Are you looking for the best flea treatment for cats? It’s all here! Maintaining your pet’s health should always be your priority.
Cats tend to get fleas even when they are kept in a clean home and groomed properly.
This is partially due to cats’ curious nature. All pets have the habit of exploring every leaf pile due to which they often come in contact with pests and fleas. Here’s how to get rid of fleas in the carpet.
Reviews: 7 Best Flea Treatment for Cats in 2023
1. Bayer Advantage II Flea Control Treatment – #1 Pick
Bayer’s Advantage II is a set-and-forget solution for fleas in cats. You can apply the product on your cat’s neck, and it’ll start working in 12 hours. One application of this product remains effective for four weeks.
Moreover, Advantage II is odorless and waterproof. It kills flea eggs, larvae, as well as adult fleas. Just ensure you buy the correct formula; the pharmacist should be able to guide according to the weight of your cat.
Advantage II doesn’t require the fleas to bite your cat for the formula to enter their bloodstream. If your cat has sensitive skin, this is another point for you. It will prevent the formation of rashes, blisters, and itching.
This product contains both Imidacloprid and Pyriproxyfen. While the former causes the fleas to paralyze and eventually die, the latter prevents the juvenile fleas from growing. This results in the breaking of the cycle.
Key features:
- Contains Imidacloprid and Pyriproxyfen
- Kills fleas at all their life stages
- Kills upon contact
- Eliminates flea bite dermatitis
- Once a month application
- Waterproof and odorless
Read Also: Does Heat Kill Fleas?
2. Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar – #2 Pick
If giving your cat pills or topical treatments is difficult for you, this flea collar from Bayer is an easy alternative. It provides continuous and effective protection from ticks and fleas for 8 months.
You might find this option expensive initially but the longevity of the product compensates for its high price.
This flea treatment option contains Imidacloprid that prevents larvae from getting mature. The other main ingredient this product contains is Flumethrin that is effective against ticks.
The collar releases these active ingredients in low concentration, which are then slowly distributed throughout your cat’s fur and eventually skin. Also, the formulation is non-greasy and odorless.
Key features:
- Contains Imidacloprid and Flumethrin
- Lasts for 8 months
- Easy to administer
- Effective against both flea and ticks
- Odorless and non-greasy
Related: Flea Bites vs. Bed Bug Bites- Differentiate?
3. Bayer Advantage Flea Treatment Spray – #3 Pick
This one comes with a bonus. Apart from being an effective treatment for flea, tick, and lice, it can also help with the infestation in your house.
You can use the spray not only on your cat but also on your bedding, upholstery, etc. Since it doesn’t have Pyriproxyfen, Bayer Advantage Flea Treatment is an effective treatment for killing adult fleas.
If you have already administered other preventive treatments, this one is good for flea adulticide.
Key features:
- Contains Imidacloprid
- Once a month application
- Kills within 12 hours
Read Also: What Do Baby Fleas Look Like?
4. Frontline Plus for Cats Flea Treatment
Frontline Plus is a great preventive flea treatment. It is an effective long-term, spot-on flea treatment for cats. It works continuously for 30 days and stops the next generation of fleas growing.
The active ingredients, in this product, such as Fipronil and S-methoprene, work all month long and break the life cycle of fleas. Fipronil causes seizures in the flea leading to their demise. S-methoprene, on the other hand, is effective against eggs and larvae.
In addition to treating flea infections, Frontline Plus is an equally great treatment for tick and lice as well. This is something that Advantage II doesn’t do.
Key features:
- Contains Fipronil and S-methoprene
- Kills fleas at all life stages
- Kills ticks and lice
- Needs to be applied only once a month
- Waterproof
Related: How Long Can Fleas Live Without a Host?
5. Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets Treatment
Oral medicines are usually faster-acting than other treatments. So, if you have a really bad case of fleas at hand, Novartis Capstar is the best solution.
They go straight into your pet’s bloodstream so when the fleas bite, they die off instantly.
The active ingredient, Nitenpyram, in this product starts working in less than 30 minutes and wipes out the entire population of fleas in about six hours. However, it kills only adult fleas and is effective only for 48 hours which makes Capstar ineffective as a preventive measure.
We recommend you give Capstar to your cat alongside a more long-term treatment like Frontline. If you want to relax your furry friend for a while, you may give it one table per day.
Key features:
- The effect lasts 48 hours
- Kills adult fleas
- Better dosage control
- Should be used along with other treatments ideally
Read Also: How Do Flea Collars Work?
6. Sentry Capguard Cat Flea Medicine
A cheaper alternative to Capstar, Sentry Capguard is another oral medicine that acts fast on adult fleas, ticks, and lice. However, it does nothing to prevent their growth.
Like Capstar, it starts acting within 30 minutes and the effect lasts for 48 hours.
Sentry Capgaurd contains Nitenpyram, the same active ingredient you find in Capstar; this makes it more effective when used in conjunction with other flea treatments.
Key features:
- Contains Nitenpyram
- Cheaper than Capstar
- Effective for 48 hours
- Kills adult fleas
Read Also: Does Coconut Oil Kill Fleas?
6. Sentry Fiproguard Plus for Cats
This one is an alternative to Frontline Plus. It is a long-lasting, squeeze-on product that protects your cat against pests, fleas, ticks, and lice for up to 4 weeks.
It contains the same vet recommended active ingredients as Frontline Plus, Fipronil, and S-methoprene. It is waterproof and can be used on cats that are at least 8 weeks of age and 1.5 pounds in weight. It is applied topically, like Frontline Plus, between your cat’s shoulder blades.
Key features:
- Contains Fipronil and S-methoprene
- Effective against fleas, ticks, and lice
- Inexpensive than Frontline Plus
Related: Flea Spray For Yard
7. Program 80 mg Cat Injection
If trying most of the products mentioned here hasn’t helped in getting rid of your cat’s flea problem, then you’ll have to look into using prescription-only injections.
People often tend to leave injections as the last resort because it requires a visit to the vet every six months.
However, Program 80 mg is great for your cat if it has fleas, allergic dermatitis, or any other such problem. This product works by entering the flea’s body through a bite and stopping the infestation from growing further.
For flea prevention, you should get your flea-ridden feline friend shots of Program at least a month before the flea season begins; its effect will last the entire season.
However, it is also effective against mid-season infestation when paired with a treatment effective for flea adulticide for the first 6 to 8 weeks.
The program contains Lufenuron as an active ingredient, which is an effective insect development inhibitor. It causes disruptions in the process of polymerization, preventing the formation of flea eggs.
Key features:
- Contains Lufenuron
- Lasts the entire season
- Prescription-only drug
- An effective insect development inhibitor
Read Also: Indoor Flea Killer Reviewed
Types of Best Flea Treatment for Cats
1. Flea Collars
These collars are infused with an insecticide that kills fleas and prevents them from returning. Using flea collars is an affordable, low-maintenance flea treatment for cats.
They last for about three to four months. However, flea collars may not be that effective on too many fleas, so it’s better if you use it as a preventative treatment.
Also, if your cat is sensitive to chemicals, it may suffer from hair loss because of the collar around its neck. Read Also: How to Kill Flea Eggs (4 Easy Methods).
2. Spot-Ons
These are topical solutions that come in pipettes or small vials. You apply them at the back of your cat’s neck. Spot-Ons come into effect within 24 hours of application.
The fact that they are weatherproof makes them one of the best flea treatments for cats on the market.
However, spot-on flea treatments are a bit more expensive than flea collars and you may be required to re-apply them as per your cat’s condition.
3. Oral Tablets
Oral tablets kill fleas in as little time as 30 minutes but they don’t get rid of the fleas’ eggs; this means the problem can return.
However, they are a great solution if you are dealing with flea infestation. Hide the tablet in your cat’s food and say goodbye to fleas.
Unlike sprays and other topical treatments, oral medicines cannot be licked off or washed away by water or rain.
Read Also: Bug Zapper for Mosquitoes
4. Injections
There are some long-term flea prevention treatments for cats that are available via prescription only. Since these are only for prevention, they don’t deal with adult fleas.
So, if your cats are already affected, you would have to use these injections alongside another treatment.
These prescription-only injections may be a bit pricey but are great for cats with sensitive skin, recurring infestations, or flea-allergic dermatitis. This method is also suitable for pregnant cats.
5. Insecticide Sprays
Insecticide sprays are applied to the roots of your cat’s fur. Some cats fear the sound of these sprays so their application can be a challenging task.
However, if your cat has skin sensitivity, you may use the plant-based version of these sprays. The effectiveness of insecticide sprays may vary; some last only a few days while others last for months.
Conclusion
Once they find a resting place on your cat, they are not going anywhere until you treat your cat. Apart from skin conditions, like itching and irritability, fleas can also cause anemia.
An effective cure that combats fleas is essential for your cat’s health. However, how does one pick the right treatment? In this guide, we review the 8 best flea treatments for cats to help you which one will be the most suitable one for your cat.
Each treatment comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are more pocket-friendly while some are suitable for cats with sensitive skin.
