most cases.Stronghold,Advantage and Advocate all seem to work well.Have had around 10 cats to treat and the Frontline failed miserably.
It should be banned. I've ordered some Advantage on-line but sadly it's too late for one of my cats. He was 18 and died naturally at home but I can't imagine the torment he suffered from these disgusting parasites drinking the life away from him.
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Old 03-10-2016, 11:12
Lily_M
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It should be banned. I've ordered some Advantage on-line but sadly it's too late for one of my cats. He was 18 and died naturally at home but I can't imagine the torment he suffered from these disgusting parasites drinking the life away from him.
Hank, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how heartbreaking it is to lose an animal member of the family and it's natural to feel guilty about what you should or shouldn't have done. You gave Domino a good life for 18 years. Let yourself grieve for as long as you need to but please don't beat yourself up - easier said than done, I know, I've done it myself. Condolences to you, you and Domino are in my thoughts.
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Old 03-10-2016, 11:23
Hank Schrader
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Hank, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how heartbreaking it is to lose an animal member of the family and it's natural to feel guilty about what you should or shouldn't have done. You gave Domino a good life for 18 years. Let yourself grieve for as long as you need to but please don't beat yourself up - easier said than done, I know, I've done it myself. Condolences to you, you and Domino are in my thoughts.
Thank you so much. I've lost two cats previously but they were put to sleep at the vets. To find my beautiful boy on the carpet this morning has broken my heart. I'm going to do everything possible to destroy any remaining fleas and pamper my Mitzy and Molly every day.
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:15
Cassini
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Just catching up on this thread. Hank I'm so sorry to hear about your cat Domino. 18 was a great age for him.
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Old 06-10-2016, 18:21
Hank Schrader
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Just catching up on this thread. Hank I'm so sorry to hear about your cat Domino. 18 was a great age for him.
Thank you.

I treated my Molly and Mitzy with Advantage yesterday and it has worked wonders. Found many dead or dying fleas in the conservatory where they tend to sleep and they both seem much happier! Wish I'd used this a month ago instead of Frontline.
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Old 08-10-2016, 16:31
CaptainObvious_
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Thank you.

I treated my Molly and Mitzy with Advantage yesterday and it has worked wonders. Found many dead or dying fleas in the conservatory where they tend to sleep and they both seem much happier! Wish I'd used this a month ago instead of Frontline.
Just saw your post above... I agree with the other posters, 18 is a great age for a cat, and I'm sure your Domino knew how much you loved him and cared for him. I strongly echo Lily when she says not to beat yourself up for what you feel you should/shouldn't have done- after all Domino may have passed away simply because of old age.

Molly and Mitzy are lucky to have an owner as caring as you!
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Old 19-10-2016, 10:48
saffiewalks
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Just saw your post above... I agree with the other posters, 18 is a great age for a cat, and I'm sure your Domino knew how much you loved him and cared for him. I strongly echo Lily when she says not to beat yourself up for what you feel you should/shouldn't have done- after all Domino may have passed away simply because of old age.

Molly and Mitzy are lucky to have an owner as caring as you!

Really sorry to hear about Domino but I am pretty sure that it was more likely to simply be old age that ended his life. Grieve for a much loved friend for as long as you need but then try to remember the happy times you spent together before he crossed the the Rainbow Bridge.

Last edited by saffiewalks : 19-10-2016 at 10:50. Reason: typo
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Old 19-10-2016, 11:02
saffiewalks
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Forgot to add, I have used Advocate for my cats for years. Seems to work and no ill effects.
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Old 22-10-2016, 22:16
CBFreak
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I've used Advantage on my cats this week and No fleas now
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Old 29-10-2016, 10:33
BlueEyedMrsP
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Does anyone have tips as to how to apply the monthly stuff and not get your arm scratched off? My understanding is that it's normal for cats to not like having it done. Wrap them up in a blanket perhaps? I watched a video on YouTube and the cat looked somewhat dozey, definitely not how my cat behaves.
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Old 12-11-2016, 13:33
dephanix02
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My cat i swear can hear the rustling of the packet opening when i flea her. She literally bolts out the cat flap when i enter the living room with it hidden behind my back

I usually get my partner to hold her. She doesn't get aggressive but she doesn't like it. Once it's on she gets squinty eyes for a few hours but no ill effects.

If my partner isn't around I do it when i put her new food bowl down. I understand a lot of cats do not like people near them when they're eating but mine gets so fixated on her food she doesn't even acknowledge me doing it (she is fed very well before people accuse me of not feeding her enough)
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Old 10-12-2016, 19:00
Trulytrue
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I put diaphanous earth in my cats and dog's food, they also have garlic pills and I spray them with a mix of apple cider vinegar with crushed garlic soaked into it for a week or so.

If they got fleas (touch wood non of them have yet ) I would brush diaphanous earth through their coats. making sure they do not breath it in.
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Old 10-12-2016, 23:29
riversmum
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Have a look on Animed direct and see if Advocate is cheaper than your chemist charges for it. I got a 6 mth prescription for it for my dogs and even paying £15 for the prescription I saved ££ by uploading the prescription to them and buying a 6 vial pack in one go. It worked out just over half of what I would have paid the vet even adding in the ridiculous cost for the prescription. Animed are fine, they actually own our vets who are part of their CVS group.

I use Indorex for the carpets never on the animals but its very good and doesn't smell dreadful like a lot of home flea treatments. I spray it under the furniture and the edges of the carpets, any nooks and crannies 2 or 3 times a year preventatively just in case. It stays active for 6 mths.

If you have fleas in the carpet you need to hoover thoroughly, animals bedding too daily for 2 wks as the vibration of the hoover makes the eggs hatch so you get rid of then instead of then lying dormant for ages then hatching.
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Old 10-12-2016, 23:36
riversmum
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If you use diatomaceous earth you need to use food grade not garden grade as it is hazardous to them and can damage their lungs as they ingest it when they groom themselves.
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