Dog Frontline for cats?

Question
I live in FL (BUGS!) AND have a 20 lb cat that I usually treat with Advantage for small dogs because of his size. I want to change to Frontline but my vet told me you can't use dog Frontline on cats. Is this true? When I looked at the ingredents they're the same for both dogs and cats, so I don't get it. It was my vet who told me to use dog Advantage because of my cat's size but she says NO to dog Frontline. Can you help me understand this? Thanks. Lori  

Answer
Lori,
          I too do not understand why your veterinarian is saying not to use the small dog dose for your large cat. This is the common practice at the hospital I work at and you are correct in stating that the ingredients are the same, however the cat dose contains .5mls and the small dog, (up to 22 pounds) dose contains .67mls. Frontline is available over the counter and you can contact another veterinarian, or check to see if any of the local pet supply stores carry it, if your veterinarian will not allow you to purchase the small dog dose. Even from the information I have read, pets that were overdosed up to 5 times the required amount, showed no signs of side effects or reactions. However, some animals can have a hypersensitivy to the product so monitor your cat for several hours after you apply it for any signs of a allergic reaction (facial swelling, drooling, and hives). I hope this offers some insight. Please feel free to get back to me with any addition questions or concerns.                              Jodi