What Is It?
Advantage II for Cats is a topical treatment for flea and chewing lice infestations. It works to kill existing fleas and lice and prevent new infestations. It is active for a period of 4 weeks and reapplication is necessary at that time for continued protection of the animal. It is waterproof and fragrance free.
What Species Is This Product Used On?
Advantage II for Cats is strictly for use on cats. Do not use this formulation on dogs, rodents, or other types of pets.
Symptoms of Flea & Lice Infestations
Animals infested with fleas and lice tend to have itchy skin and can be seen scratching frequently. Both the fleas and lice bite the cat and feed on the host’s blood. Cats may even develop bald patches from excessive itching in more serious infestations. Lice can be seen with the naked eye and can be seen crawling in the hair. Fleas are not often seen with the naked eye unless the infestation is severe. However, flea dirt (black) and flea eggs (white) can be seen on the coat. Wetting the black dirt down will cause it to become red as it is actually flea feces which are composed of dried blood.
An individual female flea can lay 50 eggs a day. Eggs may remain on the animal but often fall off into carpeting, upholstery, bedding, and other fabrics where they hatch into larva within a few days to a few weeks depending on environmental conditions. Warm, moist environments encourage rapid hatching. Larvae consume organic debris and the feces of adult fleas which consist mainly of dried blood. Larva may last five days to several weeks, again depending on the environment they are in. They then spin a silk cocoon in which they pupate before emerging as an adult. They may remain in the cocoon anywhere from a few days to a year or more. This is why it is important to treat the environment as well as the infested pet(s). Environmental treatments will halt the life cycle of eggs, larvae and adults.
Although lice are species specific and cannot be transmitted to non-feline pets, they can be shared with other cats your pet comes into contact with. Fleas are less specific and will bite a variety of other pets as well as the people in the household. The home should be treated for fleas and lice to help reduce the risk of reinfection or spreading the parasite to other pets and people. Some animals develop a hypersensitivity to the flea bite leading to a skin condition known as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. Flea saliva can irritate skin leading to allergy. Constant scratching leads to open sores and possibly infections. Dogs may lose hair in the affected areas and show signs of constant chewing at the skin. Although medicated shampoos can help soothe the skin the only real way to manage the allergy is to avoid the allergen and keep the dog flea-free. Treatment involves killing any infestation and preventing new ones to avoid triggering an allergic reaction.
Fleas can also carry tapeworms and other parasites which can infect the host as well. In severe flea infestation cases, especially in young or ill animals, fleas and lice can lead to anemia and even death if left untreated. In areas where they are common, preventative treatment is recommended to avoid infestation.
Because fleas thrive in warm, moist environments, pets in tropical areas may need to be on year round preventative treatments to avoid infestation. It is much easier to avoid an infestation than it is to treat one since the environment must also be thoroughly treated in the case of an infestation.
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Questions to Ask Your Vet
How prevalent are fleas in your area?
Are they seasonal in your area? (In warm climates, fleas and lice may be present year round while colder climates may not be susceptible in winter months.)
Is your pet at risk?
What adverse reactions are possible and what signs of a reaction should I watch for?
What dose is the right one for your cat?
Does my cat have any health conditions that may interfere with the effectiveness or safety or this medication?
How Does It Work?
The active ingredients in Advantage II for Cats are imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen. The imidacloprid will kill any adult fleas and lice on contact within twelve hours of application of the dose. Re-infestations of fleas and lice are killed within 2 hours following new exposure for a period of four weeks following dose administration. The pyriproxyfen prevents eggs from developing into fleas and lice. If the environment in which the cat lives is not treated, flea and lice eggs may continue to hatch for up to six weeks and can re-infest unprotected pets.
Dosage & Administration
Dose is based on weight and Advantage II for Cats comes in three different weight categories:
Advantage II for Kittens and Cats – Used for felines that are at least 8 weeks of age and weigh no more than 5 lbs.
Advantage II for Small Cats – Used for cats that are between 5-9 lbs.
Advantage II 4-Month Cats Over 9 Lbs
Advantage II for Large Cats – Used for cats that are over 9 lbs.
Advantage II for Cats - 4 ct (kittens under 5lbs) Turquoise
All doses are administered topically on the skin and come in disposable tubes for each individual dose. Packages may contain four or six tubes. The Kitten product only comes in packages of four tubes.
Directions for Use
Tubes are in individual blister cavities of foil. Open an individual cavity carefully with scissors. Do not clip the tube with the scissors. Peel the foil away from the tube.
Hold tube upright and remove cap. Turn cap over and apply it to the tube. Twist cap to break protective seal and then remove cap.
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Part the hair on the back of your cat’s neck at the base of the skull. It should be parted all the way down, such that the skin is exposed. Place the tip of the tube against your pet’s skin and squeeze all of the contents out on to the skin.
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Because this product is poisonous, you want to reduce the risk of your pet licking it hence the placement at the back of the neck. Keep treated animals separate from other animals for a period of 30 minutes following application to prevent other pets from licking the treated area and ingesting pesticide.
Dispose of tube in the garbage or recycling where applicable. Wash your hands carefully with soap and water to remove any traces of the product from them.
A new dose should be applied in four weeks. In cases of severe infestations, it may be necessary under the advice of your veterinarian to re-apply the dose earlier than four weeks. It should not be re-applied any sooner than fourteen days for kittens and seven days for small and large cats.
Store unused doses in a cool, dry place out of reach of children or pets.
Active Ingredients
The active ingredients and their percentage by weight is as follows:
Imidacloprin 9.1%
Pyriproxyfen 0.46%
Cautions & Warnings
Never use this product on kittens less than eight weeks of age.
Consult your veterinarian before using on pregnant or nursing queens, elderly or ill animals.
Never administer this product orally to any animal. It is strictly meant for topical use on cats.
Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling product. Avoid contact with skin wherever possible.
Adverse reactions are always possible when treating a cat with a pesticide. Consult your veterinarian immediately if your cat seems to be having a reaction to the treatment.
Dispose of empty tubes in the garbage or recycling. Avoid any contamination of food or water supplies when disposing. Also avoid placing empty tubes within reach of children or pets to avoid accidental ingestion.
First Aid
If swallowed:
Call Poison Control or a doctor for treatment advice. Have the person sip water if able. Do not attempt to administer water to an unconscious person. Do not induce vomiting unless advised to do so by Poison Control or a doctor.
If it gets into the eyes:
Rinse gently with warm water for 15-20 minutes. Contact lenses, if present, may be removed after the first 5 minutes of rinsing. Once they have been removed, continue rinsing the eyes. Call Poison Control or a doctor for treatment advice.
If it is on the skin:
Wash any areas the treatment has been in contact with thoroughly using soap and water.
Brand vs. Generic Comparison
There are few generic version of Advantage II for Cats. Its main competitor is the Frontline series of products which use fipronil as the active ingredient. Frontline has several generic versions of it available on the market. Veterinarians tend to recommend Advantage II or Frontline as opposed to the generics. Both Advantage II and Frontline have fewer reactions and more support from their manufacturers than the generic options.