WATCHDOG – Flea Collars
Published 22 November 2023
Warnings about how toxic permethrin can be to some cats have been known since 2014, though Watchdog have been made aware that major retailers are still selling Beaphar products for cats containing the ingredient; and although the packaging states that permethrin is present, the general consensus from some cat owners and vets is that the potential to harm is not stated clearly enough.
Amanda from Mold bought a Beaphar flea collar for her 5-month-old cat Tiffany from a high street store.
She told us “it's the right age because it says over 12 weeks and it’s got a picture of a cat on, so what harm could that possibly do?”
Having previously used flea collars, Amanda had no concerns fitting Tiffany with the product made by pet medicine company Beaphar.
She said “The following day. She just had this huge seizure. Her eyes were in the back of her head, making horrible noises. It was really scary.”
Amanda rushed Tiffany to the vets and was told the cause was 'very likely permethrin toxicity'
Permethrin is a flea deterrent and the active ingredient in Beaphar collars sold on the high street. But it’s also toxic to cats in high doses, or if ingested.
She told us “I always cut the excess off and I did with Tiffany, so she couldn’t lick it.” Adding
“It says on the very bottom that it contains permethrin…. you can hardly read it. it should be on the front in big bold letters. This can cause seizures, burns, death.”
The amount of permethrin in the collar is perfectly legal, and most cats won’t be harmed, but for some, the consequences are devastating.
18 months later Tiffany died after a second seizure.
“I do feel guilty, and I also feel really angry. I want it banned.” She said.
The risks aren’t new. In 2014 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate warned cat owners against using some permethrin products, prompting major pet healthcare brand Bob Martin to remove their flea collars containing permethrin from sale.
Nearly 10 years on the Directorate told us they’ve a better understanding of the risks of permethrin to cats, there’s been a significant reduction in the number of adverse reactions and all medicine must be used in accordance with its labelling.
Which is what Stephen from Portsmouth thought he’d done when he bought a collar for cat Cato from a high street store. It was also made by Beaphar and contained permethrin.
He told us “He started running around like a maniac, then he started to have seizures.”
“There were no warnings about the permethrin, but the collar did say do not let your animal chew. That's never gonna happen. Cats will do what they like.”
An emergency trip to the vets revealed not only had Cato chewed the collar, he’d ingested it too.
Asked if he had known about the dangers of permethrin, would he have bought the collar?
He said, “I would have definitely made a more informed decision about it.”
There is no warning on the front of the pack and nothing about potential harm on the back. It even says ‘Yes’ this is safe for cats, with the advice to not chew the collar towards the bottom.
Nicola Robinson works for Animal PoisonLine. She believes the potential risks of Permethrin should be much clearer, so people can make informed decisions.
“With some cats, in some households, these work very well they are safe when they're used correctly. But in other households, they’re outdoors, they may get the collar off.” She said.
“As vets we don’t tend to sell them. None of the cat spot-ons have permethrin in so they would certainly be safer.” adding
“You can't expect an owner to assess a product for its safety, if they don't know what the risks are.”
We asked Beaphar for a response, it told us.
“No one wants a much-loved pet to experience a suspected adverse reaction as a result of using medication, and it is distressing to hear about these rare incidences. Unfortunately, adverse events can result from using any medicine and this is the reason this sector is so highly regulated in order to ensure safety.
"Beaphar soft cat flea collars are veterinary medicines authorised by the government agency, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). This means they are subject to the same level of scrutiny and approvals as all veterinary medicines.”
It also said
“The role of the VMD is to assure the safety, quality, and efficacy of veterinary medicines. The regulatory process covers all aspects of veterinary medicines – from defining the safety information that must be included on the pack to the monitoring of any adverse reactions.
“Beaphar soft cat flea collars have provided a safe, accessible and affordable way to control fleas in cats for over 24 years. In the last five years, over 1.3 million cat collars manufactured by Beaphar have been sold in the UK and ‘adverse reactions’ have been reported in just 0.002% of cases. In these very rare events, reactions mainly concerned transient skin reactions.
"Beaphar soft cat flea collars contain low levels of permethrin, which is gradually released on to the cat’s coat over a four-month period to kill fleas. Permethrin-based products licensed for use in dogs should not be used on cats as these may contain high concentrations of permethrin and can be toxic to cats. The VMD states that if a permethrin product is labelled to say it can be used on cats, then it will be safe to use, providing the instructions are followed correctly.
“Beaphar packaging complies with all VMD requirements regarding the information which should be communicated to pet owners on packaging. This includes special precautions for use including the statement ‘Never allow any animal to chew the collar.”
It added
“Beaphar is passionate about making a positive contribution to improving the health and welfare of pets by giving pet owners access to quality care products, including affordable, authorised, and regulated veterinary medicines. Beaphar will continue to be guided by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in the light of all available evidence relating to best practice on the regulation of medicines and on-pack communication.”
