What To Know About Flea Dips for Cats

You may have heard of flea dips being used to treat fleas on pets and may have even used a flea dip for your dog. Perhaps you’re wondering if there are flea dips for cats, what these flea dips are made of, and most importantly—are flea dips safe for cats? 

What Are Flea Dips for Cats?

A flea dip is a parasiticide product that is applied and left on the cat to air dry. These chemicals typically only work for about two to four weeks before they need to be reapplied. 

Flea dips have been used from at least the late 1800s, when farmers used similar products to treat their cattle and sheep for external parasites. The products at that time were reasonably safe, being based on carbolic acid, which is still used in facial soaps today. 

However, as times have changed the chemicals in dog and cat flea dips have become stronger and not necessarily safe for cats.  

The most common ingredient currently in flea treatment products is pyrethrin. When this chemical gets into an insect’s nervous system, it shuts down, resulting in death. But using these products at an inappropriate dose can be fatal to cats.  Always ensure you are using a flea dip that is the appropriate strength and is dosed specifically for cats—even a slightly inappropriate dose of pyrethrin can be fatal to cats.  

This is also why you should never give canine flea medications or products to your cat since the dosage varies. Even the smallest dose of a product safe for dogs may be fatal for cats. 

How Do Flea Dips Work?

Flea dips are applied on the coat of the animal using a sponge, or by pouring the liquid over the animal’s back. For most products, the chemical is not rinsed off once applied and is left on to dry. This is why the rate of toxic reactions in cats is so high because they feel the need to immediately groom the product off, ingesting the ingredient in the process 

Flea dips for cats contain one or more pesticides that affect the nervous system of the flea, killing it after exposure. Once the product begins to wear off—which might be in as little as seven days—an alternative flea control mechanism (any traditional flea prevention) will be necessary unless you choose to reapply the dip.   

Be sure to keep other pets away from the cat until the product has fully dried, so they also don’t lick it off. 

When To Use Flea Dips for Cats

Many veterinarians are reluctant to use flea dips on cats because a cat’s reaction to the pesticide is dose dependent. If your cat receives too much of the dip it is possible for it to develop symptoms. Reactions in cats include: 

• Diarrhea 

• Vomiting 

• Difficulty breathing 

• Muscle tremors 

• Seizures 

• Weakness 

• Drooling 

• Possible death 

Even products that are completely safe in dogs can have serious side effects and reactions when used in cats. 

Generally, flea dips for cats should only be used with significant caution if specifically recommended by a veterinarian. Be sure to follow all instructions on the label exactly to minimize the chances of an overdose. However, sensitive animals may have reactions to flea dips even when the directions are followed closely. 

Best Flea Dips for Cats

There are zero completely safe flea dips on the market. The best and safest flea treatments for cats most commonly come in the form of spot on topical products (Revolution), oral products (Comfortis), or collars (Seresto).  

It is very important to never use a product labeled for use in dogs on your cats because they have very different metabolisms. Your veterinarian will work with you to determine if a flea dip makes sense, and flea dips should be used under the direction and supervision of your veterinarian. 

How Much Do Flea Dips Cost?

An entire bottle of dip for multiple treatments may cost between $10 and $20. However, keep in mind the frequency you need to administer the dip for it to be effective, along with the high possibility for severe reaction in cats.  

Homemade Flea Dips for Cats

If you are looking for a homemade flea treatment for cats, keep in mind that nothing homemade is going to rid your flea infestation—only medication prescribed by your veterinarian will help.  

Common household products, such as Dawn dish detergent, is an alternative product to consider when wanting to get rid of fleas immediately. Soaps such as Dawn create an altered surface tension around the outer coating of the flea, causing it to sink in the water—effectively drowning it.  

The downside is that as soon as your pet is dry, Dawn is no longer active and the fleas in the household can jump right back on and settle in. This is why you’ll need to partner with your vet to find a flea treatment to actively kill the fleas on your cat. 

Treatment of Fleas on Cats

Fleas are nasty parasites that can transmit disease to your family and your pets and requires the attention of almost every pet parent. 

There are many options available for safe treatments, and there are pros and cons for each choice. Particularly if you have a very young or senior cat, or multiple animals, this decision is best made with the assistance of your veterinarian. 

Dips may be one of the options to consider, although with the number of safe and effective options for flea treatment in cats, it's becoming less common. Fortunately, other products that are much safer have increased in availability.