Hartz Flea Drops Killed My Kitten Today

I highly doubt that the little pieces of flea drops actually got
bipedal and picked up weapons and murdered your kitten. They're
fucking inanimate objects, woman.

Oh. Yeah see, I basically just read headlines for the most part.

OMG I'm so glad I read this... I just put some on my cat a couple
hours ago and just washed it off... Thank you for sharing your story
and I'm sorry for your loss

Im sorry, I just read your article and I about cried, I used one of
their flea colars and now my kitten is at the vets with a fever of 105
and toxicity, She wont eat, drink or get up

Thank you so much for sharing this information especially in your time
of grieve. And please don't feel bad about having put it out there
before seeing your vet because according to a lot of other
individuals, the very same incident occured and it sounds like Hartz
is already aware. I don't have kitties but I have dogs and they are my
kids. I hope Hartz will accept responsibility for their products and
the damage it is causing. I haven't ever used Hartz just because I get
all my stuff from my vet (at a much higher cost of course) but if
Hartz is going to make products and present them as safe to use, they
need to step up to the plate and pull these products from the shelf
until they are safe. My prayers are with you and I too hope you will
soon find a place in your heart and home for another kitty. You will
never replace Noah but there are a lot of little ones out there that
need to be in a loving home like yours. God Bless.....

Wow I am having my kitten very loving, but also a lot of poop problems
what do you think I have gave flea meds four days a go

im sorry about your cat.i got some hartz ultra guard and put on my
kids cat cheeseball thats his name .the next day he lost the use of
his back legs and was sick we went to the vet and he told us it was
the hartz sutff that did it he is ok now i called hartz got an offer
to pay the vet bill thanks so much what we need to do is make hartz
take it off the market.and stop killing cats and dogs

I am so sorry about your kitten. but I do thank you for letting us
know about this. I have two cats one is mine and the other is my
daughters, we have had both since they were kitten's. and we would be
heart broken if something would happen to them. they are our babys and
a part of our family. Thank you so much, because you have just saved
there lives. and once again, i am so sorry about Noah. and I agree
with the person that said Hartz needs to be kicked in the behind. but
they also need to be made to use there own drops on there self.

I fed my chinchilla hartz small animal treats and it killed him a feww
days later, he was only about 5 years old which is really young for a
chinchilla and im already writing a letter to Hartz

I just returned from the animal emergency center after both of my cats
got very sick after using the 4 in 1 flea medicine. They'll be there
overnight with catheters in them. Thank God they are going to be okay
but I was completely unaware of the possibilty of them becoming that
sick. It is sick that this product is being sold on the shelves and
its completely toxic. The doctor told me 1 in 3 cats have a reaction
to flea medicine, but I had 2 cats and they both reacted. Maybe its
just coincidence, but I think Hartz needs a kick in the ass.

I followed the directions on the Heartz ultraguard flea drops for
cats for My adult 1/1/2 year old cat. 1 hour later she suffered with
terrible seizures and vomiting . We took her to the emergency vet 1
day later and $700 dollars later we had to put her to sleep because
she was suffering and had fluid in her lungs .I called Heartz and was
given a case number they voluntered to pay for the autopsey how nice
.; I plan to get a lawyer and make this more public any Ideas???

I just got back from taking my sweet blind 1 year old cat from the
emergency vet after putting Hartz cat lea drops from guess wallmart. I
can not believe the still sell this stuff that is so toxix. I am not
sure if my cat will leave or not at this point jsut wanted to see if
you had any lucl with Hartz??

aw... i actually teared up when i read this! (i have two kittens and i
admittedly "over-mother" them) So, I'm sorry that your kitty suffered
like that :'(

why hasn't their been national news on this yet or why haven't Hartz
been shut down.

I am soooooooooo sorry to hear this!! Sad sad sad!!

However, I have to say..I'm glad you wrote this letter.. I don't have
cats..just a big baby dog. I don't think I have ever bought their
products..but, from now on.. I will make it a point NOT to!!

Again, sorry for your loss!

This is not an uncommon thing with hartz flea drops. Cats may loose
hair (like my old cat) and that may be it or worse, like in your case.
I am sorry about your kitten. If you have anyother animals never buy
another Hartz product again. I have learned never to trust anything on
the shelves for what they claim to do or assume that they are safe.
All I can say is do research before trusting any pet care product.

I found this on the Web on the EPA site - it seems to say that this
product was supposed to have been phased out by now.

Again, I am so sorry about your kitten - I can't imagine how you must
feel.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick-drops.htm

And I also found this site: http://www.petitiononline.com/hartz/

My one cat yesterday had flea treatment on him. It was the same brand.
my cat was 8 months and 8 lbs. A couple minutes later, My cat started
shaking so grabbed her and she was having a seisure. Then my daughter
went in and washed the flea treatment off and he had another seisure.
We didnt know what to do because our vet was closed. So I hurried up
and looked on the computer and we rushed to the adamstown vet. After
that we rushed back home because we have 2 other cats.They were fine
but we washed off the flea treatment. So we rushed back to the vet and
brought her down to this hospital down near exton. Right now guizmo (
thats our kittens name) is doing fine. But, this morning we found one
of our other kittens dead under my bed.

So sorry for your lost.

As I sit here petting my Miss CoCo, know that your letter & sharing
your entire experience with Hartz has made me decide to NEVER bring
any of their products within 100 feet of my pet.

It is amazing how these lil buggers quickly become part of our hearts
& family. Shame on Hartz if they have products on the market that do
more harm than good.

It is truly a shame yourr kitten did not pull though I too am very
sorry. I work with a dog rescue and certainly know how you feel in
loosing your pet.

I have never really had much experience using Hartz or other over-the
counter pet meds - we use only those recommended by local
veterinarians. That is really the best advice to all other animal
owners out there. Please remember that common household items
(onions, chocolate, certain plants, ibuprofen, ...) can and will kill
dogs and cats just as quickly as this Hartz product. In fact the flea
and tick med we use on my dogs is toxic to all cats, so we need to
take precautions when applying it monthly.

I am not certain about the product you used, but was it meant for
adult cats? Often times there is certain age limitations in addition
to the weight limitations.

The important thing to consider is that flea and tick meds are poisons
(with the exception of the holistic varieties) which we are using to
kill/repel certain insects and parasites please don't assume anything
purchased at Wal-Mart, or other general store, is safe and effective
use a reputable veterinarian.

Poor little guy. I'm truely sorry to hear that.

First off, I thank you for all of your support and insight. I
appreciate everyone's responses. Each of you has been helpful and
courteous.

I got the blood work back from last Thursday--Noah apparently had high
levels of a substance called ethophenprox, which is one of the the
active ingredients in the UltraGuard plus drops and according to the
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), could be a carcinogen to humans at
high levels. The MSDS did not have any stats for felines, naturally.
According to the written vet's diagnosis to the cause of death (and
her verbal explanation) Noah was unable to metabolize the toxin and
his organs shut down. I did not elect to do a necropsy at the time of
death. I couldn't afford it and I have no intention of pursuing legal
action. I'm not trying to take Hartz down, I'm just trying to raise
awareness on what could be a serious problem with their product.

This would be a good time to explain why I wrote the letter and shared
it on a public forum. My assessment of the cause of Noah's death at
the time could have been premature, I'll admit, but upon preliminary
diagnosis by two veterinarians, anecdotal accounts and press reports
from across the country found too late (after he died) led me to the
conclusion. The vet that treated him in his last moments recommended
I write Hartz of my experience and file a complaint. Since I check in
to PFB quite a bit, I wanted to share my story for awareness and
prevention. I take accountability by not consulting a vet first and
not doing my research. I feel Hartz should take some accountability
as well.

I did receive a reply today from a Hartz representative. Yes, she
gave me the usual corporate feedback, but I think that given the lack
of information I provided in my grief, her response is reasonable. I
am following up with her. I'll keep you posted:

"Dear Ms.C:
I am so sorry about the loss of Noah. He was a very handsome young man
(Note: I sent them photos), and I understand that nothing will bring
him back.

"Hartz does stand behind all of their flea and tick products, which
are tested and approved for used by the EPA, and we do encourage any
owner who feels that a product is causing a reaction to contact us
immediately. Hartz does have a vet on staff and also offers testing
and consults by independent board certified vets.

"If you would like to document a case please contact me at your
convenience. It would also be helpful if you could give us your vet's
contact info, as this is not a usual reaction to this new product.

"Again, please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss."

Sincerely,

Susan Stroligo
Veterinary Technician
The Hartz Mountain Corporation
Consumer Relations Dept.
400 Plaza Drive
Secaucus, NJ 07094
201-271-4800 ext 2770
Fax# 201-271-1206
email sstroligo@hartz.com

I don't have anything to add that hasn't been said already, but my
heart breaks for you. I love my cats more than I love most of
humanity, and the idea of losing one so senselessly is both
frightening and enraging. I hope this letter helps Hartz realize that
they are killing what they would protect.

You and Noah are both in my prayers.

I am so so sorry for your loss! I am with you in your moment of grief.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a frequent occurence, that pets get
ill from the flea drops!!! HARTZ is the worst offender, in my
experience. I used them on one of my grown cats, and she began
trembling violently, almost having a seizure. I obtained advice on
this, and was told to wash as much of the product off as possible,
then give the cat a small piece broken off from a Vitamin C tablet,
and give this every half-hour or so. Finally, her symptoms subsided
and she began to feel better, but it took constant monitoring on my
part. Perhaps because she was a grown cat, she had more of a chance to
recover than your little Noah.
More recently, I purchased Nature's Guardian flea drops (company
unknown, but also purchased at Wal-Mart) - these are supposedly made
only with natural herbal ingredients. But they smelled very strong,
and 4 of my 5 cats developed a severe skin rash and hair loss on the
neck where the drops were placed.

I will do whatever I can to help you spread the word about these
dangerous drops, mostly from the HARTZ company...Noah the kitten did
not die in vain, it created action on our part to help other pets who
may be at risk!
I do want to say that I have had only POSITIVE results on my grown
cats with ADVANTAGE flea drops.

~ S.C. Crawford, Visalia, CA.

Sorry for your loss, but without a necropsy it is impossible to finger
the product as the cause of death. Please don't take offense, but in
all fairness it is possible that your kitten could have died by
another means. Without the hard technical evidence one cannot say for
sure it was the Hartz product. Again my condolences as a cat owner I'd
be beside myself if my Willard died under these circumstances. I would
also take him to my vet for a proper necropsy to find out the
scientific truth before accusing a person, entity or business of
taking his life. But that's just me..

Me heart breaks when I hear stories like this.....

Truly, I am sorry to hear you lost Noah. So sorry.

Wow,

I'm sorry this happened to you. I apologize for your loss. However I
work in a pet store and I would like to help you out. Flea drops on
the shelves are never to be used on kittens or puppies. Just because
it says for 5 pounds doesn't mean that the balance of it can be used
on a kitten, this means it can be used on a 5 pound adult cat.
Unfortunately there isn't any one at wal-mart normally that can tell
you that. If you have fleas and ticks and own a kitten or a puppy that
you wish to treat, talk to you vet and get drops from them. They will
provide you with a flea and tick drop that is safe enough to use on
your young ones.

Again I apologize for this unfortunate event.

I am so sorry for your loss - how horrible. Thak you for sharing this
information so others might not go through your grief.

Oh I am SO sorry. This is outrageous that this product is still on the
market. Hartz should be absolutely ashamed to be in the pet business.
What sort of evil, vile money grubbers run the sort of company that
would knowingly market a product that has been known to kill hundreds
of animals? It's downright sickening.

Please accept my condolences on the tragic and senseless loss of your
friend. I hope that your heart can heal enough so that you can offer a
home to another kitten soon. I wish you peace.

I'm so sorry about your kitten. I know what it's like to lose a pet.
This is a good letter.

I am sorry for your loss, but like so many, so grateful you were nice
enough to share this informative letter, think of how much sadness and
grief you've spared so many people of and how many animals you may
have saved! I hope you realize that your kitten knew that he was loved
and he didn't die in vain.


I hope you hear from them and decide to share your life with another
fortunate kitten.

Concern about the safety of these products had been going on for quite
a few years now...it's a travesty that it's still on the shelves.

My sincerest condolences.

As a cat owner(2 actually), I am so saddened by your letter, but know
that your kitten did not die in vein and you probably just saved
countless pets by posting this letter. I am so sorry for the loss of
your pet.

Now this is a good letter. Your heart is in the right place. I'm so
sorry to hear about your cat. And hopefully your letter will alert
other pet owners not to use this product. I know I won't. May little
Noah RIP.

That is awful! It amazes me that there is all this antecdotal evidence
that this stuff is bad yet they continue to sell it. Shame on Hartz.
Your letter made them lose me as a customer for ANYTHING.

I am very sorry about you losing your pet. I am a cat owner myself,
and can appreciate how much these companions can mean to a person.
You wrote a very well thought out letter, and I hope the company
responds to you. This product should be taken off the shelves. I agree
with some of the other posters, particularly those who work with
animals, in reccomending that people stop buying Hartz products.
Companies should be rewarded when they offer quality goods and
services, and penalized when they don't. Thanks for writing about it
here.

I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this letter with us.
Please be sure to talk to someone about your feelings during this hard
time. My love to you.

I'm so sorry about Noah. I will definitely never buy anything from
Hartz again for my cat! This is a well-written letter and I hope the
company contacts you.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It's so sad that a brand that is
supposed to be "pet friendly" is so far off the mark as to be deadly.


At my last Vet appt I was told to stop using any and all Hartz
products ASAP. I have been fortunate in that the only thing I had of
theirs was a cat shampoo I had only used once. We need to get this
out onto the internet so everyone knows not to use this brand on their
pets.

Again, my sympathies on your loss and thank you for sharing this with
us.

I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your kitten. I don't mean to
be inconsiderate, but how can you be sure that these drops were
actually the cause of your kitten's death? Could he have maybe
contracted a virus from being outside? Either way, unfortunately it's
not going to bring your kitten back, but I dont think it's right to
blame this company without having proof that their drops caused your
kitten's death. I've used hertz flea drops to protect my dogs for
years and have never had any problems with their products.

I am so very sorry for your loss. I as a companion owner know that
cats/dogs quickly become a part of the family. I will keep you in my
prayers and hope your heart mends quickly.

Thank you for sharing this letter. I work in an animal shelter, and I
have just forwarded the link to our Executive Director. We use
several Hartz products, but we have not used their flea medication.
Thanks to your letter and the research it prompted me to do, I doubt
we ever will. I'm sorry that your friend is no longer with you, but
by sharing this letter you may have prevented others from experiencing
this tragic situation. Again,thanks, and you have my sympathy.

I can only echo those who have offered their sympathy to you. I am
very sorry for what you are going through.

You may not care about money, coupons or discounts, but Hartz owes you
(at minimum) for the vet and lab bills you had to pay because of its
product. Asking for such compensation is not out of line.

Im sorry for your loss. Its heartbreaking to know you only had your
cats best interests at heart and a money hungry corporation gladly
took your money in exchage for your cats life.

I appreciate your letter and will no longer purchase anything Hartz
products. The only way to stop this is not by relying on their
compassion but hitting them where it hurts, their wallet.

I hope you choose to get another pet and hopefully adopt being there
are many cats and kittens out there who need a good home with someone
that cares about them.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your kitty. I have three cats and a dog,
and it would break my heart to watch one suffer.

Awwww I am soooo so sorry, I have two cats of my own and I couldn't
imagine losing them over that. To tell you the truth, I almost did
once, when I tried HARTZ flea medicines from the store too. NEVER EVER
use it!! I am sorry that a kitten had to die because someone decidies
to put a product out there without testing it, only to profit. Don't
blame yourself over it, because you only did what you thought was
healthy for your kitten.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss! I hope they recall this dangerous
product....I will be sure to tell everyone I know with cats about
this!

This letter hits really close to home.
You are truly a hero, S.C. There are many people from around the world
who visit planetfeedback on a daily basis. The fact that you wrote a
well thought out letter (on top of your grief) also helped make your
letter into the 15 minutes of fame, hence more people are able to
easily find it and read it. In turn, people pass on information to
their family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, etc...
You have probably saved the lives of many cats and the grief of many
owners from your selfless act. Thank you so much for what you did.
I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope you have close family and
friends there for you.

I got this link from my MIL ( right above this post, actually ^_^) and
wow...I was using some drops for ear mites on my new kitty, though I
don't believe they're Hartz brand, but I certainly know I would have
probably used the product at some point in the future. Methinks I'll
think twice about that now, and hunt for some safer, preferably more
natural ways to deal with fleas, ticks, ect. So thank you for sharing
with the rest of us and thanks to Mama for pointing me in this
direction.

How can a letter be one of the best and worst I've ever read at PFB?

This posting was well thought out (I don't know how) and it also made
me very sad. I think cats are just the coolest and couldn't imagine
watching one suffer like that.

I feel for you.

I really do.

wow, i just can not believe this. i am so, so sorry about your poor
little kitten. it is horrible that you are having to experience
something like this. to put your trust in a marketed product that is
supposed to help protect your pet, and then have that same product
kill them instead... that is just so terrible. i am glad to see that
other people have posted that website, now i know to never buy this
product, or anything from Hartz, for my beloved dog. once again, i am
sorry for your loss, and i hope you are doing ok.

My heart is with you, as I too have a kitty I love with all of my
heart.

My advice would be to get your vet to doccument proof that it was the
drops that killed your beloved pet, and then once you are sure that is
the cause of his death, take the story to the media.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I have two new kittens and can't
imagine what it would be like to wake up one morning and find them or
my older cats like that.

i am so sorry your kitten died. i know it's horrible because i too
have lost beloved pets. it's sad no matter the reason, but this is
really sad. good luck with your letter.

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear about your cat. Pets are a part of the
family. Anyways, I hope they look into this.

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitten. Thanks for putting out this
warning to other pet owners to try and spare them the tragedy you
endured. Again I'm very sorry for your loss.

You wrote an excellent letter regarding a terrible tragedy. I'm so
sorry to hear of your loss.

Perusing the other responses, it appears at first glance (I didn't
look anything up) that Hartz has a history of problems with its
products. One would think that a young kitten, like a child, would be
very sensitive to medications. The formula should be very
conservative so the pet will not incur illness or death.

I hope that Hartz replies to your letter and steps up to the plate, at
least compensating you for the financial cost of the vet and burial of
your kitten. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I've owned cats in the past and
nothing hurts more than losing one to disease (or for any reason) - -
but losing one because you used a product generally available to the
public and as directed is horrifying.

If Hartz had an ounce of compassion, they would contact you, ask for
your vet bills and at least reimburse your out-of-pocket costs due to
their marketing of a dangerous product.

I wish there was something I could personally do to get this stuff
taken off the market as this is not the first time I've heard of this
problem.

You have composed a very well written letter and deserve a response
from Hartz.

What a horrible letter! - please let us know what they say.

You don't have to take this advice... but James Herriott, the vet who
wrote books like "All Creatures Great and Small" advises that, upon
the loss of a loved pet, one should adopt another immediately to help
cope with the loss.

Not only am I so sorry for your loss, but I'll never buy Hartz for MY
cat.

Oh, I am so very sorry for your loss. My vet told me to never use
Hartz products. I wish we could get this product removed from the
market. Many people don't take it seriously because it is "only an
animal". To people like you, me, and other posters they are family.
Again, my heart aches for you and for poor, sweet Noah. He is in a
happy place now and you will see him again one day.
Please let usknow when/if you hear from Hartz.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I really hope they listen. Please update
if they contact you.

I'm so sorry about your poor baby! Sadly you are not alone. Hundreds
and hundreds of cats and dogs have been killed by Hartz products. They
have been forced off the market, only to return with new names and
packaging. Hartz is a rephrensible company. All they care about is
money. See this site, which is full of people with experiences like
yours:

http://hartzvictims.org

Blessings to you and your baby at the Rainbow Bridge!

I'm very sorry for your loss. I've also had a kitten die as a result
from Hartz flea drops, and I've told everyone I can about the
experience.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your furbaby. I have 3 cats and a dog
and would be heartbroken is this happened to one of them.

You bring in a stray kitten and do everything you can to care for him
and the very products you trust wind up being fatal to him!

I do think they need to do more to specify that it SHOULDN'T be used
on kittens or puppies under a certain age and weight. Many people
don't realize at all that something that is supposedly safe for adult
animals can kill a small pet.

I am so sorry for the loss of Noah and I hope you'll keep us posted
about Hartz response.

I can't even express how sorry I am. I can't imagine how you must
feel.

Even in your grief you wrote a really good letter.

My thoughts are with you.

You should never use over the counter monthly flea medication. You had
faith that this product wouldnt kill your kitten,and I dont think
thats too much to ask. I dont know if you should sue, I suppose you
can ask a lawyer about that. What I do know is that you should do
everything in your power to get the word out. Perhaps look online for
more victims. One person wont be heard, but if everyone gets together
they cant ignore you.You can visit www.HartzVictims.ord. As a pet
groomer, an animal rights activist and a mother of 4 tabbies, my heart
breaks for you and yours.

I found this web site and I know now that I will never use another
Hartz product again.
http://www.hartzvictims.org

If they don't reply to your letter and take the product off the shelf
you should take it to the press. A few months back they had a problem
with cat and dog food that was making pets sick. Some even died from
eating the food. They put it on the news and the stores all threw out
the food.

Also tell the Wal-mart manager what happened and what the vet says and
see if they take it of themselves.

I'm sorry about your kitten, too.

NEVER use Hartz flea products. I wish I had a site to send to send you
to but I don't. My cats' vet is the one who told me to never use it
because they can kill cats and dogs.

I've used either Fronline or Advantage on her and have luck with both.
They're more expensive but it's worth it.

Good luck to you.

Bless your heart. I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

I've worked at a vet's office for the last 13 years. I never
recommend Hartz products for just this reason ~ the product is
absorbed through the skin and must be metabolized by the liver. They
had an issue some years back with a product called Zodiac too that
killed a number of animals.

I am so very sorry for your loss and hope Hartz listens to you.

Sorry for the OP/s loss.
I just checked the Hartz site and found this.
Note the weight disclaimer if in fact this is the same product:

DESCRIPTION
Hartz® UltraGuard plus™ Drops for Cats (5lbs & over) helps
to kill fleas, Deer ticks and flea eggs for up to one month. It also
kills and repels mosquitoes that may transmit heartworm disease. Each
pack contains a three month supply of easy squeeze tubes that provide
a quick acting, long lasting treatment.

I can tell you right now, that if a product I bought to help my cat,
killed him, I would be in a rage!! I think you should sue for
emotional damages! I know my little buddy is worth a lot to my wife
and I! I am so sorry to hear about the death of your kitten. Your
letter was well written and certainly made me angry! Good luck with
whatever happens, and please, keep us posted!

You're letter is absolutely heartbreaking and very well written. I'm
so sorry you had to go through this with him and lost your poor Noah.


I hope they contact you and do pull this off the shelves with an
immediate recall.

I am so, so sorry for your loss.

I can't think of anything else to say because I'm just too emotionally
overwhelmed by your letter. My heart is breaking for you, seriously.

Please let us know if they respond and good luck to you.

I am so sorry to hear about your kitten. However, kudos to you for
recognizing he wasn't well and getting him into a vet immediately. I
think you did all your could to save his life.

I've never used this particular product, so I don't know about the
risks and side effects. I did a quick search on the Internet though,
typing in "Hartz Ultraguard Plus" in Google, and it looks like Noah
hasn't been the only victim. Here's what one website said, "I did some
more research on that product and a couple of places say that the
"Other Ingrediants" that compose 56% of the product contains some
chemical commonly used in dog flea medication but is very very toxic
to cats." (www.hartzvictims.org)

Based on this statement and your vet's words, I think you have a good
letter. In the future, and please note I'm not blaming you, buy all
your pets' meds from a vet. Yes, they're more expensive that way, but
a vet can make a better recommendation as to dosage and safety issues.
Plus, your vet then has a paper trail of all the medications used.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.