Flea Cat Protection: Bio Spot, Spot On Vs. Frontline Plus

I use to swear by Frontline Plus to keep my cats flea and tick free. Frontline is the product recommended by the veterinarian's office I worked in for over two years. It is a great product, but it is becoming extremely expensive. I have four adult cats now, and a budget that gets tighter every day-just like everyone else! I need to protect the cats from fleas year round, as they are indoor/outdoor cats. I did some research and found Bio Spot, Spot On for cats to be a good alternative at a fraction of the cost of Frontline Plus.

Not only does Bio Spot, Spot On work in the same way that Frontline Plus does; in addition to killing fleas and ticks, it kills and repels mosquitoes on your cat, as well. I like that added bonus with the Bio Spot, Spot On! Both products work within 24-48 hours of application. Both products last approximately one month after application.

The only thing I don't like as much as Frontline Plus for cats is the fact that with the Bio Spot, Spot On for cats, liquid doses are at least twice as much as the comparable Frontline Plus doses. And since you apply the dose underneath the hair on the back side of the neck of your cat, a larger dose leaves a greasier patch of fur. My cats' fur remained greasy for at least four days after the Bio Spot, Spot On application. But the fleas disappeared just as well as with the Frontline Plus, and my budget stayed intact. Because of the great savings and good results, I have opted to put up with the minor inconvenience of greasy fur for a few days. I have just ordered another 6-pack of Bio Spot, Spot On for my cats.

The active ingredient that kills adult fleas in Frontline Plus for cats is Fipronil. The active ingredient that kills adult fleas in Bio Spot, Spot On for cats, is Etofenprox. Both products contain (s) Methoprene, which kills flea larvae and eggs. Frontline Plus is manufactured in France for the Merial Corporation in Duluth, Georgia. You can verify what I'm telling you at the website: Frontline.com. Or you can call: 1-800-660-1842. Bio Spot is manufactured in the U.S.A. for Central Life Sciences, a division of Farnam Pet Products, in Phoenix Arizona. The website for Bio Spot is: Biospot.com and their number is: 1-800-234-2269.

I have found that some of the best prices for cat products is through Doctors Foster & Smith Company. You can order Frontline Plus and Bio Spot, Spot On through the website. A 3- pack of Bio Spot for cats over 5 pounds is $19.99. A 6-pack of Bio Spot is $37.99. Compare that to the website Frontline Plus for cats prices: $32.99 for the 3-pack and $63.99 for the 6-pack. (You must add minimal shipping charges to all prices). Bio Spot is just about half the price of the Frontline Plus for the same amount of doses! The Doctors Foster & Smith website address is: Drsfostersmith.com. You can call them at: 1-800-381-7179. The website also features a great Live Help option. I used it to find out where Bio Spot was manufactured, and got an answer in less than two minutes.

If you don't want to purchase flea and tick products online, Bio Spot products are sold through retailers in your community such as Petco and Petsmart. Merial recommends that you purchase Frontline products through a veterinarian's office. Apparently, there is counterfeit product being sold in certain retail situations.

Bio Spot, Spot On for cats is a less expensive, comparable alternative to Frontline Plus for cats UNLESS you have the following situations: First, Bio Spot is not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks of age, whereas you can start using Frontline Plus on kittens as young as 8 weeks. Merial also states that it is OK to use Frontline Plus on breeding, pregnant and lactating mother cats. The makers of Bio Spot don't recommend use of their product in such situations, or on senior cats without a veterinarian's approval. Also, never use either product on a cat of any age or weight unless it is specifically formulated for cats. Both companies offer flea and tick Frontline and Bio Spot products for dogs as well. The dog products contain different chemicals that can be lethal to cats! Also, If your cat has had a history of allergic reactions, seizures, etc. after application of flea and tick control products, DO NOT USE Frontline or Bio Spot products without first checking with your veterinarian!