How to Save Money On Cat Flea Treatments

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By Scott Lee Thomas
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Flea!

If you share your dwelling and life with a domesticated cat, you know that regular attention to flea infestation is a must. Even if your cat lives strictly indoors, he/she can easily become infested with fleas that make their way into your house or apartment by hitchhiking on you or others living in or visiting your residence.

Kittens are more vulnerable to the dangers of prolonged or heavy flea infestation than are healthy adult cats, but the condition exposes all felines to the dangers of tapeworm, infection, general illness and even death in extreme cases.

Cats can be treated for flea infestation and prevention by using flea collars, flea shampoos, flea combs, flea powders, oral suspensions and by topical applications of very effective medications such as Frontline and Frontline Plus. If you opt for the topical application method using Frontline Plus, follow the steps in this article to save money on the product and learn to perform the application process at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Computer with Internet Connection
eBay or similar account
PayPal or similar account
Cat

Step 1

Save many bucks!

Investigate pricing and purchasing sources for Frontline Plus. Get online and start searching; you will find many sources and prices for Frontline Plus. Topical applications such as Frontline Plus are designed to be applied to your cat's skin once a month; the usual recommendation is to apply the medication at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades to lessen the likelihood of your cat being able to reach the area for a tongue-cleaning. A single dose of Frontline Plus from your local veterinarian can cost you $25 and sometimes much more. The Frontline Plus kit featured in this article was purchased from a legitimate, trusted eBay retailer; the kit provides eight doses (i.e., eight months worth of protection/treatment) for approximately US $20.00, delivered. Purchasing via this method will allow you to save a whopping $180.00 (minimum) over purchasing individual doses from the Vet's office; you are paying about 1/10th of the price for Frontline Plus from many Vets.
Step 2

Order your Frontline Plus for Cats from the source you most trust, offering the lowest price. If you decide to purchase on eBay or other auction sites, you can learn a lot about the seller from their time in business on the Internet, the number of transactions completed, the "feedback" received as a seller, their designation on the auction site; i.e., "powerseller", etc. You can also search for the seller's auction credentials, ratings, etc. in search engines independent of the auction site. Consider paying for your purchase by credit card and using PayPal as a payment vehicle; this will give you a couple of allies who will defend you in the event the seller doesn't deliver on his end of the deal.
Step 3

The Kit

Inventory the contents of your Frontline Plus kit when it arrives and read the instructions. If you have any questions, get them answered from the seller before you open any sealed contents from within the package. If you understand the instructions (they're not difficult) and you're satisfied that the kit is complete, you're ready to proceed with administering the Frontline Plus protection/treatment to your cat.
Step 4

Helping holder

Transferring the Frontline Plus from it's sealed, plasticized container-card to the kit's storage bottle can be tricky if you're not extremely agile or if you have large hands; the storage bottle is quite tiny by most standards. Likewise, inserting the syringe properly into the storage bottle is a delicate maneuver for all but those with a deft sense of touch and balance. To assist in these operations, consider making a styrofoam storage bottle holder like the one pictured; this simple device greatly reduces the risk of knocking the storage bottle off balance and spilling a portion of the medication. The holder pictured was made from two thin layers of styrofoam, taped together to achieve the proper height; cut or drill an appropriate hole to hold the Frontline Plus storage bottle from the kit. This arrangement (or something similar) is particularly helpful for the "single-parent" cat custodian who has to perform all operations without assistance.
Step 5

Careful!

Transfer the Frontline Plus from the storage bottle to the syringe per the instructions you received, making certain that you've measured the dosage correctly; fortunately, the syringe is clearly labeled. Place the loaded syringe aside, careful that it's contents cannot escape and firmly seal the storage bottle with it's screw-on cap.
Step 6

Who? Me?

Apply the Frontline Plus from the syringe to your cat's skin in the location specified in the instructions; usually at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades. Try to get the tip of the syringe into direct contact with the skin; slowly depress the plunger while moving the tip in a small circle. When the syringe is empty, you are done.

While it is possible that a cat exists who loves the process of having Frontline Plus applied, there is no documented evidence of a feline ever having volunteered to position him/herself for convenient application and purring patiently during the application process. If you truly are a "single-parent" cat custodian and are performing the application solo: good luck. This author has done numerous "one-man" applications, thus proving that nearly anyone can do it; it's just much easier with another person securing your cat in the right position while you do the application.