Cat dermatitis - how to get rid of it?

Question

My cat has dermatitis from a flea allergy.

What is the best way to eliminate fleas on her?

Should I give her Program/Capstar and then bathe her to kill the adult fleas?

If I bathe her would I need to use any other sort of "on the spot" treatments? They don't seem to work particularly well with her.

Answer 1

first of all use a household flea spray i recommend johnsons 4fleas in the yellow and pink can but zodiac will do as well. i would then give capstar rather than program or give johnsons 4fleas do their own version of program which is a tablet and a spot on which does work on my cats. i then recommend before putting the spot on to bathe her in tea tree shampoo made for cats it will help her skin and wash off the dirt from the fleas. add a springle of garlic powder to her food fleas don't like it and if she wears a collar some citronella dropped on to her collar should help keep them at bay.  

Answer 2

Don't bother with over the counter or herbal remedies for cats - they are neither safe nor effective.  Tea tree oil is considered toxic in cats.  Things safe for humans and dogs are frequently considered unsafe in cats, as they metabolize drugs differently.  

Get something safe and effective for your cat from the vet.  Advantage and Frontline are both good, although I've been hearing that Frontline doesn't seem to be working.  Capstar is good to kill the fleas that are on the cat, but that's a one-time drug and needs to be followed up with Advantage.  You say the spot on products don't work, but there are others to try.  And you don't say which ones you've tried - many of the over the counter ones do not work.   There is a new one called Promeris, and also Revolution.  Your vet can suggest the best one for you.  It's important to treat her each and every month, so that she doesn't develop the skin issues.