anything effective for ticks?

Tick collars are available, they would probably work. 
In the past I have used Advantix on my dogs, I have cats and didn't have any roblems.

Hey Mary - I use a topical spray made by Quantum for my two.  It does have to be applied each time you go out and would have to be reapplied after Molly gets wet.  Since using this, I've found fewer ticks than when I used Advantix.  Oh, I also add a bit of citronella to it for mosquitos.

I had to use Advantix once on my old dog after she had a surgery during the spring and the vet didn't want to take a chance of her getting any parasites compromising her system. But she told me to keep my cats away from her - which wasn't an issue.
I'm not willing to chance it with Advantix with my cats. Even the website for Advantix states do not use around cats.

I won't use it, either.  I did try it for a couple of months the first year I had my Newf - aside from the fact that it made her sick, I also have cats and she still ended up with ticks.
 
There's a store (Sandy's) in Concord if you're that way anytime soon that does carry the Quantum.  I don't know what stores you have up your way that would carry it.  If you can't find it locally or won't be headed south anytime soon, you can order it on line.

Hello []

How about simply using Frontline? It is as widely available as K9 Advantix but has different active ingredients - ingredients that are not harmful to cats. Alternatively, if you want to go with something less expensive, the same holds for the Hartz products available at Wal-Mart.

Have a great summer []

oh no no no
never ever use Hartz products EVER
and luckily they have to take their tick control products off the shelves by Jnauary 2007.
Many animals have died from that crap.
I'll get some Frontline from my vet. I've been asking around and it's used a lot up here with good results.
 

I have a friend with a commercial sheep operation and three out door livestock guardian dogs.  She has had good success attributed to Bugg Off garlic supplement from Springtime.
 
MRV

Laugh Mary [] Yes well, I did not mean to endorse any Hartz products by any means - just so I am not misunderstood. I merely tried to carefully hint that, under some circumstances, a pocket not deep enough for the 'good stuff', should consider getting one of those. Yes, they are less effective, and yes there have been problems in some instances (the product for dogs does NOT have to be taken off shelves, the changes only affect the cat-version; furthermore, Hartz does not plan to withdraw its cat product, but simply relabel it, at least as far as I am informed). Nevertheless, if a dog lives in an area with heavy tick infestation carrying Lyme, has an owner that cannot or does not want to spend very much, then it maybe is worth a (careful) try. Alternatively, one could take the dog nowhere but pavement areas and the own backyard during those months, while keeping the yard fenced and short-cut. That pretty much rules out ticks also. []

Addendum: "Due to safety concerns stemming from use of two flea and tick control products for cats and kittens, EPA is announcing that the Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to enact measures to reduce potential risks to pets from using these products. Under this agreement, Hartz has ceased sale and distribution of, and will implement a product recovery, label improvement and consumer education program for two pesticide products, Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No. 2596-14 and Hartz Advanced Care Brand Once-a-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens (EPA Reg. No.2596-151). Hartz is required to recover, repackage and re-label currently available stock. EPA sought this agreement due to concerns over safety issues based on thousands of adverse effects incidents investigated by EPA."

Also see:http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/hartzq_a.htm