Is a cat safe flea spray an actual thing?
Cats are as susceptible to fleas, ticks, mites, and other infestations as dogs are, but it can be more difficult to safely protect your cat. All kinds of risks are associated with conventional medications, especially in pets with epilepsy or who are breeding. Cats are more likely to have an adverse reaction to a chemical agent than dogs.
Cats are vulnerable to typical insecticides like Pyrethrin and pyrethroid found in many flea medications. These medications can affect your cat’s nervous system, causing repetitive nerve discharges. Young, old, and sick cats are more likely to be adversely affected. Over the counter medications may have especially dangerous mixes of chemicals for cats.
Listen to the Science
Because cats lack enzymes called major phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), they metabolize a wide variety of substances differently than humans or dogs do. Several other missing enzymes including g N-acetyltransferase (NAT) 2 and thiopurine methyltransferase (TMPT) explain further differences in how cats metabolize various chemicals (Court, 2013).
A natural solution isn’t necessarily a cat-safe flea spray, since cats are more likely to have a bad reaction to essential oils than dogs. Cat’s livers don’t have the same “glucuronidation” process that dogs do, so plant components that would be safely broken down by your dog accumulate in your cat, leading to liver failure or seizures. The enzyme glucuronyl tranferases is missing in cats. This enzyme is necessary to metabolize the terpenoids that are found in essential oils. Since the plant components can’t be detoxified, they build up to toxic levels in the liver.
Furthermore, because cats groom themselves and have a sensitive respiratory tract, they may be more likely to develop respiratory distress when they are exposed to pungent oils. Oils are also more likely to be ingested (Cats and Essential Oils, 2018).
In order to safely prevent infestation in your cat, especially if your cat is very young, old, or has an existing ailment, it is necessary to choose a product that isolates components that are effective against pests but won’t adversely affect your cat. Poisoning your beloved pet, even at low levels, isn’t acceptable. You need to find something that is completely safe for your cat.
A Cat Safe Flea Spray Solution
TripleSure (No Essential Oils) All-Natural Flea and Tick Spray for Cats & Kittens is an innovative cat safe flea spray that provides the benefits of essential oils without the risks. A proprietary extraction process developed by Natural Wonder Pets yields the active bio-pesticides in the oils while leaving the essential oils (and the potential liver-damaging compounds) behind.
Only the water-soluble parts of the plant are extracted through a slow, cold water process. Water-soluble particles are attracted to the cold water during the process, thereby extracting only very specific chemicals. The oil-based terpenoids which may adversely affect your cat are discarded.
Rosmarinic acid is sourced from USDA Certified Organic rosemary leaf, painstakingly distilled with the cold-water process to leave negative oil chemicals behind. This acid, combined with pure vanilla extract and citric acid, creates a solution that is harmless to any cat or kitten but is lethal to fleas, ticks, bedbugs, and mites. It also smells great!
Nothing Like It
This propriety process and the resulting product is unlike anything else on the market today.
Things to Consider:
- Medications prescribed by veterinarians to control fleas and other pests, as well as over the counter medication for flea and tick control, all contain levels of poison that are usually considered safe for cats but may result in toxicity upon application or over time.
- Natural products that are touted to be cat safe flea sprays actually contain up to 2% thyme oil or lemongrass oil, as well as other products which your cat may not metabolize well, like hydrogenated soybean oil and geraniol.
- Recommended at-home remedies to make your own flea collars or cat safe flea sprays contain high percentages of essential oils like geranium, cedarwood, thyme, rosemary, or garlic, which may not be metabolized by your cat’s liver and may cause trauma to her delicate respiratory tract.
- Homemade “flea dips” using a tea made of rosemary or another potent herb have uncontrollable potency and may have immediate or long-term toxic effects. Furthermore, such brews won’t stay on your cat’s coat to prevent re-infestation. Your cat will probably not enjoy this treatment either.
- Homemade “flea powders” using dried and powdered eucalyptus, rosemary, wormwood, etc. have unpredictable potency and can be dangerously irritating to your cat’s respiratory system. Furthermore, these powders will be ingested when your cat grooms herself, leading to toxicity.
The only truly safe cat safe flea spray is TripleSure. Why risk the whiskers? Protect your cat or kitten from pests with this truly cat-safe flea spray.
References
Court M. H. (2013). Feline drug metabolism and disposition: pharmacokinetic evidence for species differences and molecular mechanisms. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 43(5), 1039-54.
3 Types of Parasite Protection. 2 Trusted Active Ingredients. 1 Chewable Tablet. (2016, January 19). Retrieved from
Wood Oils and Gums (Cedarwood Oil). (1993, September)
Peppermint & Peppermint Oil Profile: Active Ingredient Eligible for Minimum Risk Pesticide Use. (Baker, B.P., Grant, J.A., Malaker-Kuenen, R.) New York State Integrated Pest Management, Cornell University, Geneva NY.
Cavanagh, K., Kornya, M. Cats and Essential Oils (2018, August 2)