The 8 Best Flea Treatments for Cats
This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in May of 2018. Seeing a feline friend scratching constantly while trying to get some relief from parasites is upsetting. If your cat is suffering, these flea treatments can eradicate the infestation and prevent it spreading to your home. Many get the job done within days or even hours. Be sure to consult your vet first and get the correct dosages, though, because they can cause health issues if misapplied. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Bayer Animal Health Advantage II
2. Frontline Plus
3. Elanco Capstar
Editor's Notes
March 12, 2021:
In the interest of safety, we removed the Bayer Seresto Collar. While flea collars have been popular for a long time, they're no longer considered a safe way to treat bugs. This is for a few reasons: animals vary greatly in size, flea collars are harder to dose precisely and accurately, and the chemicals can contaminate other surfaces in your home. We also removed Sentry Capguard because it's identical to others that use nitenpyram.
Speaking of nitenpyram, Elanco Capstar (formerly from Novartis) uses it to treat major infestations starting in 30 minutes. On the other hand, both Frontline Plus and Bayer Animal Health Advantage II offer better long-term pest management, including egg killing, but they aren't quite as lightning-fast as the Capstar.
Above all, though, it's important to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that the chemicals and dosages you've selected will be safe and effective for your furry friend.
July 05, 2019:
We can't explain to cats that we're doing something they find annoying — like putting medication on them — for their own good. So, since ensuring their compliance isn't possible, we made sure to round up flea treatments that can be given and administered in a number of ways, depending on just what style of finicky your cat is. Should you worry about Fluffy licking her spot-on treatment away, the Bayer Seresto Collar is a great option. Plus, it's effective for eight months, making it especially helpful for busy pet owners who can't remember to give treatment daily or monthly.
That being said, we did provide some great spot-on treatments like Elanco Animal Health Cheristin and Vectra for Cats. These break the entire life cycle of the flea, from egg to larvae to pupae, making them great long-term preventative options. Should your poor feline be in the middle of an infestation right now, in addition to investing in a quality vacuum to suck up the intruders daily, try an oral medication like PetArmor FastCaps, Novartis Capstar, or Sentry Capguard. These are your best bet since these kill adult fleas the instant they bite your pet.
Special Honors
Comfortis Considering it is the number one recommended flea medication by veterinarians, it isn't surprising that Comfortis is very effective. In controlled laboratory studies, it killed 98% of fleas on cats and 100% on dogs within just four hours. Plus, no matter how many times you bathe your pet, it still works effectively for a full month. You will have to obtain a prescription to purchase it, though. comfortis.com
4. Wondercide Spray
5. Elanco Animal Health Cheristin
6. Vectra for Cats Over 9lbs
7. Pet Naturals of Vermont Repellent
8. PetArmor FastCaps
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.