Evaluation of the CatanDog's (R) tag to prevent flea infestations, inhibitflea reproduction or repel existing flea infestations on cats

To evaluate the ability of the CatanDog's(R) tag to eliminate fleas, inhibi t egg production and prevent flea infestations, six domestic shorthaired ca ts were randomly allocated to two treatment groups and housed individually in stainless steel metabolic cages. Three cats were each fitted with a Cata nDog's(R) tag; the other three cats were not fitted with tags and served as controls. Following a 42-day acclimation period, each of the six cats was infested with 100, 1-3 day post-emergence, adult Ctenocephalides felis feli s (Bouche) on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 27. Flea egg production was determined by collecting and enumerating eggs 2, 4 and 6 days after each infestation. Viability of eggs was determined by placing 100 eggs recovered from each c at in rearing media in an insect rearing chamber and determining adult emer gence at 28 days. Adult fleas were recovered from cats 6 days post-infestat ion by thoroughly combing each cat to remove fleas. To determine if the tag s provided protection from infestation, the six cats were placed into a 8.5 3 m x 4.36 m room with 400 cat fleas for 3 h, Cats were then combed to remo ve and enumerate fleas. The CatanDog's(R) tags had no significant effect up on egg production, egg viability, or adult fleas infesting cats. In additio n there was no difference in the numbers of fleas recovered from the cats p laced in the flea-infested room. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.