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My cat has fleas despite Advantage II. How can I get rid of them?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Ragdoll | Female | 9.5 lbs

I have my cat on Advantage II flea medicine. And also got her a flea comb and have been trying to kill as many as i can everyday. They dont seem to be decreasing much and she has scratches and scabs all around her neck. Is there anything else that I can do to help her?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

Veterinarian

Published on May 27th, 2019

Only 5% of the flea population is adult, biting fleas at any one time. You should use an insecticidal flea spray such as acclaim or indorex to address the 95% eggs and larvae which are hatching and jumping back on to Padme. Oral flea medications such as comfortis can also be helpful in long haired cats as it can be difficult to apply topicals thoroughly onto the skin and may be less effective than predicted

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 31st, 2018

    Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons and/or chews Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Simparica, Nexgard Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 28th, 2018

    Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons: Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well) House spray: Indoorex

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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