Is the Seresto Flea Collar for Cats a Waste of Money? Our Honest Review.

Flea and tick prevention is a year-round concern for us and our pets, even though certain months tend to be more active for infestations.

If you’ve been thinking of buying the Seresto flea collar for cats (or dogs) and aren’t sure whether or not it’s worth the investment, this post is for you.

We’ve been using Seresto for cats now over the last few years on our cat Dizzy. Spoiler alert: we’ve had such a good experience that we now use them on all our cats.

Our experience with the Seresto flea collar for cats after several years of using them exclusively

A few years back, our cat Dizzy, who normally had beautiful shiny black fur began losing it in odd patterns. Her backside would be bare and she knew there was more of a draft! 😁

Not only that but she would have a hairless line down the middle of her body, extending to underneath on her belly. It was strange looking!

Is she allergic to something in our home or her food, we wondered?

After being late one month for applying her topical flea medication, it dawned on us; she’s not scratching as much and her hair is growing back in a little!

We realized any topical medication causes her to have this allergic reaction, which meant we had no idea how to protect her (and our home!) from a flea and tick takeover.

We tried all kinds of natural products. Some worked, but in our climate, it just wasn’t enough protection. That’s when we discovered Seresto for cats.

On a whim, we gave it a try, hoping it wouldn’t cause the same reaction as all the others. A week, two weeks, one month, six months went by — no reaction!

Not only that but she had no fleas, ticks, and even our blood-thirsty mosquitoes didn’t harass her so much!

She’s also pretty impressed by the diamonds! (we won’t spoil her fun by telling her those are actually reflectors so she’s safe in the dark!)

Needless to say, at the time of writing this post, Seresto is the only thing we’ve found that works for her.

We also now use this collar on our boy, Pips. Soon we will be getting collars for our growing little ones, Rascal and Muppet.

Pros and Cons of Seresto for Cats

Here are our thoughts on why you might love these collars and why you might not based on our own experience and research:

Pros:

• Long-lasting protection (typically 5 to 6 months for us)

• May be a better option for allergy prone cats like our Dizzy

• Saves money compared to monthly liquid topical applications

• Included reflectors attach to the collar for increased visibility of your pet at night

• Fleas do not have to bite your pet in order to die

• It’s more convenient than having to apply medicine every month

• Helps put an end to painful and irritating flea bite dermatitis

• This collar has a safety release in case your pet gets hung up on an object

• Low likelihood of adverse reactions with over 100 million sales worldwide

• Starts to work on killing fleas within 24 hours – ticks within 48!

Cons:

• You must make sure that you buy a genuine Seresto flea collar for cats (or dogs) and not a counterfeit. There are lots of fakes out there!

• Cost is a little more upfront than other flea/tick preventatives

• Not for use on kittens younger than 10 weeks of age

• It can be difficult to adjust the size when it’s on your pet. In some cases, the collar has to be cut and replaced instead.

• Does not include heartworm prevention for cats or dogs

• May cause skin irritation in some cats, especially if wearing a collar is a new experience. Usually this is mild and goes away on its own. In some cases, Seresto may not be a good choice.

• Seresto flea collar skin reactions may include redness, hair loss, or irritation where the collar sits. Some cats may also temporarily eat less, become restless/agitated or even have stomach upset while getting used to the sensation of having something around their neck. Call your Vet immediately if any of these symptoms persist or seem severe.

🐾 🐾 🐾 None of our cats had ever worn a collar before these. Dizzy got used to hers within a couple of hours and Pips (who was a rescued feral!) adjusted even quicker.

Are Seresto collars safe for cats?

According to our Veterinarians and our own experiences, the answer is yes!

Still, a lot of people are understandably concerned after USA Today wrote a troubling article on the possible dangers of using the popular Seresto flea collars for cats and dogs. They seek to link the fatalities of 1,698 pets and over 3,500 injuries to the use of these collars as reportedly submitted to the EPA over an 8-year timeframe.

🐾 🐾 🐾 Keep in mind that over 100 million pets worldwide wear Seresto collars. An estimated 25 million of those collars are worn in the USA alone.

That means, even if the tragic losses of those pets are linked to the Seresto flea collar, the percentage of adverse reaction is extremely low at only 0.3%.

(Investigations are ongoing to find out what actually caused these deaths. In all sincerity, my heart goes out to anyone suffering from the loss of a pet – no matter what the cause.)

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Important note: Only buy and use authentic Seresto flea collars. The (usually) cheaper counterfeit varieties appear to be much more dangerous and simply do not work to control pests. In most cases, they look almost identical to the real ones.

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If your Seresto flea collar for cats (or dogs) doesn’t seem to be working, there’s a good chance you’ve been scammed with a fake. Sadly, it has become very common.

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Not sure if you have a fake? These Veterinarian tips will help!

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My humble opinion? Any time chemicals or medications are involved, there is at least some risk for a bad reaction — no matter what it is! Even the medications your Vet gives you for a sick pet can cause life-threatening reactions. Every pet is different.

I hate using any kind of chemicals on my furbabies, to be honest with you. But I also know that if I don’t protect them from fleas, ticks, and other pests, their health is at risk even more.

Natural alternatives like Diatomaceous Earth absolutely work but you’ve got to be consistent with application.

Is your cat or dog's Seresto collar a dangerous fake? Here's how to find out and protect your pet's health! #pets #seresto #pethealth #fleas Click To Tweet

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🐾 🐾 🐾 Conclusion: Yes, Seresto for cats and dogs seems to be a generally safe product when used correctly and only if the collar is confirmed as genuine from Bayer (now Elanco) of Germany.

Counterfeit collars from China are not only ineffective but can be very dangerous for your pet!

Buying flea and tick preventatives from your local Vet is your safest bet. When you make a purchase, please verify that you have a genuine product using the methods from the video above before using it on your pet.

If you confirm a fake, contact customer service where you made your purchase and discontinue use.

You can also contact Bayer directly with any questions or concerns. In most cases, they can verify whether or not your collar is a counterfeit with a little information.

How to fit the Seresto flea collar on your cat

One of the things we love the most is how simple these collars are to use! For us, it’s much easier to apply this collar than it is to apply messy topicals or give our cats a tablet.

Here are the simple directions for how to properly fit your cat’s Seresto for their safety and the collar’s long-term effectiveness.

Conclusion: The Seresto flea collar is worth a try!

Just like you, I would never in a million years want to bring harm to my precious babies – whether knowingly or unknowingly. It’s scary trying something new on our pets, I get it!

I’m just a cat mama; not a Vet or expert in all things cats! All I can do is share my experience with you, along with the advice from Veterinarians weighing in on this topic.

That’s why I do believe Seresto is worth every penny and worth a try if you’re looking for effective flea and tick prevention that is convenient for busy pet parents.

Do keep in mind that these collars may not be effective for the full 8 months as advertised. We usually get 5 to 6 months out of ours!

Interested in learning more?

Do you have any questions for me? Please submit them in the comments section and I will do my best to help!

• Have you ever tried Seresto for cats or dogs? What did you think?
• What have you tried that did and didn’t work?

I’d love to hear from you, as always! Please be sure and share this with your social media family as well. I genuinely appreciate your support!

Love & Healing Purrs,

Resources:

American Veterinary Medical Association; Seresto collars come under greater scrutiny

Harmony Animal Hospital; Are Seresto Collars Safe for Your Pets?

Daily Paws; What Veterinarians Think About The Seresto Collar