Activyl Spot On
Advantage Spot On
Advocate / Prinovox
Banminth
Baycox & Procox (see Advice Sheet: Coccidia in Kittens)
Bravecto
Broadline
Drontal
Frontline Spray and Spot On
Ivermectin Subcutaneous Injections
Milbactor
Milbemax tablets
Panacur Paste
Profender
Stronghold
External parasites are more prominent on Crete, especially in the summer months; therefore flea treatments need to be given monthly. Some preparations available in the UK are not yet licensed on Crete.
Fipronil such as Frontline Spot On is no longer advised as effective for adults in Europe, especially within Greece. Fleas are now becoming resistant to this chemical and we use it only for kittens up to six months of age.
Age & How to use: 8 weeks of age onward. Not to be used in pregnant or lactating animals.
Dose: The recommended dose is 25 mg/kg body weight. Larger pipette sizes can be bought and multiple cats treated.
Treats: Prevention of ticks and flea infestation. Can be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis. Developing stages of fleas in the pet’s immediate surroundings are killed following contact with Activyl-treated pets. Following a single administration, the veterinary medicinal product will prevent further flea infestation for at least 4 weeks.
Remains effective following shampoo treatment or water immersion, such as swimming or bathing. However, animals should not be allowed to swim or be treated with shampoo within 48 hours after treatment.
Age & How to use: 4 weeks of age onward.
Dose: Less than 4 kg body weight: 40 mg Spot-On Solution for Small Cats, 1 x 0.4 ml.
4 kg and greater body weight: 80 mg Spot-On Solution for Large Cats, 1 x 0.8 ml.
Treats: For the prevention and treatment of flea infestations. Stops feeding within 5 minutes and kills adults and larvae within 20 minutes. One treatment prevents further flea infestation for four weeks on cats. Re-infestation from emergence of new fleas in the environment may continue to occur for six weeks or longer after treatment is initiated. The product remains effective if the animal becomes wet and can be used as part of a treatment strategy for Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).
Treatment of feeding queens controls flea infestations on the cat and kittens.
Age & How to use: 9 weeks of age onward and over 1 kg.
Dose: 1–4 kg: Advocate 40. 4–8 kg: Advocate 80.
Treats: Fleas, mites, hookworm, lungworm and roundworm, but not tapeworm.
Prinovox contains the same compounds as Advocate.
Age & How to use: 3 weeks of age onward, 1 marked syringe graduation per kg.
3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th week of age for kittens: every 3 weeks initially.
For adult cats administer every 3 months.
Treats: Infestations of roundworms. Does not treat Giardia or tapeworms.
Note that Panacur Paste is the preferred treatment for kittens as Banminth only treats roundworms.
Baycox please see Coccidia in Kittens.
Age & How to use: Bravecto has NOT been shown to be effective for 12 weeks’ duration in kittens less than 6 months of age.
Dose: 40 mg/kg.
Treats: Fleas and ticks, and is particularly effective in treating ear mites for 12 weeks.
Age & How to use: Use only from the minimum age and weight stated on the product leaflet. Check the current Greek/European product packaging before use.
Dose:
0.8–2.4 kg: 0.3 ml
2.5–7.4 kg: 0.9 ml
7.5–9.9 kg: 1.2 ml
10–14.9 kg: 1.8 ml
Treats: Fleas, ticks, biting lice, roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.
Age & How to use: 4 weeks of age onward, but must weigh more than 0.6 kg.
Dose: Up to 2 kg: 0.5 Drontal Cat Tablet.
> 2 kg up to 4 kg: 1 Drontal Cat Tablet.
> 4 kg up to 6 kg: 1 Drontal Cat XL Tablet.
> 6 kg up to 8 kg: 2 Drontal Cat Tablets.
> 8 kg up to 10 kg: 1 Drontal Cat Tablet PLUS 1 Drontal Cat XL Tablet.
Adult cats: buy the large cat 8 kg tablets and halve or quarter them depending upon the weight of your cats. It is also available as a spot-on; again, buy the correct size and dose according to weight.
Treats: Tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.
Cut-up tablets can make cats foam at the mouth, so never crush these tablets. Covering them in butter may help. Spot-on is easier but is not yet available in Greece.
Cautions: Check the product leaflet before use in pregnant or lactating cats, as advice varies by formulation and country.
Buy the largest dose of cat or dog fipronil, the generic name, for healthy kittens and cats six weeks and over. We have calculated a safe dose below.
Age & How to use: Effective on kittens only. Spray can be used at any age but has limited use as kittens gain weight. From 4 weeks of age to 6 months, use Spot On monthly.
Dose: Less than 1 kg body weight: 0.2 ml.
1 kg and greater body weight: 0.4 ml.
Treats: Prevention of flea infestation. Kills fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours. A single administration may prevent further flea infestation for at least 4 weeks. Water-resistant kittens can be bathed from 48 hours after application.
There are various parasite preparations, but only four cover tapeworm (Panacur/Profender/Milbemax/Drontal). Extra vigilance is required with kittens from feral mothers, as many diseases are passed on by fleas; internal parasites begin to multiply unseen around 3–4 weeks of age.
Frequency of worming depends upon the drug being used, but it is widely accepted that the basic requirement is every 2 weeks from 6 weeks of age until 12 weeks old: that is at 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks.
Thereafter every 4 weeks until 6 months of age.
Adult worming can be followed 3-monthly or every 5 weeks in summer months if they hunt.
Please note that K9 Advantix must not be used on cats as it contains Permethrin, which is toxic in cats.
Ivermectin Subcutaneous Injections
Age & How to use: 12 weeks of age onward. Under veterinary supervision it may be given earlier.
Dose: 0.04 ml per kg of cat by injection under the skin at the back of the neck, shoulder or thigh.
| 1 kg: 0.04 ml | 4 kg: 0.16 ml |
| 2 kg: 0.08 ml | 5 kg: 0.20 ml |
| 3 kg: 0.12 ml | 6 kg: 0.24 ml |
Ivermectin should be repeated in 2 weeks to catch life stages that were not killed by the first treatment. Prevention of reinfection can be accomplished by cleaning the environment thoroughly and treating all cats in the cattery or colony at the same time.
Mites do not live for significant amounts of time in the environment, so treatment of the carpet, scratching posts, etc. with an insecticide is not necessary.
Treats: Gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, grubs, sucking lice and mange mites, including ear mites.
It is not effective against fleas, ticks or flukes.
Ivermectin use is NOT without risks. Side effects are primarily neurological in nature and transient, but can be serious if the drug is accidentally overdosed. In a cattery or multiple-cat situation such as a feral colony, the convenience, spectrum of efficacy, particularly with mange, and low cost may outweigh the risks.
Please liaise with your veterinarian regarding dose and administration. Exercise caution with dogs as they have greater restrictions on use.
Not to be used in pregnant or lactating queens.
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Age and How to use: 6 weeks of age onward and no less than 0.5 kg.
Dose: 4 mg/10 mg for kittens and cats up to 2 kg.
16 mg/40 mg for cats over 2 kg.
2–4 kg: half tablet.
4–8 kg: 1 tablet.
8–12 kg: one and a half tablets.
Treats: Tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms and heartworm.
Cautions: Not to be used in pregnant or lactating queens.
Age & How to use: 6 weeks of age onward and over 0.5 kg.
Again, buy the biggest dose and cut according to your cat or kitten’s weight.
Treats: Infections with roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.
Can be used in pregnant cats and feeding queens.
Panacur Paste (18.75 mg) the only formulation available in Greece
Age & How to use: 2 weeks of age onward: 1 marked syringe graduation per kg for three days.
Kittens with Giardia require 5-day courses.
12 days later, another 2-day course.
Dosage for adult cats: 2 syringe graduations per kg.
Used for kittens here, it comes in one 5 g syringe of paste unless you can buy the liquid on the internet, which is cheaper and can be used on adult cats.
Panacur Liquid 10%
Age & How to use: Same regime as above but at 0.5 ml per kg. Foul tasting to cats.
Treats: Panacur is used to treat infestations with many parasites including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. It may also be used in the treatment of flukes and Giardia. The only licensed treatment of Giardia; use with appropriate dosage levels: 5-day course instead of three.
Age & How to use: 6 weeks of age onward. Apply as a spot-on to the back of the neck where the cat cannot lick it off. Use the correct pipette size for the cat’s weight, following the product leaflet or veterinary advice.
Treats: Tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms.
Buy the blue/green top dog dose (40 kg) for healthy kittens and cats six weeks and over. We have calculated a safe dose below.
Age & How to use: 6 weeks of age onward. Use a diabetic/1 ml syringe and needle from the chemist and draw up 0.1 ml for each kitten of normal weight. Apply to the back of the neck.
When they reach 1 kg or more they will need 15 mg, so increase dose to 0.2 ml.
Adult cats greater than 2.5 kg: give 0.4 ml.
Treats: Flea infestations, ear mites (Otodectes cynotis), heartworm disease Dirofilaria immitis, adult roundworms (Toxocara cati), adult intestinal hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and biting lice infestations (caused by Felicola subrostratus). Does not treat tapeworm.
Feeding queens given this preparation will pass on flea prevention to kittens up to 7 weeks of age via their milk, but not worm prevention.
