Guide

The spot on the neck: applying it well

Every topical flea product lives or dies by the same three inches of cat: the patch at the base of the head that a tongue cannot reach. Get the whole dose onto skin there, and the job is done for six weeks.

Pick your moment, not the cat's. Right after a meal, mid-nap in the sunny spot, or during an established petting session all beat a formal ambush. Have the applicator open and warm in your hand before you touch the fur.

Part the fur at the base of the skull until you can see skin. The Cheristin applicator's rounded tip is made for exactly this — rest it against the skin, squeeze firmly, and empty the whole applicator in one place. It's one dose for any size of cat, so there's nothing to hold back.

The solution is quick-drying and non-greasy; most cats shake once and go back to their business. Don't rub the spot, and give it a few hours before any serious cuddling against that patch. Bathing is best left for another week.

If your cat is the kind that hears the crinkle of packaging from three rooms away, wrap the ritual inside something ordinary: brush first, apply mid-brush, keep brushing after. The application should be the least memorable part of the evening.