Vets Say One Type Of Flea & Tick Drops Can Make Cats Sick
Product Remains On Sale As EPA Reevaluates Its Safety
CORRECTION A previous version of this story erroniously reported on an EPA internal memo. The EPA has not recommended that Hartz Flea and Tick Drops For Cats 10 Pounds and Under be removed from sale. The EPA is only investigating the safety of the product, and says that the product complies with and is labeled to comply with all applicable federal and state regulations. |
A veterinarian told Channel 4 that the product should never have been allowed on the market.
A cat name Kirby is unable to walk and can hardly stand. Her vet said she twitches from a seizure caused by toxic poisoning.
They're the same symptoms afflicting Lady -- a 2-year-old Burmese.
Morgan says Lady was perfectly healthy until he says he applied Hartz Advanced Flea and Tick drops for cats 10 pounds and under on Lady's back.
He says within hours his cat was nearly dead.
"She was practically in a comatose state," owner Chris Morgan said. "She had no energy, no enthusiasm. She wouldn't walk, she wouldn't eat."
"This is a condition we see in many, many cats that have had over-the-counter topical flea preparations applied to them," Andrew Lawless told Channel 4 investigator Jennifer Waugh.
Lawless says blood tests reveal Lady's liver shows signs of toxicity -- the same problem Kirby's vet says caused this cat to have a seizure.
Both vets say this can be caused by an insecticide -- called Phenothrin.
Phenothrin is the primary ingredient -- 85 percent -- of Hartz Advanced Flea and Tick Drops for Cats.
The drops are sold in most grocery stores to pet owners looking for a less expensive solution to flea control.
Kirby and Lady's owners both told Channel 4 they bought and used the product on their pets.
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