Cat flea treatment recommendations?

sourpuss2021

He's had fleas on and off since September.  Between now and then I've applied four pipettes of 40 Advantage Spot On Flea Treatment which I got mail order but it has obviously had little effect...

...Unless actually it works but he keeps catching them again?..He has free access to the outdoors and may encounter other cats and foxes.

I'd thought Advantage was supposed to be the one that worked whereas Frontline was the one that fleas had evolved to be resistant to. 

Is there some other brand I should try?  Or a bigger dose?  But he's not a particularly large cat, he's a standard male moggie.

What's your experience been with cat flea treatments?

Mrs_Z

Don't forget to 'treat' the house too.  If your cat has / has had fleas their eggs will be dropping in the house and will hatch from the carpets, cat bedding, sofas etc and re-start the cycle.  I found Indorex spray very good (1 spray should last the whole year - I dare not to think what poison is in that can!!).  Generally, it takes diligence and time to get rid of fleas - the one time we had them, it took about 6-8 weeks until they were fully gone.
I've used all of the spot on treatments on ours (Frontline, Advantage, Programme), I change between the brands during the year, hoping this means the treatment stays effective. 
Despite the regular monthly treatments, I have seen an odd flea on one of our cats.  On checking with the vet, they advised NOT to treat with another dose nor shorten the gap between treatments, but just to keep it to monthly, so from that I guess that no treatment is 100% effective.

KxMx

The flea treatments work by killing the flea once they bite the cat. 
So yes it could be working but you are seeing the fleas each time.
You really shouldn't go over the recommended dose, if in doubt consult a Vet or Vet Nurse.
And treatment around your home is a great idea too. 

Thrugelmir

Flea Foggers are worth a try. 

Hoover/wash whatever the cat sleeps on regularly. 

Brie

Even a thorough hoovering will help. 

Our old mog was completely flea free since treating her with a recommended tablet from the vet.  (it was great as previously she had been riddled with them - not that they bothered her, just us!)  I can't remember the name of the treatment that a cattery had recommended - but it was def a pill, from the vet, and cost about £20 for one dose in 2018.  I know the same cattery treats cats with fleas on their premises with Capstar but that can be repeated every 24 hours and the one we had was good for 3 months.

And then I suspect that in her last couple of months sleeping outside where the grass was long, and probably frequented by other cats and as well as hedgehogs, she acquired them again.  We only realised it after she was gone as the fleas started to appear in our bedroom.  a few good turns with the Vax has resolved that for us.  

sourpuss2021

Thank you for all of your excellent advice!

I have wooden floors but there are plenty of gaps between them where fleas could lurk.   Time to hoover the cracks!   I don't have a sofa or soft chairs but yes there are a couple of cushions on hard chairs that he likes, I should wash the covers.

I think my mattress is by the most likely candidate for where the flea eggs have been lurking.    He does sleep next to me quite often, and some of those times he will have had fleas without my realising.

I will try the treatments you recommend.  But not dose him up with any more Advantage, or if I do then only in rotation with another brand and at the correct intervals.

It's funny that my cat is always more affectionate when he has got fleas!!!  Well, maybe it's just what happens in winter.  Small creatures whether fleas or felines are drawn towards warmth.

sourpuss2021

By the way I've been pleased to discover my smartphone camera has a microscopic lens function that allows me to answer the question "Is this a flea or fluff?"

Savvy_Sue

Anyone else now scratching? (And we don't even have pets ...)

Lavendyr

Better to start a new thread. But the best treatments are the prescription spot-ons.