Review Summary

With the prices of everything rising, we’re all looking for ways to save some money. One of the ways that you are probably looking to save money is with your pet care, and in doing so, you’ve likely started looking at some budget-friendly products, like the Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar. This collar is available at a variety of retailers, including big box and grocery stores, making it affordable and accessible to many people.

Adams has made a name for itself in the pet care industry for being a low-cost option for multiple types of products, including flea and tick sprays. Are their products effective, though? Or is this another case of getting what you pay for?

Here’s everything you need to know about the Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar for cats.

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Collar for Cats – A Quick Look

Specifications

Sizing and Breakaway Function

The Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar comes in one-size-fits-all, so you can feel comfortable knowing that it will fit your smallest and biggest kitties. Unlike many flea and tick collars, this one also includes a breakaway function.

Breakaway collars are a great safety option for cats, especially those that go outside, live outside, or tend to get into tight squeezes. This allows the collar to break off the cat instead of turning into a choking risk.

The downside of breakaway collars is that, for cats that they’re designed for, they may also go missing or come off frequently. If your cat is constantly losing their flea and tick collar, then it is going to be far less effective since they are designed to stay on all the time. It also poses the risk of contaminating water sources with pesticides.

Efficacy

One of the best benefits of flea and tick collars is the length of their design to stay effective for extended periods of time. The Adams Plus Flea & Tick Collar is designed to last for 7 months, making it an inexpensive investment that you won’t have to make very often.

As the 7 months begin to come up, the collar may become less effective. It’s important to ensure you are taking other precautions to keep your cat free of fleas and ticks. Keep in mind that even indoor cats are at risk for fleas and ticks, with fleas being a common issue. This is because fleas can not only get into your home by hitchhiking on your clothes and belongings, but they can also stay dormant for up to 9 months, making them difficult to fully eliminate once they’re in a home.

Targeted Prevention and Treatment

This flea and tick collar’s active ingredients are tetrachlorvinphos and (S)-Methoprene, with tetrachlorvinphos accounting for 14.55% of the ingredients and (S)-Methoprene making up 1.02%. Both chemicals are known to be effective against fleas, ticks, lice, and certain flies, and both are listed for use with both livestock and domestic animals, including cats.

These chemicals work together to target fleas and ticks at three of their life stages. They can kill the adult and larval forms of fleas and ticks, as well as flea eggs and tick nymphs.

Note that this does not include fleas in their pupal stage or tick eggs. Products like flea and tick collars are best used in conjunction with other interventions, like treatment of the yard, home, and other pets within the home.

Safety

When it comes to inexpensive flea and tick treatments, safety does come into question for many people. It’s true that there are lots of bad products on the market that are dangerous for your pets, but Adams Plus products are safe and effective for your cat.

It is important to remember, though, that flea and tick products (even those from the vet) are pesticides, which carry inherent risks no matter what. Some pets are more sensitive to these products. If your cat has shown to be sensitive to flea and tick products in the past, then you need to discuss this with your vet before trying any new product.

These products are not meant for consumption and attempts should be made to put the collar high enough that your cat won’t accidentally lick it while grooming since this does increase the risk of a negative reaction.

In October 2022, a study was released that showed that pet flea and tick collars of all brands showed an unacceptable level of risk to humans within residential uses. However, it’s important to understand that this is a single study, and it did not find an overt danger to humans, just an increased risk level.

The current recommendations are to keep all products containing tetrachlorvinphos out of the reach of children and to wash hands thoroughly after handling, both of which are common sense for most people. Flea and tick collars aren’t appropriate for homes with children due to the risk of exposure to these chemicals. Follow-up studies are being performed on the safety of these products.

FAQ

How Quickly Will This Collar Start to Work?

The collar will start working immediately, and you can expect to see a significant decrease in the fleas and ticks on your cat within 12–24 hours.

Will This Collar Kill Ear Mites?

No, the pesticides in this collar are not formulated to kill ear mites. If you suspect your cat has ear mites, they need to see a veterinarian for treatment. Do not attempt home remedies.

Does This Collar Have a Scent?

The Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar for cats is unscented, but the products used may have a “chemical” smell to them.

Can the Collar Be Put Back on After the Breakaway Function Is Used?

Yes, the breakaway function does not break the collar or the closure, so you will be able to put it back on your cat.

Can I Use This Collar by Itself?

This collar may be appropriate to use on its own if your cat does not already have fleas and ticks. If your cat already has fleas and ticks, you will need to use the collar in conjunction with other things, like yard and home treatments. Do not use this collar in conjunction with other topical, oral, or collar flea and tick treatments. This could be deadly to your cat.

Can I Use a Dog Collar on My Cat?

Under no circumstances should you ever use a flea and tick medication meant for dogs on your cat. Not only is there a difference in the dosages of the pesticides, but dog products are also often made with pesticides that are extremely dangerous and deadly for cats.

What the Users Say

To help you determine if this collar might be right for your cat, we’ve looked to see what other people are saying about it.

Some users feel like this collar is extremely effective and rivals the efficacy of veterinary quality products, but there are also users who feel like the collar was completely ineffective for their cat. Many people also report their cat attempting to get the collar off, which is a common response when placing any collar on a cat if they aren’t used to it.

The length of efficacy of the Adams Plus Flea and Tick Cat collar is a big bonus for some users, especially those that have feral cats they care for. A collar that is effective for 7 months means less catching and handling of a cat that may be fearful or aggressive with human interaction.

The breakaway function is also one of the things that people love about this collar. It provides peace of mind that your cat’s choking risk due to the collar is significantly reduced over collars that don’t offer breakaway functionality. Some users do note that the downside of this is that the collar may go missing, especially on outdoor and feral cats. The price point of the collar does mean that replacing it regularly isn’t as expensive as some other products.

Conclusion

Since it is a low-cost flea and tick collar, the Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar for Cats is often not trusted by many people. Adams has chosen pesticides in this collar that are safe for cats, though, and it is formulated to work for 7 months. They are very clear that this collar is not singularly going to clear up fleas and ticks on your cat if the environment and source of the fleas and ticks are not taken care of.

Keep an eye out for follow-up studies on the safety of tetrachlorvinphos in a residential setting. The EPA will release the findings once they have received and reviewed them. Use extreme caution if you choose to use this flea and tick collar in a home with children, which is commonly recommended for all flea and tick collars. Wash your hands after handling the collar and its packaging, as well as after petting your cat or handling things that the collar may have rubbed off on, like bedding.