Best flea treatment for adult cat ?

I buy Frontline Combo for fleas and ticks form the vet because it's not available without a prescription. They also have a slightly different version, Frontline Spot On which can be bought at pet shops or on-line.

It's really worth spending a little extra because many of the over the counter or supermarket brands are not only ineffective, but some even contain ingredients which can be toxic to cats. I'm afraid flea collars are little more than decoration because they only affect fleas in the head and neck area. Whereas the spot on treatments are incorporated into the cat's oil glands which will naturally spread over the entire body within the next 24 hours.

Bless you for taking on a stray cat - they really do need all the help they can get.

There is a vast and confusing array of flea treatments available from veterinary surgeries, pet shops and supermarkets for use in and on cats. What may not be apparent is that these products vary markedly in their compositions, mode of action, effectiveness and safety.

Older preparations contain organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid or pyrethrum insecticides that kill fleas rapidly. They can be used safely provided instructions are followed very carefully. Pet owners must follow the detailed product instructions (see also box 2 - Beware! Cats are not small dogs), as cats are potentially at risk of toxic effects from these older insecticides. It may be necessary to use a variety of flea control products, and these should be chosen carefully to avoid overdosing the cat.

If in doubt, seek veterinary advice. If your vet is prescribing flea control products, other medications or contemplating sedation/anaesthesia of your cat, then you should inform him or her of all flea treatments you have used recently.

Some sprays and powders should not be used near fish tanks because they are toxic to fish.

Some of the newer products available are considered safer, more effective and durable. Always check if a product is safe to use on kittens, pregnant or suckling cats if treating such animals.