Pet products company Marltons makes and markets Marltons Tick and Flea Dip for Dogs and Cats. The main chemical is cypermethrin.
Last week a pet shop suggested it to as an interim solution between applying flea spot. (I use spot on my cats and it's not highly effective. We're told fleas have a tolerance but I think the products are weaker. Activyl was quite effective but was withdrawn from the market. My vet said it was too effective ie people will buy less of it if it worked too well.)
I'd no intention of dipping my cats - vets don't recommend dipping (chemical bathing) dogs and cats - but using the Marltons as a spot or spray for the worst affected areas on their coats. The sales clerk said she uses it on her cat as a spray.
It's a good thing I searched cypermethrin on the Internet. Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid found in insecticides - insect killers like Raid etc - and even rat poison. It's used for parasite control mainly in agriculture and with some companion animals, according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.
It's very toxic to cats. Wikipedia: "Cypermethrin is very toxic to cats. This is associated with UGT1A6 deficiency in cats, the enzyme responsible for metabolizing cypermethrin."
Other articles from reputable organisations and vets say the same thing.
My caution prevented a potential disaster for my cats.
I emailed Marltons' helpdesk asking why they make this product especially for cats when it's toxic (and why a dip for cats and dogs when it's not veterinary practise). They did not respond.
I also emailed president of the South African Veterinary Association Dr Paul van der Merwe and SPCA for comment but there was no response either.
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