Good news! Comfortis has been approved for use in cats and is now in stock at The Drake Center!
Comfortis is a fast-acting, flavored tablet intended to kill fleas and prevent infestations for one month. An adulticide type of flea control, Comfortis begins working within 30 minutes to kill fleas before they have a chance to lay eggs.
For cats with a current flea problem, an insect growth regulator like Program will be needed in addition to Comfortis. This will ensure that the flea eggs already on your pet will never hatch. Therefore, there will be no flea cycle and no new fleas!
For more information about how the flea cycle works, please read our handout on Flea and Parasite Control.
Remember, because current flea medication cannot prevent parasites from jumping onto your pet, it is possible for him/her to get fleas even on a consistent flea control regimen. If your pet is up to date on an adulticide-type product like Comfortis, the adult flea should die shortly after taking a blood meal and therefore will not be able to reproduce. If your pet is only using an insect growth regulator like Program, the adult flea will not be killed. It will only prevent the flea's eggs from hatching.
The best way to prevent an infestation is to keep pets on a constant and consistent flea control regimen. When your pet is on and off preventative medication, it is likely he/she will get fleas! At The Drake Center, we recommend an injection of Program every six months for cats. Some cats, especially those that go outside, may also need an oral adulticide like Comfortis to control parasites that may be picked up outdoors or from other animals. A topical adulticide called Easy Spot may also be used to control ticks.