Features of flea collars for cats and dogs
In the light of recent events regarding the raging East Asian virus, we completely forget about our younger brothers. But it is they who allow us to escape from the everyday worldly bustle and hustle and bustle. Cats and dogs - these are the outlets that cheer you up. For them, a person is their whole life, so it is important to show true concern for them.
In this review, we will talk about the means of protection and prevention against blood-sucking insects, which often give a pet a lot of trouble. What is the best flea collar for cats? For what period of use is this or that model suitable? How harmful is using a strap for small kittens?
Collar effectiveness: proven or not?
To answer this question, it is worth understanding for what purposes you plan to use a cat or dog collar.
All manufactured products aimed at preventing pets from infesting parasites are divided into several categories. Here's what we're talking about:
- Bio-collars. This category is a safe insect repellent. The main element acting here is essential oil, repellent or herbal extract, which is impregnated with the base. As an antiseptic, manufacturers use mint, eucalyptus, wormwood, pine resin, oak, fir, rosemary, lavender, geranium, etc.
- With chemical additives. The so-called insecticides are widely used for the prevention and treatment of fleas and ticks. The straps can be impregnated with ivermectin, permethrin, fipronil, pyriproxyfen. This medical product for pets is the most demanded, as it has the highest efficiency at a relatively low cost.
- Using ultrasonic waves. The principle of operation of this device consists in the presence of a special transmitter (broadcaster), which transmits signals at high frequencies. These signals deliver a lot of unpleasant sensations to all insects nearby, with complete safety for people and animals. This collar is the most expensive of all options, but the safest.
Pet owners tend to prefer the first two options. Here is the perfect balance of price and quality. Ultrasonic devices are a rarity in pet stores. Most owners are skeptical about modern technology in terms of efficiency.
Let us now answer the question about the effectiveness of the application. Here it is important to understand what you plan to use the pet remedy for. If you want to protect your cat from fleas, ticks, and other parasites, then a collar is perfect. But if your pet already has mites sucking blood, using a collar is unlikely to help.
In some advanced cases with blocks, the action of this device is also ineffective.So, if fleas have laid eggs, then the use of such protection will not ensure their death. In this case, you must use special medicated pet shampoos.
Now you know how a flea collar for cats works. Its main task is to scare away insects from the pet. Models impregnated with insecticides also effectively repel ticks and other parasites. But with tick bites, neglected cases with fleas, this type of protection will not work.
How does it work?
Consider the principle of action of the most popular collars for pets - bio- and insecticidal.
Both insect repellents work in a similar way. When attached to the pet's neck, the active substance that the strap is impregnated with begins to be evenly distributed over the animal's coat. Thanks to a special formula and technology, the essential oil or insecticide is released in portions. This allows you to maintain an ideal balance of the concentration of the active substance, not to harm the health of the pet.
The essential oil (insecticide) is selected in such a way that it has the most negative effect on parasites, while causing minimal harm to the cat (dog).
After you attach the strap to your pet's neck, after one hour, the impregnation is evenly distributed over the surface of the coat, starting to cause a lot of trouble for parasites.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are several advantages and disadvantages to using an ether / insecticide soaked strap. Positive qualities include:
- ease of use;
- relatively long service life;
- little harm to a pet;
- efficiency;
- good prevention results.
But what are the disadvantages of this insect repellent:
- Individuality of use. An individual brand must be selected for each animal. Various manufacturers use impregnating bases with excellent characteristics. It is worth figuring out which formula is right for your cat.
- Side effects. You may experience itching, redness on the cat's or dog's neck. When wearing, the first time it is necessary to observe the state of the animal. If he constantly itches, tries to remove, gnaws at the collar, or red spots appear at the point of contact, it is necessary to remove the strap, consult a veterinarian for advice.
- Restrictions on use for small kittens, pregnant, lactating cats.
- Cannot be used in the treatment of animals in advanced cases, in the presence of blood-sucking ticks.
For kittens, pregnant (lactating) cats, manufacturers produce specialized straps. Their distinctive feature is sparing active agents in the composition, a lower dosage of insecticides (herbs, oils).
Wear instructions
When buying a protective strap against blood-sucking parasites, the owners need to study the instructions, indications for use for a specific product. Manufacturers produce protective collars of different composition, purpose, duration of wearing.
But there are general recommendations from veterinarians. Let's get to know them better:
- When buying from a pet store, pay attention to the recommendations of the manufacturers. Usually, the most important information is indicated on the front of the package. Pay attention to the recommended age, weight of the animal, terms of wearing, active ingredients.
- It is worth unpacking the packaging just before you plan to put the strap on the cat's neck.
- After trying on a cat or dog, adjusting the length, the unnecessary part should be cut off. This is necessary to avoid the ingress of the active substance into the animal's body, since the animal will definitely play with a long tail.
- Do not throw away the packaging. If you only use the collar when walking outside, and take it off at home, then the old packaging will serve as an excellent storage place. Usually manufacturers produce convenient bags with the ability to hermetically seal insect repellent. When stored in packaging, the shelf life will last for a long time.
Often, owners wonder how long a flea collar for cats can be worn in time. There may be several answers.
By service life. If you live in a country house, your cat is constantly running outside, he needs 24/7 protection. In this case, the strap is worn for maximum service life.
When using insect repellent only when walking animals. In this case, you only wear the strap for a walk. Proper storage is important here.
Top collars by manufacturer
Both foreign and Russian products are on sale. Let's consider the most popular options.
Hartz brand
German manufacturer. It is an expensive parasite remedy. The main active ingredient here is tetrachlorvinfors. Has a long service life up to 7 months. Resistant to moisture. This model cannot be used for kittens under 3 months old, pregnant, lactating cats.
Bolfo model
A good product for about 500 rubles. In terms of service life, it is inferior to Hartz. For protection against fleas - 4 months, against ticks - 2.5. It is used for kittens over 1.5 months old. Contraindicated in pregnant women, lactating animals. The active ingredient is propocourse.
Beaphar Model
Dutch company for the production of animal protection products. The price starts at 300 rubles. Service life - up to 6 months (from fleas). Has partial moisture protection. It is forbidden to use kittens up to 1.5 months. The active impregnation is diazinon.
Leopard
Russian firm. Service life - 4 months from ticks, 5 from fleas. The active ingredient is finpronil. Not suitable for kittens under 2 months old.
As you can see from the list above, the protective straps are completely unsuitable for small kittens, pregnant cats. But in extreme cases, if necessary, you can consult a veterinarian who can choose the right model for your pet.
Video: how does a flea collar for cats work
