How long does capstar for cats last

How do you get through flea season? If you’ve stayed on top of your pest prevention plan all year round, you won’t have much to worry about.

“The most effective flea and tick prevention on the market are the topical treatments and tablets,” says Dr. Jessica Stewart, DVM, a veterinarian with the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA in California.

Both have powerful ingredients designed to kill off adult fleas, and some even kill the eggs and larvae, too. The result: Your pets and your home will stay flea-free.

But what happens if you’ve been lax about prevention in the first place, or thought you could stop preventative meds during the winter months, and now you’ve spotted fleas on your fur babies? Don’t panic! One of the best treatments against adult fleas for cats and dogs is an oral flea medication that contains nitenpyram and goes by the name Capstar.

Your vet will probably recommend Capstar to you, but you can get the oral flea medication over the counter, too. There are Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs & Cats who weigh 2 to 25 pounds. If you have a medium-sized or larger pooch, she’ll be covered, too. In that case, you’d get Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs Over 25 Pounds.

Tips for Using Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs & Cats

So, what do you do with the Capstar flea tablets after you’ve bought them? Here is everything you need to know about the oral flea medication.

They’re easy to use. You can crush the flea pills for dogs and sprinkle them on your pup’s food. Or, you can wrap something yummy around it, like peanut butter or cream cheese, and give it as a treat. It’s a little harder to fool a feline this way, however. In that case, you may have to tilt your cat’s head back, open her mouth and drop the pill in. Congratulations—you’ve conquered the hardest part of cat flea treatment.

Capstar flea pills for dogs and cats act super quickly. Once your pet has swallowed the tablet, the active ingredient, a chemical known as nitenpyram, goes to work within 30 minutes, Dr. Stewart says. Once the nitenpyram enters the bloodstream, the fleas ingest it when they bite your pet. The insecticide attacks the flea’s nervous system, causing paralysis and then death. Within six hours, 90 percent of adult fleas will be dead. How’s that for awesome flea control for cats and dogs?

Capstar flea tablets for dogs and cats are safe. Since nitenpyram doesn’t stay in your pet’s body for long, it’s safe enough to use every day until you get rid of all the fleas. You can also give it to puppies and kittens 4 weeks or older (as long as they are over 2.2 pounds) as well as nursing or pregnant cats and dogs.

You’ll need a follow-up flea treatment for cats and dogs. Nitenpyram only kills adult fleas. Since the insecticide kills them so quickly, the females probably won’t have time to lay eggs. Still, you shouldn’t take any chances. To make sure you kill all the fleas on your pet’s body, including the eggs and larvae, Dr. Stewart suggests you take the following additional steps:

1. Use a flea comb to remove any fleas that remain. You will want to get a flea comb that is designed for either a cat or dog to ensure it is as effective as possible.
2. Give your pet a bath. Yes, we know some cats hate baths, but it’s the only way to get rid of any flea debris (poop, dried blood and other assorted yucky things). You can use a regular shampoo or a specially marketed dog or cat flea shampoo. It is important that you choose a flea shampoo that is pet specific. You can make your cat very sick if you use a dog flea shampoo on her.

Persistence is key for ridding your home of fleas. For proper flea control for cats and dogs, you may need to give your pet a Capstar flea tablet every day until all the fleas are gone. If the fleas are on your pet, then there is a good chance they are also hiding in the carpet and bedding (either yours or the one your pet snoozes on). Until your house is free from pests, they will keep jumping back onto your pet. Vacuum the carpets, wash all bedding in hot water and use the hottest settings on your dryer. Once you know you no longer have a flea infestation, you can stop the tablets.

Nitenpyram doesn’t kill ticks. Capstar flea tablets are one of the best flea treatment for cats and dogs, but this medication won’t get rid of ticks. To get rid of ticks, you will should contact your veterinarian and follow the proper steps for removing ticks from your pet.

So, now you know the drill. Whether it’s flea season or not, keeping your pet free from pests is all about prevention. But when you slip up, or fleas get in your house somehow, you can kill them off quickly and efficiently with Capstar flea tablets.

Learn More About Capstar From Our Team of Experts

This product was previously sold as Capstar Flea Treatment for Dogs & Cats. Dog parents, Capstar for Dogs is now available—it's the same great results in a brand new package.