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How Long Does it Take Frontline to Dry?

If your cat has fleas and needs treatment. Then there is a good chance you are planning on using Frontline to combat it. But, how long do you need to wait for it to be fully dry and effective?

How long does it take the Frontline to dry?

It takes up to 48 hours for Frontline to dry. You may think it looks dry before this, for example within hours, but it will take longer than you think to be dry and effective to fight off the fleas.

Now that you know how long it takes for Frontline to dry keep reading to learn if frontline is safe for human touch if it will wash off in the bath, if the fleas will jump off after treatment, and much more.

Is Frontline safe for humans to touch?

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In this section, I will explain if Frontline is safe for you to touch with your naked hands. Also, what concerns are there regarding the ingredients it has.

It is not a good idea to touch Frontline, according to this site, there are some concerns with its ingredients. In particular, Fipronil. It is a known carcinogen. And, the risk is increased with sunlight.

Will Frontline wash off in a bath?

In this section, you will learn if Frontline will wash off if you bath your pet. Frontline plus is often advertised as waterproof, so will this mean it will stay on? Let’s see…

No, Frontline will not come off in the bath, as long as it’s dry. It needs up to 48 hours to dry. Following this, it will be effective for up to 30 days. So, it is best practice to avoid applying it directly after your pet has bathed. Make sure they are dry.

In summary, even though it’s waterproof, you need to wait till its dry before bathing your pet.

Do fleas jump off after a treatment?

After you have applied Frontline you may be expecting it to instantly take effect and stop fleas jumping off. So, in this section, I will explain if this is the case.

Once the Frontline solution has dried in fleas will be killed off. You may still see some fleas jumping on your pet, but they will be killed by the Frontline solution, so they are unlikely to jump off. No treatment can prevent fleas from jumping on your pet, unfortunately.

In summary, you may see fleas jumping on your pet, but they will be dealt with by the Frontline solution.

How do you know when fleas are gone?

If you have applied Frontline you may be wondering when you truly know they are gone for good. For that reason, in this section, I will explain.

The best way to know if fleas are gone is if you monitor them. If you have not seen any in a few days, then the chances are they are gone. But, you need to keep monitoring them to make sure they do not return.

Now you know when the fleas are gone by simply monitoring them constantly. In the next section, I will look into how long these fleas are likely to stick around.

How long will I see fleas after treatment?

You can expect to see fleas return 10-14 days after treatment if you are using pest control and insecticide. If you are using Frontline, the fleas may return, but they will be killed within the 30-day effective period. Assuming it has dried in.

The two main methods for Flea Treatment

When you are treating for fleas there are two main things, treating your cat for fleas (Click here for the best solutions for your cat), using solutions like Frontline, and also treating your home. Without both, you may be stuck in a loop of treating them, and them returning. But, how long after treatment will you expect to see them?

Pest Control

If you have paid for pest control in your home, they will usually use insecticide. Even after this has been done it is common to see fleas return with 10-14 days. However, this is not necessarily a cause for concern. Because, as long as the pesticide is there, it can still handle the fleas that return.

Using Frontline

With Frontline the solution will be effective for up to 30 days. But, this is effective up to 48 hours, once it’s dried in. Then, you may see fleas return on your cat, but they will soon be dealt with by the solution.

Why can’t humans take Frontline?

While your cat is being treated for fleas yo may notice that you have noticed a few on your body, or in your hair. The natural thought might be, can’t you just use the same Frontline solution on your skin? In this section, I will explain.

How Frontline works

To understand this you need to understand how Frontline works. The solution mixes into the glands of your pet’s skin. Once it’s dried in it will stay effective for up to 30 days. This works well for cats and dogs because they do not wash as frequently as us humans.

The problem with humans and Frontline

The problem with us humans, when it comes to Frontline is how frequently we wash our skin. It is too much for it to stay in our glands and remain effective.

Also, as discussed earlier, there are some concerns about how Frontline affects human skin, based on the Fipronil ingredient.

Can I use Frontline every 2 weeks?

If you are noticing quite a lot of fleas on your furbaby you may be wondering if its worth using Frontline more frequently. Meaning, more than every 30 days. In this section, I will let you know if this is possible or ever done.

Before considering a higher frequency it’s worth consulting your vet. There are some cases where some vets may use it more frequently, according to this site,  but I would suggest checking this with them first.

What signs indicate a cat needs Frontline?

There are several signs that may indicate that a cat needs Frontline, meaning they have fleas. Such as excessive biting and scratching, becoming restless, acting lethargic, having pale gums, or signs of flea dirt.

Excessive biting and scratching

When you see your cat biting and scratching like this it can be its attempt to get rid of the irritation that the fleas are causing it.

Becoming restless

Restlessness is one of those subtle warnings of fleas. They can cause your cat to get agitated and leave them in a position where they are not sure what to do.

Acting lethargic & pale gums

If you notice your cat is lethargic or shows pale gums it could be signs of Anaemia. This when the red-blood cell count is low. And, this can be caused by the fleas feeding off your cat.

Signs of flea dirt

Flea dirt is one of the most obvious signs. However, this is left-overs from the fleas. Such as faeces or other bodily waste. So, the fleas may have been there before, but that means they will still be a problem because fleas always breed and return.

What care should you offer after flea treatment?

After flea treatment it’s important to allow the treatment to dry naturally, keep reapplying the treatment as directed in the instructions, and keep your pet away from water for a couple days.

Allow the treatment to dry naturally

It may be tempting to help the treatment by massaging it in but, it’s better to let it dry naturally. It’s formulated to work this way so let it do its job.

Keep reapplying the treatment

It may be tempting to stop applying the treatment after it seems that the fleas have gone. But, this could be an error. Why? Because the likelihood is, they will return and keep breeding.

This could be because they have eggs laid in other areas of your home. And, when hatched they will jump back onto your pet for feeding.

keep your pet away from water for a couple days

It’s important to give the flea treatment formula time to do its job. This means keeping it away from water so it can dry naturally. So, no baths, exposure to rain outdoors, etc.

Can cats get fleas after treatment?

Yes. Cats can get fleas after treatment. This is because it only deals with the adult fleas. This leaves the eggs to hatch and start the lifecycle again. This can mean, if you do not re-treat your cat, it will just get a new batch of fleas on it within days.

What happens if a cat licks Frontline?

If a cat licks Frontline, or any other flea treatment, they will not like it. In some cases it can make them feel nauseous, or even start vomiting.

Why is my cat acting weird after flea treatment?

Some cats will act weird after flea treatment because they may have not had it applied correctly, and in extreme cases it could have poisoned them. However, if the instructions are followed correctly this can help to avoid this happening.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cats and fleas. If you have any other questions you need answering please feel free to contact me.

Do Feral cats get fleas?

Yes, feral cats get fleas. They are more susceptible to fleas than other cats because they have no clean living environment. Also, they have no access to health care if they run into any problems.

Many concerned onlookers often worry about how feral cats deal with fleas. I can say this, it’s not easy for them.

How do cats catch fleas?

Cats catch fleas by coming into contact with other infects animals. The fleas can also be in-home carpets or other home furnishings. Usually, their eggs can be found in these locations. When the eggs hatch they can easily jump onto your cat.

Some cat owners are left confused when their indoor cat catches fleas, but believe it or not, it is quite common.

Does flea treatment still work if on fur?

No, flea treatment will not work if it is only on your pet’s fur. It needs to be applied directly to their skin for it to be effective. This is because it needs to mix with the glands in your pet’s skin to take effect.

If you have a pet with thick fur you may find it a bit of a challenge to get to their skin. But, unfortunately, this needs to be done if you want it to take effect.

How long after flea treatment can I pet my cat?

It is recommended that you wait for the flea treatment to dry completely before you attempt to pet your cat again. It is also important to monitor your cat for any unexpected behavior following the treatment. This is required for at least the first few hours after application.