Treatment FAQ

which is best flea treatment for cats

by Kenna Schaden Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Best Overall: Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats at Chewy. ...
  • Best Topical: Bravecto Topical Solution for Cats at Chewy. ...
  • Best Oral: Comfortis Chewable Tablet at PETCO. ...
  • Best Comb: Hartz Groomer's Best Flea Comb for Dogs and Cats at Chewy. ...
  • Best Shampoo: Dawn Dish Soap at Amazon. ...
  • Best for Kittens: ...
  • Best Area Spray:
Jan 6, 2022

What do vets recommend for fleas on cats?

Our top choice for an oral flea control product for cats, Comfortis Chewable Tablets, is fast-acting and good for cats that can't tolerate topical flea preventives. Its active ingredient, spinosad, starts to work within 30 minutes and kills 98% of adult fleas on cats within four hours.Aug 17, 2021

Which is best for cats Advantage or Frontline?

On paper, Frontline Plus is the clear winner between the two products. But a closer look would make you feel that Advantage is more effective against fleas.Feb 16, 2017

Is Advantage or Frontline better?

Frontline Plus is slightly less expensive than Advantage II and protects both against fleas (in their various stages) and ticks (whereas Advantage only treats fleas and is more costly).Mar 11, 2022

Which is safer Advantage or Frontline?

Some tests have shown that Frontline kills live adult fleas more quickly than Advantage, but only by a few hours. Another consideration when choosing between Frontline Plus and Advantage II for Dogs is your pet's risk of exposure.

What is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on a cat?

Treat your cat - Remove fleas with a flea comb — dip comb in a mixture of dish soap and water to kill fleas on comb. - Bathe your kitten or cat wit...

Is Frontline or Advantage better for cats?

Frontline Plus is slightly cheaper than Advantage II and protects both against fleas (in their various stages) and ticks (whereas Advantage only tr...

Can cat fleas live in human hair?

Although they don't live in human hair, cat fleas do bite humans – especially on the ankles and lower legs – and they will quite happily jump onto...

What is the most effective flea and tick treatment for cats?

The best flea control product for cats is Bayer Advantage II, a monthly topical preventive that guards against fleas in all life stages, is highly...

What to do if your cat has fleas?

First things first: treat your pets! You need to kill adult fleas as well as the eggs and larvae on your cat if you want to prevent any more of them from spreading around your home.

How to get rid of fleas on kittens?

You can then dip the flea comb in a mixture of water and dish soap to kill any fleas you remove from her coat. Bathe your cat or kitten with flea shampoo and/or use a flea spray—or whatever other flea treatment for cats you and your veterinarian have decided is best for your animal.

Can flea medicine kill adult fleas?

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.

What is the best flea and tick spray for cats?

Vet's Best Flea & Tick Home Spray. It contains ingredients that are effective enough to kill pests but gentle enough to use around the home and yard. It has natural plant-based ingredients like peppermint oil and eugenol. Can be sprayed around the home or even directly on cats older than twelve weeks.

How long does flea control last on cats?

Intended to protect against fleas, lice, and ticks for up to a month. 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.

Do flea collars work?

Based on user experience and satisfaction, this flea collar seems to be the best option. With a 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.

What is the best shampoo for cats?

SENTRY PurrScriptions Flea and Tick Shampoo. This flea shampoo will help kill and wash out fleas and eggs. It may even leave your kitty looking and smelling better than before. Contains soothing coconut conditioner that's great for cats skin and contains a pleasant but subtle scent.

How to get rid of fleas on cats?

While treating your cat with an effective flea product is most important, there are several other ways to speed up the elimination of fleas from your pet and home: 1 Vacuum your carpets and sweep your floors regularly to remove flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Remember that 95% of the flea life cycle is spent off your pet! Just make sure to empty or discard your vacuum cleaner bag each time you use it. 2 Treat all cats and dogs in your home. 3 Wash all bedding in hot water. 4 Treat your house and yard or hire a professional exterminator.

How many eggs do fleas lay?

Once a female flea finds a suitable host (such as your cat), she can lay up to 50 eggs per day. In addition, the immature life stages of the flea (eggs, larvae and pupae) can persist in the environment for a couple of weeks to several months.

Can cats take permethrin?

Some chemicals (e.g., permethrins) are not safe to use on cats. Only use the correct dose of a feline product on your cat. If you have any questions, talk to your veterinarian about how to treat your cat safely and effectively.

Can you bathe a cat with water?

Many claim to be waterproof, but if the medication resides in the skin, frequent bathing can reduce their effectiveness. They may also be rubbed or groomed off when wet, so it is best to keep an eye on your cat and avoid petting them until the liquid dries.

Does flea shampoo kill fleas?

Once a major part of flea-control programs, sprays, dips and cat flea shampoos only work at killing fleas on the cat at the time of application, but do almost nothing for the hatchling fleas coming from the environment post-treatment. Many different products are available, so it is important to make sure the one you use is safe for cats.

Can you use a flea collar on a cat?

Cat Flea Collars. A cat flea collar can be an attractive option for some pet owners. They are easy to use and typically have few side effects. However, old-style flea collars may not be very effective, especially in areas of the body farthest from the collar.

Does Lufenuron kill fleas?

The active ingredient (lufenuron) prevents flea eggs and larvae from developing. Since it does not kill adult fleas that may hop on your cat and bite, it is not a good choice for flea allergic cats or if it is your goal to never see adult fleas on your cat. It can prevent infestations from developing, however.

What is the best flea treatment for cats?

Peppermint oil and clove oil are commonly recommended as natural flea treatments for cats. Some veterinarians, such as Melissa Shelton, DVM, believe that the right high-quality essential oils are safe for cats, while the majority of pet health practitioners agree that they should be avoided.

How to treat fleas in cats?

Here’s A Five-Step Summary Of Your Cat Flea Treatment Plan: 1 Identify the infestation: If your cat has been scratching more than usual, confirm that fleas are to blame by thoroughly combing your cat with a fine-toothed flea comb. You may find live fleas, flea dirt, eggs, or any combination of the three. Because cats groom themselves, they can consume a large percentage of the adult fleas on their body, so flea dirt is often more prominent. Flea dirt or flea droppings appear as tiny black or dark brown particles in your cat’s coat. When you smear them on a white surface, these particles will turn red, indicating their blood content. Additionally, combing your cat removes most of the fleas on their body and provides temporary relief. 2 Consider gently bathing your cat in non-toxic dish soap: Especially if your cat is a small kitten who’s sensitive to chemical insecticides, this is a gentle way to remove adult fleas and flea dirt from your cat’s body. If you know your cat will go ballistic in the bath, skip this step. There’s no need to make this experience traumatic. 3 Treat your cat with an appropriate flea treatment: This is typically a spot-on or oral medication. 4 Treat your home: Make sure to treat your home and surrounding areas to destroy eggs, larvae, and pupating fleas. 5 Rinse and Repeat: Re-apply flea treatments as necessary.

What is the cat flea?

The name is an accurate description of the flea – this parasitic blood-siphoning insect is a master jumper that doesn’t need wings to fly. Instead, they use their powerful back legs to jump up to 160 times their body length. That’s the equivalent of a 6-foot-tall human leaping 960 feet. For a flea, this amounts to a maximum jumping distance of 7” vertically and 13” horizontally.

How far can fleas jump?

That’s the equivalent of a 6-foot-tall human leaping 960 feet. For a flea, this amounts to a maximum jumping distance of 7” vertically and 13” horizontally. Fleas thrive in warm, humid environments.

Where do pyrethrins come from?

Pyrethrins are naturally-based and derived from the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium plant, along with other pyrethrum-related plant species. They’re commonly used in flea powders and shampoos. Pyrethrins are commonly lumped together with their synthetic counterparts, permethrins. In fact, the two have disparate toxicity values for cats. To clear up some of the pyrethrin confusion, read this highly-informative piece on the safety of pyrethrins for cats.

What is the name of the flea that eats cats?

Cats are usually affected by the Ctenocephalides felis or cat flea. This species is a member of the Siphonaptera order of insects, a name meaning “wingless siphon”. The name is an accurate description of the flea – this parasitic blood-siphoning insect is a master jumper that doesn’t need wings to fly.

How long does a flea collar last?

They’re also effective, working together to kill adult fleas and prevent reproduction. This flea collar can keep your cat flea-free for 8 months.

How to treat fleas in cats?

There are two main ways to apply flea treatments: orally and topically. Oral medications are often snuck into your cat’s mouth by placing them in food. Often, people use some sort of rarely given food, like cheese or a cut of meat . This can be easier said than done for some cats, however.

How long does it take for a flea killer to work on cats?

It is suitable for cats between 2 and 25 pounds. It starts working within 30 minutes and is 90% effective on adult fleas within a few hours. This isn’t an awful effective rate, but it is not as good as many other options on this list. This is one of the reasons we rated it so much lower than our other options.

How effective is Cheristin for cats?

As a moderately-priced flea treatment, Cheristin Flea Treatment Topical for Cats is only moderately-effective. This is why it lands right in the middle of our list. It works effectively in most cases but isn’t the absolute best. It is designed to be used once a month. It kills fleas and prevents them from coming back. It is suitable for kittens that are eight weeks or older. However, they have to weigh 1.8 pounds, which makes it less versatile than some of the other options on this list.

Does PetArmor kill ticks?

It eliminates adult fleas before egg-laying. However, it does not kill all life stages, which is one of its significant downsides. It also kills a variety of other parasites, including brown ticks and lone star ticks. It contains the active ingredient fipronil. This is decently effective in most situations.

How long does it take for catego to kill fleas?

It is formulated to kill fleas within 6 hours, which is a bit longer than most other options. Furthermore, this is not as effective as other options, so we rated it so much lower. It does come with a patented applicator that we found relatively easy to use. It kills all flea life stages, preventing further infections and stopping the fleas in their tracks.

Does Revolution kill fleas?

It works exceptionally well. However, it is quite expensive and requires a prescription. It kills all adult fleas and prevents new flea eggs from hatching within one month.

How does Activyl flea treatment work?

In other words, it is for very large kitties. It works by breaking the flea life cycle. It kills fleas on contact, which means they do not have to bite your cat to die.

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