Spot-on treatments have their moment of drama: the wet patch, the smell, the cat that vanishes for an hour afterwards. A collar avoids all of it. It goes on once and works quietly for as long as it lasts, with nothing to time, nothing to reapply and nothing sitting on the coat that children have to be kept away from for a day.

The strap is 70cm as supplied, which sounds enormous until you realise it is meant to be cut. Fasten it with two fingers' clearance at the neck and trim the tail off, and the same product fits a cat or a spaniel. It is water-resistant, so a bath or a wet field does not end its working life, and the buckle sits flat enough not to catch on a collar or tags already in place.

• 70cm strap, adjustable and trimmed to fit
• Water-resistant, through baths and wet walks
• Suits both dogs and cats
• Nine colours
• No drops or sprays to apply
• Weighs 75g

Be clear on what this is. It is a deterrent that helps keep fleas and ticks off a pet that does not already have them. For an active infestation, or for ticks in a Lyme area, speak to your vet and treat this as a supplement.

Who it's for: Owners who want a hands-off, no-mess extra layer of flea and tick deterrence for a dog or cat between veterinary treatments.