Novartis Capstar Flea Treatment Blue Tabs for Dogs and Cats

by Novartis

Product Features

• Oral tablet for controlling adult fleas in cats and dogs
• Active ingredient is Nitenpyram, which interferes with normal nerve transmission and kills fleas
• For cats and dogs 2 to 25 pounds
• Should be given orally no more often than once per day
• Please read all label information on delivery

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.8 x 5 inches ; 0.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00028ZLU4
• Item model number: 004CG-61011
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (162 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies)
  • #3 in Pet Supplies > Cats > Health Supplies > Flea, Lice & Tick Control
  • #4 in Pet Supplies > Dogs > Health Supplies > Flea, Lice & Tick Control

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Cure your small cat or dog of adult fleas with Novartis Capstar. Its active ingredient is Nitenpyram, which belongs to the chemical class of neonicotinoids that bind and inhibit insect-specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Nitenpyram interferes with normal nerve transmission and leads to the death of the insect. Nitenpyram does not inhibit acetylcholinesterase. For dogs and cats 2 to 25 pounds. Should be given orally, with or without food, on any day when fleas are present. Do not give more than 1 treatment per day. If a continuous flea infestation is observed after using Capstar, see your veterinarian. For the first hour after administering Capstar, your pet may scratch more than normal, which is caused by fleas reacting to the product. Contains 11.4 milligrams of Nitenpyram. Please read all label information on delivery. Includes 6 tablets.

Product Description

The fleas on the pet are in the adult stage. An adult, female flea, living on a pet, can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. With CAPSTAR (nitenpyram), almost all adult fleas will die within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works well for my cat, March 19, 2010

By 

L.A. Garrison "American Daughter - The Sam Hu... (Seattle) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Novartis Capstar Flea Treatment Blue Tabs for Dogs and Cats (Misc.)

Apparently some cats and dogs respond badly to this medication, but it works wonderfully for my cat.

She weighs just 10 pounds, so I give her half a tablet (I cut them apart in a regular pill cutter) and any fleas she's picked up fall off and die. My vet explained to me that the chemical in Capstar isn't recognized by the animal's body - it just passes through without being absorbed and broken down. It comes out as a gas through the pores of the skin, and acts on the fleas like cyanide gas acts on people. It's instantly lethal to the fleas. Unfortunately, when the fleas get the first whiff of gas, they respond by biting REALLY HARD in a reflexive reaction. Some cats and dogs who have several fleas may experience sudden very hard bites in many areas of their bodies, which could account for the jumping around and panting. It doesn't feel very good. Flea bites are terrible under normal circumstances, and their "death bites" are worse.

About twenty minutes after I give her the half-tablet, my cat starts scratching and/or licking hard at any fleas that are biting her. It goes on for about 10-15 minutes. Then they fall off and die. They don't completely die right away, so I stay away from her during this phase, or they'll jump on me and start their dying bites, and it's not pleasant!

Since I only give her half a tablet, a box lasts me twice as long as usual. I give her a tablet every 3 weeks or so, whenever she picks up a flea or two or three. She's an outside cat so we struggle with this off and on all summer. I also take her to the vet to get her Program shot, which works in conjunction with the Capstar tablets. Program keeps the fleas from laying fertile eggs, so the house doesn't get infested.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great as an initial attack on fleas!, March 6, 2010

By 

bwilkins15 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Novartis Capstar Flea Treatment Blue Tabs for Dogs and Cats (Misc.)

I got this product because we suddenly had a flea infestation on both my cats and my chihuahua. It worked great to kill the adult fleas and started within about 2 hours. But I would VERY strongly recommend that you have a long term treatment immediately available. I bought a topical solution as well but it had not been delivered yet and the flea eggs already on my dog hatched in the meantime. My dog was COVERED in fleas the day after! I gave him another dose and applied the topical solution and now he is flea-free. YOU WILL NEED SOMETHING TO KILL THE EGGS ALSO!!!

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars holy fleas, batman! it works!, September 4, 2011

By 

K. Kelley (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Novartis Capstar Flea Treatment Blue Tabs for Dogs and Cats (Misc.)

I've got fleas. Well, I don't. My cat does, obviously. Anyway, my indoor cat somehow ended up with fleas? Not exactly sure how? The Universe works in mysterious ways. It all started when I spotted a flea on my cat and the next day I was at my vet where they sold me 80 dollars worth of Frontline that appears to be doing absolutely nothing. I know I love wasting 80 dollars, I'm sure you do, too. A week later, still finding fleas by the dozen on my poor cat, I had my apartment exterminated. (yes, with chemicals, sorry to the green people) I needed something, anything, to kill the fleas on her before bringing her back into my exterminated home. I read about Capstar in many different "how to get rid of fleas" articles, so I called my vet and asked if they sold the product. They did not, so I came on Amazon and sure enough, 20 dollars and one day later, Capstar arrived at my front door the very day of my extermination. I grabbed the cat, the Capstar, and vacated. I gave my cat one pill, and by give, I mean forced it down her throat while she screamed horribly and bit me. Believe me, I tried nearly everything before resorting to forceful insertion. I've got one picky cat on my hands. 30 minutes later, she was scratching herself like crazy. From reading the reviews, I knew that meant magic was happening! Sure enough, fleas were falling off of her. They looked a little like when you wake up on your bathroom floor after a night of heavy drinking and the room is spinning and you are convinced that your head is going to explode within a matter of seconds. They walked around with their gas induced soon-to-be-death hangovers and then died. It was awesome! I laughed maniacally and danced a little. I have to admit, my life is very sad, because seeing those fleas die... well, it was one of the greatest things I have ever witnessed. I gave my cat a bath with some flea shampoo so I could kill all the eggs and larvae. Hours later, we were back home in my chemical smelling apartment and I haven't seen a flea since! Capstar, I love you. Please let me have your babies immediately.