Why I Switched to Seresto: Managing Pets When You’re Chronically Ill

Caring for pets is a joy—but also a responsibility that doesn’t pause when your health takes a hit. For those of us living with chronic illness, even small tasks like applying monthly flea prevention can become exhausting. Some days, even opening the tube feels like too much.

That’s why I switched to the Seresto flea and tick collar for cats. And after three months of testing it on all three of my cats, I’m not going back.

The Problem: Monthly Flea Treatments Weren’t Sustainable

If you’ve ever tried to wrangle a squirmy cat while opening a tiny tube of flea medication, you already know the drill: you lose half the dose to fur displacement, your cat bolts under the couch, and you’re left wondering if any of it actually made contact with their skin.

I used to dread flea med day. My hands would shake from fatigue. My hips would flare if I crouched too long. One month I forgot completely—because I was too busy recovering from an autoimmune crash.

Now imagine doing that twelve times a year, with three cats, while managing fatigue, joint pain, or unpredictable flares. It was a cycle of stress I didn’t need. And I was the one carrying the cost.

Then one of my cats got fleas again just 72 hours after I removed her Seresto collar. I hadn’t even gotten a chance to replace it yet. And just like that, we were back in parasite territory.

The Solution: One Collar, Eight Months of Protection

Seresto collars aren’t cheap upfront. I hesitated. But when I did the math—eight months of flea and tick coverage, no monthly ambush routines, no wrestling matches—I realized how much time and energy I was getting back.

For me, Seresto turned a recurring source of stress into a once-every-three-quarters task. No more worrying about the exact date. No more hoping I was well enough that day to follow through. It felt like one less ball to juggle.

Real Talk: What My Chronically Ill Body Needed

The shift wasn’t just about convenience. It was about capacity.

When you live with unpredictable symptoms, you start to triage your responsibilities. Feeding your pet? Non-negotiable. Monthly flea prevention that requires precision timing, coordination, and mobility? That gets harder.

Seresto gave me back a bit of predictability. One simple snap-on collar per cat. Done.

And when the time came to replace them? I just opened the drawer, clipped the new collar in place, and moved on with my day. No crash. No stress spiral.

Bonus: No More Licking Each Other’s Medicine Off

And this isn’t just a cat problem. Dog owners, you know the drill—your pup gets a fresh dose of topical flea meds and immediately starts licking themselves like it’s their job. Or worse, licks their dog sibling. If you're dealing with chronic illness and a pair of tongue-happy canines, the Seresto collar for dogs might be your new best friend—same eight-month coverage, none of the monthly mess.

My cats are notorious for grooming each other. Topical meds became a game of “how fast can we sabotage this dose.” At one point, I caught all three of them licking each other’s necks like a tiny circular conspiracy. One would take a swipe at the other, and then pivot so they could all take turns undoing my hard work. It was like a furry little flea resistance movement—united in mischief, if not in hygiene.

There were times I’d sit on the couch, watching them lick each other’s necks, and just close my eyes in defeat. But with collars, that problem disappeared overnight. They still groom—but the flea protection stays put.

Tips for Chronically Ill Pet Parents Using Seresto

• Label each collar with a Sharpie when you put it on (I use initials and the date)

• Set a calendar alert on your phone or smartwatch to remind you when it’s time to replace them

• Monitor for irritation the first week, especially around the neck (only one of my cats showed mild redness, which resolved)

• Buy from a trusted source to avoid counterfeits—this part is key. I always order mine directly through this link to make sure it's the real deal

Is It Perfect? No. But It’s Sustainable.

I still hate collar day. The cats still give me side eye. But it’s ten minutes of effort every eight months—instead of twelve surprise stressors a year.

And that trade-off matters. For me, this was about building a sustainable routine that matched my real-life energy—not the version of me I wish I could be all the time.

If you're chronically ill and looking for ways to simplify your pet care routine, Seresto might be your next best adaptation. It was mine.

Check out our self-advocacy tools and chronic illness-friendly downloads on Ko-Fi — designed for people who are managing their health and everything else life throws at them.