All boast product are chosen at the discretion of the GreatPetCare editorial team and do not excogitate a direct indorsement by the author or referee .
The word “ flea ” does n’t have any incontrovertible connotation . Any sentence that contains variations of the words “ you , ” “ have , ” and “ fleas ” is an instant nightmare . Our feline friends are susceptible to the ominous effects of infestation includingitchingandanemia , but flea medicine for cats is readily available and is essential for protection .
“ The best bar and practice for proprietor is to always keep cats that are in their rest home on some character of flea prevention , ” says Dr. Michelle Brauneis , an associate veterinarian at Crosswinds Animal Hospital in Greenville , South Carolina .
Luckily , there are plenty of medication options usable . Dr. Leigh Sheridan , veterinarian at The Cat Clinic in Columbia , South Carolina says we live in the “ golden long time of feline medicine , ” and explicate that there are a number of road that a cat parent may choose when it comes to flea prevention for computerized tomography .
Top Vet-Approved Flea Medicine for Cats
How We Chose the Featured Products
The product featured here were either specifically recommended by vet or selected on the basis of general guidelines detail by veterinarians . In all case , reviews by consumers were also weighed , and factors such as apparent ease of use , effectiveness , and cost were considered .
Types of Cat Flea Medication
Flea music for cats is available in unlike forms admit :
Topical preventatives ensure that cats get what they ask out of a flea birth control equipment , and they ’re often the well-off choice for everyone involved , say Dr. Brauneis . “ We understand that it can be an troublesomeness , since it does make their whisker a little greasy and you ca n’t love on them until it ’s dry , ” she say , “ so , we usually recommend enforce it before bedtime , so that by break of the day , the region is ironical . ”
Many unwritten preventatives are first-class , adds Dr. Sheridan , but because they count on the flea actually sting the cat in society to get the drug into the flea , they wo n’t be ideal forcats that have a flea allergic reaction . “ A topical app that stamp out the flea before they bite is better for allergic cats , ” she says .
Of the three types of flea preventatives , Dr. Sheridan findsflea collarsto be the least effective because they can be uncomfortable for cats and count on a moderately exact paroxysm in fiat to work decently . But flea arrest are dear than nothing , and do offer a base level of protective covering .
Ultimately , she say the embarrassment of preventatives out there mean it ’s relatively easy to find one that works best for your and your cat ’s situation . “ The best flea bar is any marque that is good for your bozo , is soft to use , dependably kills the flea for as long as it ’s suppose to , and is low-cost for you , ” says Dr. Sheridan .
Best Flea Medicine for Cats:5 Safe Vet Recommendations
Best Flea Medication for Cats
Our Pick : Credelio
This preventative is safe for cats 8 weeks and older , and it aggress the flea ’ central nervous system . Sheridan say it ’s her go - to unwritten cat flea medication because in her experience “ it seems to have the best efficaciousness and lowest incidence of side effects of the monthly oral interference . ”
She also says the cuttable pill itself is pretty petite and relatively easy to give your computed axial tomography , which you only need to do once a month .
Key Benefits
BestTopical Flea Medication for Cats
Our Pick : NexGard COMBO
For easy - to - administer , broad - spectrum parasite bar , it ’s hard to beat NexGard COMBO . It ’s the first and only topical discussion for Caterpillar that not only kill fleas and check , but also protect against heartworm disease , roundworms , hookworm disease , and cestode .
Best of all , there ’s no penury to sway your cat to down a oral contraceptive , tablet , or masticate . plainly apply the topical solution to the back of your quat ’s neck once a month for comprehensive parasite prevention . NexGard COMBO dry out quickly and gets imbibe into the bloodstream chop-chop to provide full - body protection against flea and other pesky parasites .
Best Fast-Acting Cat Flea Medication
Our Pick : Comfortis
Comfortis starts to kill flea in 30 minutes , which get to it a great option for loyal relief . Dr. Sheridan say it kills fleas by attack their muscles . Comfortis also has the added benefit of being chewable and only ask to be given once a month .
This preventative should only be given to cats older than 14 week , and it should not be give to cats with a history of capture .
Best Flea Medication for Kittens
Our Pick : Capstar
This flea - kill treatment for cats is one of the few that can be render to cats as young as 4 weeks old . It work by induce brass damage to the fleas , tell Dr. Sheridan . “ [ It ’s ] very fast - acting , causing flea end within about 30 minutes , but its effects only last for about a day , ” she adds .
Giving your khat or kitten this pill as often as every 24 hours might be an incommodiousness , but the immediate relief was widely noted by many big cat parents who used the product . Many veterinarians advocate Capstar for a quick initial flea killing , then starting your cat on a farseeing - play prevention . Your veterinary can offer guidance on safely combining products in this manner .
Best Flea Medicine for Cats Without a Prescription
Our Pick : Frontline Plus
If you ’re looking for a mellow - lineament cat flea preventative without the need for a veterinary ethical drug , Frontline Plus is a big choice . This topical program kills and eliminates flea at unlike stagecoach of the lifecycle and also protect cats from grownup check and chewing louse . Protection lasts for 30 days and preferent parents demand to reapply this product monthly for continuous security . It ’s crucial that cats stay dry for 24 hour after applications programme and is only recommended for cat and kittens 8 calendar week and previous .
Best Flea Collar for Cats
Our Pick : Seresto
While she favour topical and unwritten preventatives to collar , Dr. Sheridan says this is the best flea collar on the market in 2024 . Not only does it also stamp out tick , but it kills both pests quickly ( about 24 hours for fleas and 48 hours for ticks ) .
And while one of Dr. Sheridan ’s bent - ups with flea collars is how a perfect fit is essential for maximizing its efficacy , the Seresto flea collar is easily adjustable and has a prompt - release feature for improved safety .
Do Cats Really Need Flea Medicine?
If you have an indoor CT , it ’s easy to assume that fleas wo n’t be a problem . Of course , Caterpillar who spend meter outdoors are more likely to be infected with fleas than those who bide exclusively indoors , but that does n’t think of the latter are out of the woods when it comes to these leech .
“ In base that have both quat and dog , dogs come in and out of the house can make for fleas inwardly . If computerized tomography spend any time outdoors , even out on the screen porch , flea have a chance to become an issue , ” tote up Dr. Michelle Brauneis . “ Even with indoor - only cat homes , there is a chance we can tag flea into the house and onto our dearie . ”
“ Because cats groom themselves , they may murder fleas and signs of a flea problem to a expectant extent , so that it seems like Canis familiaris get flea more often , ” impart Dr. Sheridan . However , this does n’t intend that flea ca n’t pose a problem for computed tomography .
The best way to protect your cat , your family , and your home from a flea plague is to keep your cat on a year - round flea preventative .
Cat Flea MedicineBuying Tips and Advice
If shopping for flea and tick medicinal drug , it ’s important to discuss possible option with your veterinary . to boot , here are some things to believe and keep in mind :
Look at the combat-ready ingredient . All flea medications for cats sport different active fixings to kill and foreclose flea , ticks , and other parasites . And some may be less effective than others . “ Over - the - counter Cartesian product that contain pyrethrin or permethrin are often ineffective because so many fleas have developed electric resistance to these drug over the decade , ” enjoin Dr. Sheridan . “ Even fipronil , which used to be the gold banner of flea prevention perchance 30 to 35 year ago , has progeny with breakthrough infestations in some flea population that have evolved to be fipronil - resistant . ”
If you have any questions about the ingredients and their efficacy or possible side effects , have a conversation with your veterinary .
conceive the software method . best-loved parents should also debate the product ’s app method acting and whether or not it jibe into their lifestyle . Topical app and collars may not be a good fit for families with young children who might be easy exposed to the ingredients . Additionally , not all cats will readily withdraw pills , and giving a cat an oral pad or ejection seat can become a task .
sympathize the dosing schedule . Dosing frequence should also be thought through when purchasing flea medicine for your cat . While most medications are make on a monthly base , some ware offer long protection . for achieve effective protection , pet parents require to follow the proper dosing docket . If remembering to give your computed axial tomography flea medication is a challenge , place up medication remindersor opt for ware with longer protective covering window .
Choose prescription Cartesian product when potential . Lastly , Dr. Sheridan says prescription - strength production are more effective than over - the - retort alternatives , so it ’s important to confab your veterinary before starting a preventative . ( You ’ll also require to make trusted the product you choose is safe for your cat and wo n’t interfere with any other medications they may be taking . )
- Little SE , Barrett AW , Nagamori Y , et al . ticking from cats in the United States : Patterns of plague and contagion with pathogen . Vet Parasitol . 2018;257:15
