How Long To Separate Cats After Flea Treatment?
When cats are treated for fleas, it’s important to keep them separated from the outside world. But it can be difficult to judge how long to do this.
So we thought we’d write this page to help you. To know the answer, we need to look at these points:
- Why is it important to separate cats after flea treatment?
- Do different types of flea treatment affect separation time?
- What are the guidelines for separation time?
- What happens if I don’t separate my cat for long enough?
Why Is It Important To Separate Cats After Flea Treatment?
When you apply a flea treatment to a cat, like Frontline or Advantage, there is a certain amount of drying time.
If this isn’t respected, then it can rub off on surfaces, your hands, or other pets.
So it’s important to separate your cat. No petting, no time outdoors, and no time with other cats.
This can be difficult for them, but the time required is usually short. The manufacturer’s instructions should specify how long it will be.
If these instructions aren’t followed, and the flea treatment rubs off, this can cause problems.
Flea treatments can be toxic to humans and the environment because they’re designed to kill fleas.
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So you don’t want it spreading around a garden, or on your children’s fingers which they might lick or wipe on something.
Other Reasons
There’s also another reason, and that’s giving the treatment time to be effective. If you let your pet go outdoors too soon, then they could pick up more fleas while the treatment is still working.
If they do that, the number of fleas they have will be too much for the treatment to kill off.
This is usually covered within the separation time. That’s because once the treatment is dry, it’s starting to be effective.
Do Different Types Of Flea Treatment Affect Separation Time?
There are many manufacturers of flea treatments, as well as different ways of treating fleas.
There are collars, liquids, and tablets. Collars are a permanent solution, and can last for 8 months as long as they’re not exposed to excess water.
If you have young children, they won’t be able to pet your cat anymore as the collar will have strong chemicals in it.
But there is no separation time required in any other circumstances, if you’re using a collar.
The same is true if you’re giving your cat tablets. These are being taken through the mouth, so there is nothing for your pet, or any children, to touch.
However, if you’re using one of the more popular treatments, then these will most likely be in topical form.
And that means the drying time we mentioned earlier.
How Long Does It Take?
How long that takes depends on how many fleas, eggs, and larvae are on your cat. Fleas that come into contact with the treatment while it’s newly applied will die instantly.
But any eggs or larvae buried in your cat’s fur will only be killed once the flea treatment has spread around your cat’s entire body.
You’ll also want to consider the guidelines for this type of flea treatment, and we’ll cover that next.
What Are The Guidelines For Separation Time?
It takes most topical flea treatments around 45 minutes to be dry to the touch, so this is a good amount of time to separate your cat for.
Although some people say it takes 1-2 hours, so it’s wise to isolate them for that range of time if possible.
And if you want complete certainty, which is a good idea if there are young children in the house, you should leave the area untouched for 24 hours.
Even if the manufacturer doesn’t specify this, it’s best to be safe rather than sorry.
Often the manufacturer will instruct you to wait until the flea treatment is dry, but this isn’t very specific.
That’s why 24 hours is often chosen instead – it’s the best way to get that certainty.
Alternatively, you can contact the manufacturer directly, but many people don’t have the time for that.
Another point to make is that if you plan on brushing your cat or giving them a flea bath, you’re going to have a lot of physical contact with them.
In that case, it’s better to wait for 48 hours – but that really should be long enough.
What Happens If I Don’t Separate My Cat For Long Enough?
If you interrupt the drying process for a spot-on treatment like Frontline or Advantage, then the flea treatment can be ineffective.
After all, it needs to be on your cat for it to work.
The way it works is via a process called translocation. The liquid that you put onto your cat will spread all over their coat. It can do this because of carrier oil.
Carrier oil makes it easier for the treatment to slide all through your cat’s fur.
So if you put your hands on it, or your cat goes outdoors and rubs it off, then it can stop translocation from happening.
And of course, if some parts of your cat’s body are treated and others are not the fleas will simply multiply all over again.
That’s why it’s best to follow the rules when it comes to separating your cat.
However, if there is a problem and for some reason, you can’t separate your cat for long enough, there is an option.
You can simply apply the flea treatment again at an appropriate time, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
But what you don’t want to do is get any residue on your hands or other surfaces, if possible.
If you do, make sure to wash your hands and those surfaces.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read through this information, you’ll be aware of why it’s important to know how long to separate cats after flea treatment.
You’ll also know that you can contact the manufacturer if you have to, or reapply the flea treatment at a later date.
