Fleas are not a health issue for people, but for kitties, they can cause all kinds of problems. They are itchy and annoying for the animal at the very least. At the very most, your kitty could be allergic to the fleas spit, and with too many fleas, anaemia is a real risk. This is especially true with kittens who are very small and often suffer the worst if they have a lot of fleas.
The good news is, it is very easy to treat flea infestations and prevent them altogether. Your beloved furry friend doesn’t have to suffer.
Top Picks
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Advantage II Large Cat Vet-Recommended Flea Treatment & Prevention | Cats Over 9 lbs. | 6-Month... | $63.98 | Check on Amazon |
Last update on 2023-12-05 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
To help you protect your cat from common insect critters, here’s how to get the best flea treatment for cats:
Before You Treat The Cat Yourself…
If your cat has fleas and is a kitten you may want to consider taking it to the vets rather than treating it yourself. If a flea infestation is very bad with a little kitten, it can become anaemic right away.
If your cat is an adult and appears to be having a nasty reaction to fleas, you may also want to take it to a vet. Flea bite sensitivity can be a real issue for some cats, causing lesions, excessive scratching and skin irritation. You can read more about this issue in this handy article.
It is better to be safe than sorry, and if your pet seems to be having more of an issue with fleas than you feel it should, get it to your vet as soon as possible.
How To Choose The Best Flea Treatment For Cats
To help you choose the right flea treatment for your gorgeous feline chum, we have some considerations for you to keep in mind:
The way your cat lives – Outdoor gets are more likely to get fleas, yes, but indoor cats aren’t immune. If you are one of the 90% of households in America with an indoor cat, you need to ensure your kitty gets a good flea treatment regime just like an outdoor cat.
Your cat’s age – You will need to check the age of your cat against the age suitability of the product you want to buy. Different products have different age recommendations.
Your cat’s coat – Longhair and shorthair cats can require different types of treatment.
Your cat’s history – Certain health conditions may mean that certain types of flea treatment aren’t suitable for your cat. If your cat has medical conditions that require regular maintenance, speak to your vet before giving them treatment.
Your cat’s tolerance – Certain treatments may not be suitable for your cat, because your cat may hate them. It is trial and error, but if they hated a type of treatment before, they probably will again.
Your cat’s species – Please do not use flea treatments meant for dogs, on your cat, it could seriously harm or even kill your feline friend.
Your kitty’s right to safety – It is so important you only pick safe flea treatments proven to be safe for cats.
Buying the right treatment for your cat is easy, but any responsible cat owner should be cautious and ensure they get the safest and most suitable treatment for their pet. If you are ever in doubt, always consult your vet.
The Best Flea Treatment Products For Cats
We want to help you even more with getting the very best flea treatment for your beloved kitty. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best products currently available to buy. Even better, we’ve narrowed down what’s great and not so great about them too.
Here’s our lowdown of the best flea treatment for cats:
Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention
The Best Flea Medicine for Cats Over 9 Pounds
Bayer Advantage is one of the best names on the market when it comes to pet medication and treatment.
The Advantage 2 from this trusted brand is designed specifically for larger cats who weigh 9 pounds or more. It works topically and kills on contact, so there’s no need for pesky fleas to have a nibble before they are dealt with.
In just one pack your kitty is covered for 6 months, keeping them protected from critters for that entire time period. Even better, it starts working in just 12 hours and deals with fleas in all of their life stages.
Why We Like It:
- Only needs to be applied once every 30 days
- Starts working quickly
- Kills fleas at all life cycle stages
- Fleas die on contact
What We Don’t Like:
- Not suitable for smaller cats
- Relatively expensive
Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens Flea and Tick Treatment
The Best Flea Medicine for Cats and Kittens Under 1.5 Pounds
Well-known flea and tick control brand Frontline provides a wide range of products to help you keep your cat’s critter-free. The Frontline Plus is one of the many products they offer to help you prevent fleas and ticks infesting your pet. It works on all life stages of the fleas and gets to work quickly, with treatment lasting for 30 days.
Pet owners will feel relieved their kitty can go out soon after treatment as it is waterproof and keeps working even if your cat gets caught in the rain.
Even better, it works hard to keep your cat safe as fleas die before biting your cat, and ticks are killed within 48 hours, helping your feline friend avoid horrible tick-borne illnesses.
Why We Like It:
- Works for 30 days
- Kills fleas on contact
- Kills ticks within 48 hours
- Destroys fleas at all stages of their lifecycle
What We Don’t Like:
- May not be as effective in certain geographical area
- May be better for prevention rather than flea treatment
Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment for Cats
The Best Flea Cat Treatment for Kitties Who Don’t Mind Tablets
Capstar is an oral flea treatment for cats that starts working in as little as half an hour after the cat has ingested the tablet. Rather than working as a preventative, the tablet is designed as a treatment for animals already infested with fleas.
This is handy as preventative treatments aren’t always great at treating active flea infestations.
Even better, you can give your cat a tablet every day until the flea issue is sorted out.
Why We Like It:
- Effective treatment for present flea infestations
- Able to repeat dose every day until all fleas are gone
- Works in as little as 30 minutes
- Pill is little, making it easier to administer
What We Don’t Like:
- Does not prevent future infestations
- Some cats will outright refuse to take pills
Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment
The Best Cat Flea Prevention Product for Long-term Protection
Cheristin topical flea treatment is suitable for cats over 1.8 pounds and over 8 weeks of age.
Topically applied, you should expect it to start killing fleas in as little as half an hour, and the full treatment within a day of application. The treatment works for 6 weeks, keeping your cat critter free for the duration.
Why We Like It:
- Lasts for 6 weeks
- Works quickly
- Easy to apply
- Suitable for kittens too
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s a bit stinky
- Better on smaller cats
TevraPet Actispot II Flea Prevention and Treatment for Cats
Great Budget Buy Flea Treatment for Larger Cats
TevraPet is a really handy flea treatment for larger cats if you are on a budget. The main ingredients mirror those of more expensive brands, and work to be as effective.
One pack uses 6 applications which you apply topically once a month. Fleas are killed on contact, so they don’t have to bite your precious pet in order to be eradicated. Even better, the treatment works on all stages of the flea life cycle, so they don’t have to be adults to be destroyed by Tevrapet.
Why We Like It:
- Mirrors more expensive treatment types, for less
- Effective for a month each application
- Works on all stages of the flea life cycle
- Works quickly after application
What We Don’t Like:
- Suitable for larger cats only
- Longevity may not be as effective as more well-known brands
SENTRY Capguard (nitenpyram) Oral Flea Control Medication
Brilliant Budget Treatment for Existing Flea Infestations
Sentry Capguard is an oral flea medication suitable for cats between 2 and 25 pounds. It starts working in as little as half an hour, working fast to deal with existing flea infestations.
Although the product does not act on eggs and larvae, and only kills adult fleas, it can help to get on top of a flea problem quickly.
Why We Like It:
- Gets on top of existing flea problems quickly
- Works in as little as 30 minutes
- Can be used daily until treatment is effective
- Excellent budget option
What We Don’t Like:
- Not the best cat flea prevention product
- Some cats hate oral medication
PETARMOR Plus Flea & Tick Prevention for Cats
The Best Flea Treatment for Overall Parasite Prevention
Petarmor is a waterproof, topical flea and tick prevention treatment for cats. It’s a great all-rounder, killing fleas within as little as 24 hours after you’ve applied the product to your cat. Fleas are then killed during all stages of their lifecycle.
A wide variety of tick types are also effectively killed off, protecting your pet from nasty tick-borne infections.
Why We Like It:
- Deals with all stages of flea life cycle
- Effective at killing chewing lice, and various types of tick
- One pack protects the pet for 3 months
- Easy to apply
What We Don’t Like:
- May not remain as effective over time
- May not be effective on fleas in certain areas
Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Home Spray for Cats
Helps to Deal With a Home Flea Infestation Quickly
Flea and ticks can take over the home when your pet brings them in. Vet’s Best home spray is designed specifically for use in homes with cats. It kills all fleas, eggs and larvae on contact and works to prevent and protect the home against these pesky pests.
Homeowners who prefer an approach to flea prevention with fewer chemicals will love that the product uses natural oils.
Why We Like It:
- Certified natural
- Can be used on a wide range of surfaces in the home
- Scientifically proven effective
- Kills fleas on contact
What We Don’t Like:
- When used as a treatment for the animal it may not work as well as treatments specifically made for that purpose
- Strong scent when you spray
Adams Pest and Bug Powders and Sprays
Easy to Use and Highly Potent
If you are the kind of person who likes one spray to do lots of different jobs, then Adams might just be the product for you. Not only does it kill fleas at all stages of their lifecycle in your home, it also kills mosquitoes, spiders, ants, cockroaches, ticks and even bedbugs.
Even better, it works in as little as 5 minutes and it can help to stop further infestation for 7 months after use.
Why We Like It:
- Kills many named insects and similar pests
- Helps protect the home from insects for up to 7 months
- Works in as little as 5 minutes
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- A bit stinky
- Not the cheapest on the market
FAQS
To help you further with your search for the best cat flea treatment, we’ve answered some top FAQs asked on the topic:
Are tablets and back of the neck treatments the only ways to kill fleas on cats?
Tablets and back of the neck topical treatments are common flea treatments for cats, but they are not the only options. Some people might choose flea collars, although, you do need to be really specific when you research the brand you use as they are not all equally effective.
For particularly bad infestations you can use flea shampoo for cats. This can be necessary and effective in certain situations, or if your cat is used to being bathed anyway.
Is flea treatment from the vets better than an over the counter product?
All vets have products that they recommend, so it is down to what you feel most comfortable doing. You should ideally seek the guidance of your vet, but the cost of their treatment can be more than over the counter products. The best thing to do is get information from lots of places and make an informed decision based on the knowledge you gain.
Is a flea collar as effective as back of the neck flea treatment?
Some vets recommend you use a flea collar for cats as some are very effective. It can be a case of trial and error, as some cats may get on better with a flea collar than with topical flea treatment.
How can I stop my cat from having an allergic reaction to fleas?
The best thing you can do if your cat is allergic to fleas is to speak to your vet who can offer a range of medicines for treatment. These won’t only include flea treatment, but anti-inflammation or anti-fungal drugs, depending on your cat’s specific allergy type. You can read more about what to do when your pet has a flea allergy here.
How can I stop my cat from having an allergic reaction to flea treatment?
The easiest thing to do is follow your vet’s guidance because they will have used certain products they know are the least likely to cause a reaction.
However, no medicine is foolproof and it may be that your cat has a reaction, no matter how careful you are.
Take a look at this handy article to find out about common symptoms and types of toxicity to help you get a better understanding of the risks, and what to do if the worst happens.
Keep Your Kitty Critter-Free With The Best Flea Treatment For Cats
It might take a little bit of time, but with your own research and our handy tops above, you’re sure to get the purrfect flea treatment for your beloved feline friend.