I'm sure that no-one on this forum would ever dream of doing such a thing, but here's a cautionary story from last weeks daily papers. I'm posting it here because I think all cat and dog owners should be aware of this.

A recent study has shown that hundreds of cats are dying every year because their owners use dog flea treatments on them.


Over the counter dog flea treatments contain a chemical that is fatal to 1 in 10 cats and leaves 88 per cent twitching and suffering with convulsions.


The chemical, an insecticide called Permethrin, is hugely dangerous to cats. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service says that this chemical is so toxic that cats will fall sick just by sharing bedding with a recently treated dog. Victims need 2 to 3 days of intensive treatment to recover.


Dog flea treatments that contain Permethrin include Bob Martin Dog Spot On, Johnson's Insecticidal Flea and Tick Drops, Wilko Dog Flea Drops and Armitage Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs said the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.


Martin Johnson of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association said, "People either use them accidentally or to save money - by splitting one dose into several ones".

__________________
Chris G
www.HealthyCatClub.com
www.BooksOnCats.com
www.AnniesBooks.co.uk
www.OurFloridaHouse.com
www.SpainHome2Home.com

Maybe they should put really large warnings on the packaging for the people that are either too tight to buy the correct stuff or too thick to read the small print.
mad:

Sorry to be blunt & all that, but if people cannot do the simple things like read the bleek:dy stuff in the first place...

Then they shouldn't be keeping pets

Don't do it myself, but I can imagine many people do, not on this forum though, I think the more you know the better, if you can stop one cat suffering.

agreed

tbh, if you havent got a clue you should really be seeking expert advise ie a pet shop owner or vet maybe

I agree, but how can you stop people keeping pets?
Even those prosecuted by the RSPCA have been found to acquire more pets later on.

And people that are too tight to buy the proper flea treatment are never going to pay vets bills.

When I was with Cats Protection it was difficult enough to get people to go to the Vets when we paid and just as difficult to get them to go to the PDSA. Of course, if we offered to take the cat to the Vets for them then it was a different matter!

Yes, I agree that it would help if manufacturers put a warning on the packaging.

The thing that shocked me about it, though, was that a cat can be affected just by being in close contact with a treated dog. I find that truly horrifying.

__________________
Chris G
www.HealthyCatClub.com
www.BooksOnCats.com
www.AnniesBooks.co.uk
www.OurFloridaHouse.com
www.SpainHome2Home.com

thats awful,, poor cats, thats why cat products are for cats and dog products are for dogs!!!!!!

this is why i think the product should not be available off the shelf

You think people would make sure they put the right product on their animals. It clearly says do not use on cats does not take the brain of brittain to figure out what that means, also cats flea producs are usually cheaper than dogs so it cannot even be a budget thing (you cant put a price on an animals life anyway)

yep i agree, and they have warnings on them dont they,

yes they do have warnings, but some people are too ignorant or not clever enough to understand what the label is saying.
or they may be just having a bad day & picked it by mistake

This is why i really do think that it should be the responsibility of the product manufacturer to make sure this type of product is not sold off the shelf, if you had to ask the pet shop supplier for the product they could be sure it was the right one for your pet