Have any of you used Frontline on your cats for fleas?
I just applied a dose on my cat this morning. It was the 2nd time. Both times she goes absolutely crazy like it's really irritating her. She keeps trying to lick it, but it's in a spot she can't reach at the base of her neck.
It's been about an hour since I applied it and she still seems to be very irritated by it. She's running around the house going to her different hiding places, staying there for a while and then going to another. It's like she's trying to get away from it.
Just wonder if others have experienced similar reactions from their cats.
Thanks.
Oh by the way, I got pretty beat up applying it. I look like I just ran through a brier patch. Lol.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I was thinking that it might just be the sensation of having something on her skin, rather than it irritating her, but she just seemed so distressed I was worried. Your comments have may me feel better.
Still trying to lick the area it was applied, but has definitely calmed down. She let me brush her later in the day and again this morning. I think it really knocked her out, just the stress of it. She slept a lot late yesterday and evening which is usually her more active time. She's 10 years old and this only the 2nd time she's had fleas. Mostly a house cat but does go out on the lanai.
Thanks everyone for their comments. It made me less stressed to know that others have had similar reactions.
All the chemical flea and tick products are highly toxic and dangerous to cats and dogs. I live in Florida, so I know how frustrating the flea and tick thing can be. My bias is holistic and natural (as much as possible). I searched for years for an effective solution to fleas and ticks. (Ticks haven't been much of a problem for my pets, so I've always just removed them with the slotted spoon-like thing with no troubles.)
What I finally found is CedarCide. I am NOT a spokesperson or anything like that. I'm just sharing information about something that actually works. This stuff works as a preventive, but will also instantly kill any biting bug it comes into contact with. We use it on ourselves and aren't bothered by mosquitoes or yellow flies or even horseflies. If one lands, a quick spritz of the stuff and the bug drops dead. You can go to their website to read more about it. I've called them for additional information twice and found them to be informative and helpful.
We have to use it 2-4 times a day on our dog. The humidity here dissipates the product faster than if you live in a dryer climate. It has a strong cedar scent that fades quickly. A friend with cats who are indoor-outdoor (as they please) says that she used to need it twice a day on her cats, but now just once a day is sufficient. With new cats, she now starts with a sort of small, quick, light spritz and builds up to a more thorough spray over a couple of weeks. ("Spray" does not mean to soak!) She believes this keeps the grooming to a minimum, although even here in Florida, her cats seem to "keep" the Cedarcide on them, unlike my dog.
This product is non-toxic and does no harm to anyone or anything except biting bugs. They also make a yard spray but I haven't used it, so can't say anything about it. We use nematodes for the yard, which will last for one or more years.
Try not to get too invested in the fear. Pharmaceutical companies rely on fear, often needless fear, to make astounding profits. Yes, ticks can carry disease. Healthy animals rarely have problems from them. I had indoor-outdoor cats who lived into their 20s and never had any illnesses from ticks. High-quality food helps. Not everyone can afford the better pet foods, but if possible, avoid grocery store pet foods. Some of the pet "supermarkets" carry high-quality, human-grade foods, but look at labels. Even so-called prescription foods still use ethoxyquin, although you may have to call to find out if a particular product has it. Feed a BARF diet if possible. Pet care is more about good food and water, sunshine, good earth under feet, fresh air, fresh greens like grass, and lots of love.
Also, plain soap kills fleas (and other bugs!). Never use flea soaps or powders or collars. A gentle, mild, natural soap like Dr. Bronner's Castile soap works just fine. There are many others, but that's the one I use to it's the first to come to mind. Always use an unscented product. Their noses are exquisitely sensitive and a lot of "scents" can be toxic, even if natural. Your own unscented shampoo will work just fine, too. In a pinch, a mild unscented, uncolored dish soap can work, but never use Dawn. Bathing with a gentle product will usually kill fleas within a minute, but may occasionally take longer. Soaping up and waiting a few moments will ensure getting 'em all.
Lastly, talk to your pets! They really do understand. They may not like or even agree with what you say, but they understand what you say. Talking can even help them change behavior...but not necessarily. 
As an interspecies communicator ("animal psychic"
, I assure you that they get it. So tell your pets what the medicine is for, what the spray is for, what the bath is for, when you're leaving, when you'll be back, etc. In other words, treat them as you want to be treated. Give them the same information you'd want to know. Contrary to some opinions, you don't have to think in symbols to communicate with them. All language is converted to symbols anyway, so it's silly to put ineffective effort into it. Just talk to them. And you might just hear them talking back.
(A side note: Even a product like Windex is less toxic than bug sprays and kills bugs like spiders and roaches much, much faster. But not for use on pets! Just use it as a household spray to use directly on unwelcome critters.)
