What you need to know before you get a cat tick collar?

A tick mite collar for cats is considered the most convenient and effective means of protection. Such devices, according to manufacturers, are able to protect animals that regularly visit the street from bloodsucking parasites. But how safe are they, and how to use these accessories correctly?

Characteristic

Tick ​​collars are made from polymeric materials impregnated with an insecticide, the main active ingredients of which are: sevin, permethrin, diazinon, dichlorfos, proposkur and others. The role of active impregnation can also be natural components - extracts from repellent plants. They work as follows: when in contact with the animal’s body, the active substances penetrate its skin, spread through the hair and scare off the parasites.

Security

As for the safety of the collar from ticks for the cat itself, according to the manufacturers, it is not capable of causing any harm to its health. This is due to the fact that the applied doses of the active substance are negligible and work exclusively against bloodsuckers. However, with prolonged use, it is still worthwhile to check the skin in the neck of the animal from time to time to make sure once again that there is no irritation, allergic reaction or strong pressure.

On a note! It should be noted right away that such collars can only scare off ticks, they do not cause death of parasites. But even despite this, these devices are considered very practical!

Kinds

There are several types of collars from ticks for cats:

• Chemical - such accessories are impregnated with poisonous insecticides. Toxic substances spread across the skin and coat of an animal, protecting it as effectively as possible from intruders. They work pretty well and over a relatively large period of time. However, it is not recommended to use them for kittens, as well as for pregnant and lactating cats.
• On natural components - extracts from various plants act as the filling here. Such accessories can already be used to protect babies and weakened pets, as the content in them is exclusively natural. Their life is much shorter than that of chemicals, but this is offset by their safety.
  
• Ultrasonic - are in the highest price category, and therefore have a small distribution. Such devices have earned very controversial reviews: some of these inventions are mistrusted and consider such an acquisition a waste of money, but at the same time, ultrasonic collars also have defenders who are quite happy with the result of their use.

Important! Chemical collar manufacturers claim their products are safe for animals. However, in spite of everything, the higher the concentration of chemical components, the greater the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction, and even in a completely healthy cat!

Advantages and disadvantages

These collars usually act not only against ticks, but also against fleas. The substances that make up the composition affect the nervous system of parasites, significantly reducing their activity. Thus, the cat can shake off the bloodsucker from the body before it even has time to suck. In addition, strangers and stray animals will know that they have a pet in front of them.

However, not all collars are equally effective, and a good half of them can only be used as an additional means of protection - they are usually worn after applying drops to the withers or a special shampoo. Plus, they act only against adults, eggs do not destroy and in no way affect them.

It is not possible to predict the effectiveness of a particular collar and you can only determine this after 2-3 days of use. In this case, the age of the animal, its state of health, and even external factors (weather, humidity, etc.) will affect the result.

On a note! With frequent wetting of the collar in the rain, its shelf life can be significantly reduced or immediately end!

Collars from ticks are not recommended for the protection of cats that are highly active. This is due to the fact that during climbing on fences and trees the animal risks catching.

There is also the possibility of poisoning. Although such situations occur mainly due to the carelessness of the owner, when he acquires a protective agent not by age, or because of his neglect, in the case of buying the cheapest accessory of doubtful quality.

Overview of funds from popular brands

There are quite a lot of similar products on the market, which may differ in price, composition, validity, etc. Consider some of them that have earned the most popularity today:

1. "Beaphar". Its active substance is diazonin. It is highly active against ixodid ticks for 2 months. Suitable for cats and kittens over six months of age.
2. "Hartz." Flea and tick collar for cats and kittens. It scares away blood-sucking parasites during the entire season of their activity. Based on tetrachlorvinphos. It is characterized by water resistance and completely restores its protective properties after complete drying.
3. "Bolfo." One of the highest quality devices that works very well against a wide range of parasites. It is active for 5 months. Considered suitable for animals of all ages.
4. "Leopard". Domestic flea and tick collar for cats, which pleases with its low cost. However, at the same time it does not tolerate increased humidity and, when wet, immediately loses its protective qualities.
5. "Dr. Zoo." Biocollar, whose main active ingredient is dimpilate. Water resistant, however, according to reviews, it is not active for long - no more than 2 months. In a word, they got rid of the parasites and threw them away.

Terms of Use

In use, flea and tick collars for cats are extremely simple:

• first, the product must be removed from the packaging;
• we put the collar on the animal’s neck and fix it with a fastener, make sure that there is a two-finger distance between the accessory and the neck;
• the rest of the collar is not cut, but wrapped in a second layer, and this is very important, since its original length will determine both the efficiency and the term of operation;
• It is advisable to wear the product constantly, if you took it off for a while, be sure to pack it tightly to prevent evaporation of the active substances;
• after the expiration date, the old collar is replaced with a new one.

On a note! Not all cats calmly tolerate this procedure, and some quite actively resist.The cause in this case may be the unpleasant smell that comes from the strap. Watch your pet, and if he still doesn’t get used to the new accessory, then you should probably buy another brand!

As we already said, certain collars are able to provide full protection - those that have a wide spectrum of action, but at the same time their use can adversely affect the health of the pet itself. Safe means, on the contrary, do not pose a threat to the well-being of the animal, but are used only a week after application acaricidal drops.

As part of some collars, phosphoric acid may be present, which adversely affects the functioning of the digestive system and metabolic processes. But even if you purchased a tick collar based on plant components, this does not relieve you of responsibility. Watching the pet is still necessary and making sure that he does not lick his new strap. In this case, even herbal extracts can cause a cat to feel worse and vomit. And if the poisoning happened, the animal should urgently show the veterinarian.

As for the development of allergic reactions, they manifest themselves as redness on the skin, mainly in the place where the strap comes into contact with the neck, and hair loss can also occur. Here the reaction occurs not because the collar presses or rubs, but because of the presence of certain irritating substances in its composition.

And if such manifestations were detected, then the strap must be removed and engaged in the restoration of the affected area. The new protective agent should already be of a different brand, have a softer effect and can only be worn after the wounds have completely healed.

And remember that you need to buy a flea and tick collar for your cat only in specialized pet stores or in veterinary pharmacies. When buying, always pay attention to the integrity of the packaging and make sure that instructions are attached to the strap. In it you will find all the rules for safe operation and the duration of this protective agent.