Did you know your little furball can catch fleas even if she's an indoors only cat?
Unfortunately, it's not possible to make your home completely impenetrable against these annoying and problematic little bugs. But by arming yourself with the right knowledge and products, you can dramatically reduce your cat's risk of a flea infestation.
This review is intended to help you figure out how to keep pests like fleas and ticks out of your home and off your cat! We'll present the best flea treatment for cats to kill fleas based on customer review, safety, quality of ingredients, effectiveness, and other factors.
We'll also go into more detail about how to choose the best flea medicine for cats in your family and answer the most frequently asked questions about this topic.
Best Flea Treatment for Cats
1. Bayer Advantage II
Usage:
Treatment
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Solution
Prevents/Kills: Fleas, Flea Eggs, Flea Larvae
We'll start with our best pick for protecting felines against fleas and ticks: the Bayer Advantage II for Large Cats.
In our experience, this product is a great choice for several reasons. It has a low rate of side effects, it's vet recommended, and it's easy to apply. It's also a bit cheaper than some of the other most popular brands like Frontline, but seems to work just as well.
We also like it because unlike a lot of other topical treatments, it works through contact in order to kill fleas. This means the fleas don't actually have to bite your cat before the product can kill them!
While it isn't intended for smaller felines or kittens, if your feline is larger than 9 pounds then this may be the best choice.
Pros
- Specially designed for large felines
- Can kill fleas even if they haven't bitten your kitty yet
- Kills fleas at all life cycle stages
- Works quickly—as soon as 12 hours
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Among the more expensive options
- Has caused hair loss and some other side effects in some cats
- You have to apply monthly
2. Seresto Flea and Tick Prevention
Usage:
Prevention
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Collar
Prevents/Kills: Fleas, Ticks
Based on user experience and satisfaction, this flea collar from Seresto seems to be the best option if this is the type of treatment you decide to go with.
With an non-greasy and odor-free design, this flea collar provides medication that works through contact—so fleas will still die even if they haven't bitten your animal.
Pros
- “Set it and forget” type of application—lasts for up to 8 months (longer than most flea collars)
- This flea collar with optional reflectors for improved visibility at night
- One of the best flea collars
Cons
- Won't work on kitties who don't like flea collars
- Has caused pretty significant skin reactions in many pets
3. SENTRY Fiproguard for Cats
Usage:
Prevention
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Solution
Prevents/Kills: Fleas, Ticks, Chewing Lice
This six-month supply of topical flea control comes recommended by vets and is safe to use on both kittens and cats at least 1.5 pounds and up. Intended to protect against fleas, lice, and ticks for up to a month.
Pros
- Safe for cats and kittens as young as 8 weeks old
- Inexpensive compared to other leading options
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Not as effective as other leading brands, according to some users
- Also requires a monthly commitment
4. Vet's Best Flea & Tick Home Spray
Usage:
Treatment
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Spray
Prevents/Kills:
Fleas, Ticks, Flea Eggs, Flea Larvae, Mosquitoes
This product comes from a relatively well-known and trusted pet care brand. It contains ingredients that are effective enough to kill pests but gentle enough to use around the home and yard.
It includes natural plant-based ingredients like peppermint oil and eugenol.
Pros
- Made in the US
- Can be sprayed around the home or even directly on cats older than twelve weeks
Cons
- Not safe to spray on kittens younger than 12 weeks old
- Peppermint oil may be harmful to cats, so many users are wary of spraying the product on their animal
- Could work better
5. SENTRY PurrScriptions Flea and Tick Shampoo
Usage:
Treatment
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Shampoo
Prevents/Kills:
Flea Eggs, Ticks, Fleas
This flea shampoo will help kill and wash out fleas and eggs. It may even leave your kitty looking and smelling better than before! It contains soothing coconut conditioner that's great for cats skin and contains a pleasant but subtle scent.
Pros
- Smells great
- Also works against ticks and lice
Cons
- Not as effective as some users would like
- Won't be well-received by kitties who don't like water and bath time
6. Capstar Flea Oral Treatment for Cats
Usage:
Treatment
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Product Form:
Tablet
Prevents/Kills:
Fleas
This oral treatment starts killing adult fleas in just 30 minutes, providing a fast and effective solution for your pet’s flea problem.
Easy to administer and available without a prescription, it helps your four-legged family member feel comfortable and flea-free quickly.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Works quickly
Cons
- Has caused side effects in some pets
Things to Consider For Cat Flea Treatments
Before buying flea treatments, we want to remind you of a couple important things:
First, a chat with your vet is the first priority. Whether you're trying to prevent fleas or just found them crawling all over your cutie, it's best to get direct instructions from your veterinarian. This is especially important if your animal has any sort of health problem.
Second, you should carefully read directions on any flea fighting product that you plan to use. Pay particular attention to what the instructions say about your cat's age and weight.
Third and final, remember that these products contain chemicals of various strengths and varieties that have been explicitly formulated to kill bugs. These chemicals can cause side effects, so it's important to pay attention to how your animal reacts to her treatment.
It's unlikely she'll have any problems, but it's best to be on the lookout for anything unusual and when in doubt, call your vet right away.
Be Careful Of Fake Products
Sadly, some pretty shady people exist in the world who are just looking to make an easy buck. This means it's possible to find counterfeit and fake parasite prevention products—some are even sold under a familiar brand name! At best, these fake products won't take care of your flea problem. At worst, they could harm or kill your cat. So, only buy safe flea treatments for cats from reputable retailers or buy treatments directly through your vet.
Warning: Never Give Dog Flea Treatment
The type of medication that kills adult fleas is usually the same in cat products and dog products. But it is extremely important that cats are never given flea treatment that's been made for dogs. This is because the dosage in canine products is much much higher—so high that it can be toxic or even lethal to cats.
Of course, you may find some products out there designed to be safe for cats as well as dogs. But unless a product specifically says you can use it on cats, you shouldn't apply it to your feline pet.
How To Choose A Flea Treatment?
If you're looking for the best flea treatment cats can ask for, it's important to start by choosing a safe high quality product. That's why we've spent such a considerable amount of time reviewing the most popular flea treatments for cats available on the market today.
But keep this in mind:
Treatments that work for one feline may not work best for your feline, even if you stick with high-quality safe treatments.
To make sure you're selecting the best flea treatment for your kitty, keep the following factors in mind:
Consider Monthly vs Fast-Acting Treatment
If you're wondering how often you can treat your cat for fleas, this really depends on the type of treatment you choose and the type your animal needs.
Preventive treatment is usually best given on a month-by-month basis (ideally, at the same time every month for maximum consistency and protection).
If your animal is already infested, it's best that you provide treatment right away and as prescribed by your vet or instructed by the product description. Some fast-acting treatments can kill up to 90% of fleas within 4 to 6 hours!
Consider Your Cat's Personality and How Much Time it Would Take to Apply
Cat flea medicine that can kill adult fleas comes in many forms, including topical treatments, flea medications, flea collars, flea shampoo, and even flea sprays. Depending on your cat's personality and patience, some of these types of treatments may be better and more easier to apply than others.
For example, just imagine how your cat would respond if you tried to bust out a flea comb and shampoo on her. Does the idea of bathing your cat in a tub full of soapy water sound crazy? If so, topical treatments or even a flea collar may be more appropriate treatments.
Additionally, many cats aren't interested in eating pills and are too clever to be tricked by the age-old technique of hiding meds in some yummy food.
Of course, it's not always perfect. Sometimes, a certain treatment method may be the only one available or the most appropriate safe approach for killing fleas on your kitty given the set of circumstances. A pet's overall well-being or even the extent of the flea infestation you're dealing with are just two things which can dictate the type of flea treatment your vet will recommend.
It's always best to go with the cat fleas treatment that will be the most effective, safe and well-tolerated by your animal, but sometimes your pet may just have to grin (or meow?) and bear it.
The following are some of the major pros and cons to the most recommended flea medicine for cats. As you read through them, consider how they may apply to your cats:
Spot on topical treatments
- Pros: easy to administer, most cats don't notice it
- Cons: less effective than pills, according to research; may cause accidental poisoning if cats lick it off their skin; may cause complications if it gets into a pet's sweat glands or bloodstream
Flea pills as treatments for cats
- Pros: the most effective type of flea preventing agent and treatment, according to research
- Cons: some cats don't like swallowing pills; some pets experience vomiting or diarrhea (but the risk for