My cat is scratching and unsettled after flea medicine. Is it normal?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Hi I have just given my cat Johnson's flea tablet he has had these before but it excessively scratching this time and very unsettled unsure what to do
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 4th, 2015
Johnson's flea tablet sound very much like a product I am familiar with called Capstar. It is meant to kill the fleas on the pet right away and to be used in conjunction with a longer acting flea product. It's helpful because it starts working quickly, but the effects only last for 24 hours. Your cat may be unsettled because she has a decent flea population on her and now the dying fleas as running around and making her itch. As long as she is okay otherwise, eating, drinking, eliminating normally, with no adverse symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or loss of appetite, I'm inclined to believe that this is what is happening. If she develops any of these symptoms, get her seen by you vet right away.
7Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 21st, 2020
Yes, I would be a bit concerned. Unfortunately, not all medications work well on an animals. I would consider this an abnormal reaction. I suggest you wash her with some Dawn Dish Soap to remove all the residual product from her body. If she stops eating or using the bathroom she needs to see a vet ASAP. I recommend you use a different product on her from now on. Maybe a Seresto collar? https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/seresto-flea-and-tick-collar-for-cats
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
i have given my cat teddy capstar about a week ago but he has these little bumps that feel like scabs and look like scabs he itches alot and is always licking himself i gave him a good bath in flea shampoo and added some apple cider vinergar to the w
Capstar is a short term solution, and while it starts killing fleas in 30 minutes, it doesn't provide lasting protection. Flea shampoos also are not very effective, nor do they provide last infection. I would give Teddy another dose of Capstar, and then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Put flea treatment on my cats yesterday advocate and today they still scratching is this normal
If they were scratching due to fleas then it is not unusual they are still itching. The bites from the fleas will not go away overnight (imagine if you had mosquito bites, these persist for quite a time after the bite occurs) and often the die off of fleas will cause increased itching for a day or two. If the itching is severe your vet may prescribe medication to help, or if they are still itching excessively in a few days, seek veterinary care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
This appeared last week he was scratching. The flea medication I put them on might not have bee and effective and the ones I normally use. I also changed there food but my older cat is fine
It really depends... some over the counter flea medications can cause allergic reactions. This could be what is going on. I personally never recommend using anything you can buy at the store/Petsmart/etc for cats because most of it contains pyrethrin which is an actual insecticide. It can be highly toxic. I always recommend getting flea control from your vet for two reasons: 1. You know its safe. Manufactures guarantee their products when they are purchased at a Vet. They don't when they are purchased elsewhere. 2. You can get better options. Your vet will carry things like Revolution, which not only protects against fleas, but also ear mites, intestinal worms and heartworms, which can be fatal to cats! If this issue persists, or gets worse, please go see your vet right away. If you are concerned that the product you used may have harmed your cat, give him a bath with Dawn dish soap. Good luck and feel free to consult with me privately if you have any follow up questi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat, Jax, is an indoor cat but he goes out every couple of days supervised. He was behaving strangely last night (jumping & running out of the blue) and this morning I noticed he had some irritation on his head above his eyes. He was scratching a
It's not likely to be a symptom of the fleas but it could be a symptom of the flea treatment you use, some of them can cause a side effect of lethargy and lack of appetite which usually does not last more than 24 hours. if by tomorrow Jax is not better, i would recommend taking him to your vet to get checked and treated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Mylo started ripping his fur out. Mostly his back legs and belly area. He went to the vet and had live fleas so he was given a topical medicine and Capstar pill. My other cat also received this. He seemed better for at least a few days, but the start
You can contact your veterinarian about giving him daily Capstar as well as discuss if he could have a secondary bacterial skin infection from scratching. Mylo may need antibiotics if he has a skin infection. Sometimes a topical sha,poo helps but with recent flea medication applied there is a waiting period before any bathing should be done.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cats have fleas. They got Revolution on oct. 22nd. I noticed some tapeworm segments in their bedding. They still have fleas every day. Today I went to the vet and they recommended I give them both capstar for the flea (3 pills each 24hr apart
Cap star is safe to use with other flea treatments and generally any topical can be applied 2 weeks after another with no problems. It is not uncommon for a change in stool after a deworming. If they are not normal after 24 hours from medicines then I would worry and have them checked
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Hi I gave my dog capstar yesterday and today she's scratching and biting her tail alot today is that normal.
Hello and thank you for contacting Boop by Petco. Excessive skin itchiness is listed as one of the potential side effects of Capstar. The symptoms are supposed to be mild and transient. Sadie should be back to normal within 24-48hrs, if not please, take her to your local vets for a check.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi there, my kitten has fleas and my partner got flea treatment. She applied it to the kitten and it said it will take upto 24 hours to work. After 24 hours they were still alive so she applied another treatment (not knowing you aren't meant to). Aft
Oh no, this isn't good! Give the cat Capstar, it's a one time pill that starts killing fleas in 30 minutes and is safe to give him now. You can give this to him once daily until two weeks is up, and then you can take him into the vet to get treated. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi I just want to know if you can flea a cat a week before he is due to be flead also on his back I have noticed he keeps scratching and he seems to have a twitchy back every so often wasn't sure why
Yes, this is fine to do. I will give Milo a flea treatment program that has always worked for me. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
One of my cats got fleas real bad before I caught it at early stages. I usually drop advantage 2 on her neck just below the scull,but that area is riddled with little scabs from the fleas.So I put out $50 on capstar and almost killed her with it, she
I am sorry to hear of the flea issues you are experiencing. That is certainly an unusual response to Capstar and it would be worth reporting this to the veterinarian that you purchased it from. You are right not to put the advantage onto the scabby skin, it could worsen the irritation. A safe way of helping to remove some of the fleas is to give your kitty a bath with blue dawn dishwashing detergent. Whilst it has no protective effects it is safe and gentle to use. Capstar is only one effective for about 24 hours so it may actually have worked, it just isn't helping longer term. Environmental treatment for fleas is always very important too. Wash all of your cat's bedding and any blankets etc that she likes to sleep on. Your own bedding too if she is frequently on your bed. Consider steam cleaning all carpets and rugs in the house, and any fabric furniture too (like couches and chairs). You may need to resort to a 'flea bomb' product or call an exterminator if the problem is not eas
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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