Last updated Jun 15, 2024
Fleas carry pathogens and diseases that can be transmitted to your cat. By choosing the right flea treatment, you can spare your cat from the itching and irritation that comes with a flea infestation. You’ll also protect them from some of the more serious consequences of being a host to fleas.
Flea treatments can be dangerous if you choose the wrong one or use it improperly. In this guide, we’ll cover the different types of cat flea treatments, discovering which ones are safe and which are toxic to your cat. You’ll also learn how to choose the best option for your unique situation.
At a Glance: 11 Best Cat Flea Treatments To Buy
Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats
- One dose provides 30 days of protection
- Effective against fleas, ticks, and mites
- Three formulations for cats 2.8-22 pounds
Advantage Multi Topical Solution for Cats
- Effective against a wide range of parasites
- Easy-to-apply topical solution
- Three formulations for cats weighing 2-18 pounds
Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens
- Costs under $10 per dose
- One dose lasts for up to 6 weeks
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae
Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats
- Starts killing fleas within 30 minutes
- Gentle formulation safe for daily use
- Safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks
Bravecto Topical Solution for Cats
- Available in a formula for large cats 13.8-27.5 lbs
- One dose provides up to 12 weeks of protection
- Effective against both fleas and ticks
Sentry Fiproguard Flea and Tick Topical for Cats
- Available without a prescription
- Effective against adult fleas, ticks, and lice
- One dose provides 30 days of protection
Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Pet & Home Spray for Cats
- Designed to kill fleas on household surfaces
- Plant-based formula with no synthetic fragrance
- Kills adult fleas, larvae, eggs, and ticks
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor for Dogs and Cats
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae on contact
- Contains skin-soothing ingredients
- Insect growth regulator may kill fleas for up to 28 days
Frisco Double-Row Flea Comb
- Double row of fine, closely-spaced teeth
- Teeth have rounded tips for safety and comfort
- Rubberized grip is easy to handle
Virbac Knockout E.S. Area Treatment Carpet Spray
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae
- One can treats up to 2,100 square feet
- Fast and easy to apply
Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
- Offers up to 8 months of flea and tick prevention
- Low-maintenance alternative to spot-on treatments
- Effective against adult fleas, larvae, and eggs
Top Picks Explained
The Flea Life Cycle
In order to effectively eradicate a flea infestation, you first need to know what you’re dealing with. Understanding the flea life cycle is central to your flea treatment plan.
Cats are usually affected by Ctenocephalides felis, also known as the 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. Instead, they use their powerful back legs to jump up to 160 times their body length—the equivalent of a 6-foot-tall human leaping 960 feet.
Fleas thrive in warm, humid environments. In balmy regions, they may be active all year. In climates that experience cold winters and warm summers, fleas remain dormant until the weather warms.
Photo credit: TodaysHomeOwner.com
A few days after taking up residence on your cat’s skin, the adult females start releasing tiny white or cream-colored eggs. These eggs usually drop off your cat and will start hatching wherever they land. After hatching, the larvae mature into pupae and can remain in a cocoon for up to a year before re-emerging as bloodthirsty adults.
By the time you’ve gotten rid of the adult fleas on your cat’s skin, another generation of fleas is likely already growing in your home, ready to latch onto the host again. A single female flea can release 50 eggs every day! Immature fleas represent 95% of the flea population, while adult fleas, which are the easiest to see as they crawl about, represent a measly 5%.
If your cat picked up fleas outside of the home and you catch the infestation early, you may be able to remove or kill the adult fleas before they’ve laid any eggs. In most cases, however, the fleas on your cat’s body are a tiny fraction of the total infestation.
Treat Cat Fleas in 5 Steps
You’ll need to destroy the eggs, larvae, and pupae (life stage before adult) in order to prevent the next generation of fleas from making themselves at home on your cat’s body. You can work with your veterinarian to establish a treatment plan appropriate for your cat. The following is a general guide.
- Identify the infestation: Confirm a flea infestation by combing your cat with a fine-toothed flea comb. You may find live fleas, flea dirt (flea droppings), eggs, or any combination of the three. Flea dirt appears as tiny black or dark brown particles that turn red when you smear them on a white surface.
- 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.
- Treat your cat with an appropriate flea treatment: This is typically a topical spot-on or oral medication. Pay attention to whether the treatment kills adult fleas only or all life stages.
- Treat your home: Perform a thorough cleaning of your home, concentrating on carpeting and upholstered surfaces. Make sure to treat your home and surrounding areas to destroy eggs, larvae, and pupating fleas.
- Rinse and Repeat: Re-apply flea treatments as necessary.
Cat flea treatments take many forms, from topical spot-on and oral preventatives to medicated shampoos, sprays, and combs. The best cat flea treatment may vary depending on your cat’s age, the severity of the infestation, and other factors that impact safety.
Why Trust Cats.com
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
To understand exactly what it takes to get rid of your cat’s fleas, our research began with learning about the flea life cycle, studying how these parasites live, reproduce, and use their hosts. Armed with an understanding of how flea infestations work, we read dozens of expert guides to find the best techniques and products for getting rid of them.
We put hours into identifying which products are safe for cats, reading papers on the efficacy of various insecticides and learning about safety concerns. Based on this research, we selected a few products with strong safety records and a history of effectiveness.
Finally, we asked a veterinarian to review the entire article to make sure that all our guidance was accurate and responsible from a vet’s perspective.
The 11 Best Cat Flea Treatments
Our rankings are determined by a variety of factors. Each cat will have different needs and preferences, so while Revolution Plus Topical Solution is our top choice, it may not be ideal for your unique cat. To help you choose the right flea treatment for your cat, we’ve categorized our recommendations according to product type, life stage, and other key considerations.
#1 Overall Best: Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats
Because they have long-lasting effects, spot-on treatments are some of the most popular and effective flea treatments available. You apply these medications to the back of your cat’s neck, where they can’t lick it off.
Revolution Plus is a quick-drying formula made with two active ingredients: selamectin and sarolaner. It starts working within six hours and offers strong protection after 24 hours. It doesn’t contain an insect growth regulator, however, so it only kills adult fleas. Other flea control measures may be required to treat an active infestation.
Revolution Plus comes in three concentrations for cats weighing as little as 2.8 pounds or as much as 22 pounds. It’s safe for cats 8 weeks and older and is only available by prescription.
What We Liked:
- One dose provides 30 days of protection
- Effective against fleas, ticks, and mites
- Three formulations for cats 2.8-22 pounds
- Quick-drying formula is easy to apply
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not evaluated for kittens under 8 weeks old
- Only effective against adult fleas
#2 Most Comprehensive: Advantage Multi Topical Solution for Cats
While some topical treatments only control fleas, Advantage Multi is effective against ticks, mites, roundworms, and hookworms as well as heartworm. It contains the active ingredients imidacloprid and moxidectin. Imidacloprid is an adulticide effective only against adult fleas and moxidectin is an anti-parasitic.
Advantage Multi comes in an easy applicator and each dose offers 30 days of protection. This topical solution is available in three formulations for cats weighing 2 to 18 pounds. It’s safe for cats 9 weeks and older and is sold by prescription only in 3-, 6-, and 12-month supplies.
What We Liked:
- Effective against a wide range of parasites
- Easy-to-apply topical solution
- Three formulations for cats weighing 2-18 pounds
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not evaluated for cats under 9 weeks
- Available by prescription only
- Only kills adult fleas
#3 Budget Pick: Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens
While many prescription flea treatments cost upwards of $20 per dose, Frontline Plus costs under $10 per dose. The active ingredients in this spot-on treatment are fipronil and s-methoprene. Fipronil kills adult fleas while s-methoprene prevents flea maturation and reproduction. Both ingredients have a solid safety history.
Each dose of this spot-on flea treatment will protect your cat from fleas for up to 6 weeks, killing any adult fleas and preventing them from successfully reproducing. Frontline Plus is safe for use on cats and kittens 8 weeks or older and weighing at least 1.5 pounds. It doesn’t require a prescription.
What We Liked:
- Costs under $10 per dose
- One dose lasts for up to 6 weeks
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae
- No prescription required
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only one formulation, not weight-specific
#4 Best For Kittens: Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats
Oral medications are usually formulated with gentler ingredients than topical treatments. These ingredients are safe for your cat to ingest and are under stricter regulation. Capstar is the most popular oral flea treatment and it’s safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks of age.
These nitenpyram-based tablets offer a fast-acting but temporary solution, killing adult fleas within 24 hours. Capstar starts working in as little as 30 minutes. Because the active ingredient is an adulticide, however, it won’t do anything to prevent future flea infestations.
Capstar is available without a prescription and its gentle formula is safe for daily use in cats weighing between 2 and 25 pounds.
What We Liked:
- Starts killing fleas within 30 minutes
- Gentle formulation safe for daily use
- Safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks
- Available without a prescription
What We Didn’t Like:
- Doesn’t kill eggs or immature fleas
- Repeated treatment may be required
#5 Best For Large Cats: Bravecto Topical Solution for Cats 13.8-27.5 Pounds
Proper dosage is essential when using insecticides on your cat but many flea treatments are only available in a single concentration. If you have a large cat, Bravecto’s topical solution may be a good choice. It’s available in three formulations, including one specifically for large cats weighing 13.8 to 27.5 pounds.
Bravecto contains the active ingredient fluralaner, an insecticide with similar potency to fipronil (Frontline). It’s an adulticide, so it only kills adult fleas. Because a single dose provides up to 12 weeks of treatment, however, it may help control infestation by killing fleas as they mature so they can’t reproduce.
Also Read: Bravecto Plus for Cats: Dosage, Safety & Side Effects
While Bravecto may offer up to 3 months of protection, this effect has only been documented in cats over 6 months of age. It’s also worth noting that neurological abnormalities have been reported in cats treated with Bravecto—even those without a history of neurologic conditions. Prescription is required, so consult your veterinarian prior to use.
What We Liked:
- Available in a formula for large cats 13.8-27.5 lbs.
- One dose provides up to 12 weeks of protection
- Effective against both fleas and ticks
What We Didn’t Like:
- Neurological abnormalities have been reported
- 12-week efficacy may not apply to kittens under 6 months old
- Available only by prescription
#6 Best Over-the-Counter Flea Medication: Sentry Fiproguard Flea and Tick Topical for Cats
Many topical flea treatments require veterinary prescription but Sentry Fiproguard is available over-the-counter. Like Frontline, this treatment contains the active ingredient fipronil. It is designed to kill adult fleas, ticks, and chewing lice. As an adulticide, fipronil does not kill flea eggs or larvae but may help control infestation by killing breeding adult fleas.
Sentry Fiproguard only comes in one formulation for cats over 8 weeks of age, weighing at least 1.5 pounds. Each dose provides up to 30 days of protection and the waterproof formula helps keep it from washing off. It’s sold in 3- and 6-month supplies.
What We Liked:
- Available without a prescription
- Effective against adult fleas, ticks, and lice
- One dose provides 30 days of protection
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only one formulation, not weight-specific
- Doesn’t kill flea eggs and larvae
#7 Best Flea Spray: Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Pet & Home Spray for Cats
This plant-based insecticide spray is designed to kill adult fleas, larvae, and eggs in the home environment. The active ingredients are peppermint oil and eugenol (clove oil). Simply spray on carpet, drapery, and upholstered surfaces and allow to dry completely before allowing your cat back into the area.
While Vet’s Best claims that diluted essential oils are safe for cats, some experts consider essential oils unsafe for cats in any form. This formula also contains sodium lauryl sulfate, which can cause respiratory issues in cats if ingested.
Although instructions say it can be applied directly to cats over 12 weeks old, our concerns about the safety of its ingredients limit our recommendation to environmental use only. It may also be best to avoid spraying it on surfaces your cat contacts frequently (like their bedding).
What We Liked:
- Designed to kill fleas on household surfaces
- Plant-based formula with no synthetic fragrance
- Kills adult fleas, larvae, eggs, and ticks
What We Didn’t Like:
- May not be safe for direct application
- Experts disagree about the safety of essential oils for cats
#8 Best Flea Shampoo: Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor for Dogs and Cats
While topical solutions provide long-lasting protection against future infestations, an active flea infestation may require a different approach. Medicated flea shampoos quickly kill fleas, eggs, and larvae currently on your cat’s body.
Adams Plus flea shampoo contains pyrethrins, which kill adult fleas, as well as the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen. It also contains piperonyl butoxide, which boosts the effectiveness of pyrethrins. The recipe is formulated with soothing aloe, lanolin, and oatmeal to help minimize skin irritation.
When using this flea shampoo, thoroughly rinse the product off to prevent accidental ingestion during grooming. It’s not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks of age.
What We Liked:
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae on contact
- Contains skin-soothing ingredients
- Insect growth regulator may kill fleas for up to 28 days
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks of age
- Contains synthetic fragrance
#9 Best Flea Comb: Frisco Double-Row Flea Comb
If your cat is already infested with fleas, it’s best to remove as many as possible before starting treatment. Flea combs are designed with fine, closely-spaced teeth to catch fleas as you comb. The best technique is to work through small sections of fur at a time, dunking the comb in soapy water to remove and kill fleas.
This Frisco comb features two rows of fine teeth that enable you to go through your cat’s coat thoroughly, removing flea dirt, eggs, and fleas. The teeth are tipped with rounded pins to prevent scratching or piercing your cat’s skin. The rubberized grip makes the comb comfortable and easy to handle.
What We Liked:
- Double row of fine, closely-spaced teeth
- Teeth have rounded tips for safety and comfort
- Rubberized grip is easy to handle
What We Didn’t Like:
- May be difficult to use on thick coats
#10 Best Indoor Flea Spray: Virbac Knockout E.S. Area Treatment Carpet Spray
Removing adult fleas, larvae, and eggs from your home environment is a crucial element in treating a flea infestation. While not a substitute for thorough cleaning, insecticide sprays can help kill fleas hiding in hard-to-reach areas.
This Virbac treatment contains the active ingredient Nylar, a trade name for the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen. It also contains pyrethrins and permethrin which kill adult fleas. One 16-ounce can of this carpet spray can treat up to 2,100 square feet. Let the treatment dry completely, then vacuum the area to remove dead fleas.
Whenever using an insecticide spray, keep your cat out of the environment until the treatment has dried. Read the labeling thoroughly and never spray the insecticide near your cat’s food or water, or directly on your cat.
What We Liked:
- Kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae
- One can treats up to 2,100 square feet
- Fast and easy to apply
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be toxic if ingested
#11 Best Flea Collar: Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
Flea collars release small amounts of insecticide chemicals, which spread over your cat’s body and absorb into their skin, killing existing parasites and helping your cat repel new fleas. They demand little to no human intervention, working around the clock to protect your cat. This makes them an extraordinarily convenient and low-maintenance option.
The Seresto flea collar from Bayer offers 8 months of protection through two active ingredients: flumethrin and imidacloprid. It kills adult fleas as well as eggs and larvae. The collar is recommended for cats 10 weeks and older and is available without a prescription.
While this may be one of the most popular flea collars on the market, results vary. This flea collar gets its share of negative reviews from people who say that their cat had a severe skin reaction to the chemicals in the collar.
Serious safety concerns have also been raised. The Seresto flea collar has been named in over 100,000 reports filed with the EPA and, according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, it has been linked to as many as 1,700 pet deaths. Flea collars can also pose a strangulation hazard if they get caught on something.
What We Liked:
- Offers up to 8 months of flea and tick prevention
- Low-maintenance alternative to spot-on treatments
- Effective against adult fleas, larvae, and eggs
- Adjustable to fit cats of different sizes
What We Didn’t Like:
- Consumers have raised serious concerns about safety
- Some users report negative skin reactions
- No breakaway feature, poses a strangulation risk if it gets caught
7 Types of Insecticides Used in Cat Flea Treatments
Treating a flea infestation requires a multi-pronged approach. In addition to killing or removing fleas from your cat’s body with an insecticide-based product, you also need to eliminate them from your home. A long-lasting flea preventive will help protect your cat against future infestations.
Topical and oral flea treatments typically contain one of two types of insecticide: adulticides or insect growth regulators. Adulticides kill only adult fleas, which account for roughly 5% of the infesting flea population. Although adulticides are sometimes used on their own, particularly in oral medications, they’re often combined with insect growth regulators which slow the infestation by preventing the fleas from reproducing.
The most common insecticides used in flea treatments are:
- Pyrethrins: Derived from the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium plant and other pyrethrum-related plant species, pyrethrins are commonly used in flea powders and shampoos. Pyrethrins can be toxic to cats in large amounts or if used incorrectly.
- Nitenpyram: Commonly sold under the trade name Capstar, this adulticide has the ability to destroy a large flea population in under 30 minutes. Nitenpyram is generally considered safe for kittens at least 4 weeks of age and weighing at least 2 lbs.
- Imidacloprid: The active ingredient in Advantage and Advocate, imidacloprid is considered very safe and works quickly to destroy large adult flea populations. It’s recommended for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older.
- Fipronil: The active ingredient in Frontline products, this adulticide is often used in spot-on treatments. It’s considered quite safe and can wipe out a large flea population within 24 hours.
- Selamectin: This adulticide treats heartworms and hookworms in addition to fleas and ticks. It’s the active ingredient in spot-on Revolution products. Ingestion may cause vomiting and drooling, so it should be applied only in areas your cat can’t groom.
- Pyriproxyfen: This insect growth regulator mimics natural hormones and stops fleas from reaching adulthood, preventing reproduction.
- S-methoprene: Like pyriproxyfen, this chemical mimics natural hormones, preventing the fleas from ever growing up and making eggs of their own.
Remember that all chemical flea treatments are inherently toxic on some level – they’re poisons and formulated to kill. Most of these treatments are only deadly to insects and, when administered correctly, won’t harm your cat. For useful information on flea treatment safety, check out this tool provided by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
4 Toxic Insecticides to Avoid
Disturbingly, flea treatments have been connected to toxicity in cats thousands of times over the years. Some flea treatments have remained on the market while presenting a risk to both cats and humans. And even if you choose an insecticide with a great reputation, it’s hard to predict whether your cat will have a bad reaction.
The top four insecticides to avoid in cat flea treatments are:
Synthetic Pyrethrins or Pyrethroids
These synthetic insecticides are more powerful and longer-lasting than naturally occurring pyrethrin. They’re toxic to cats and are never a good flea treatment choice. Pyrethroid chemicals include allethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fluvalinate, permethrin, phenothrin, tetramethrin, and etofenprox.
Permethrin
In most mammals, the liver quickly filters out this toxin. Cats, however, lack the glucuronidase enzyme that helps to detoxify permethrin. Any contact with permethrin could be toxic or even fatal for cats. While permethrin is rare in cat flea medication, it’s commonly used in dog flea treatments. Never use dog flea treatments on a cat.
Tetrachlorvinphos
Sometimes abbreviated to TCVP, this chemical is a neurotoxin that affects fleas. It’s particularly common in flea collars. TCVP is classified as a possible human carcinogen and could also be harmful to your cat.
Propoxur
This chemical is a neurotoxin that causes overexcitement of the flea’s nervous system, eventually causing death. Because of its potential for toxicity in both cats and humans, it’s not recommended for use as a flea treatment for cats.
Do Natural Flea Treatments and Home Remedies Work?
There are numerous natural treatments that can deter fleas, but very few can eliminate a flea infestation. David J. Shuman, DVM says, “I’ve tried—or have had clients try—eucalyptus oil, peppermint soap, garlic powders, B12, brewer’s yeast, essential oils, and a long list of other ingredients. This is a well-worn path that often leads to futility.”
While some veterinarians, like Melissa Shelton, DVM, believe essential oils like peppermint oil and clove oil are safe flea treatments for cats, the argument against them has more weight. Cats lack the liver enzyme needed to process these oils. Whether given orally, topically, or inhaled, concentrated essential oils can seriously harm your cat.
Diatomaceous earth, a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of ancient sea creatures, looks like shards of glass under a microscope. The particles lodge in the fleas’ bodies and shred or dehydrate them to death. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a safe treatment for fleas in the environment, but shouldn’t be applied directly to your cat. It could dry out your cat’s skin or, because it’s primarily silica, harm their respiratory health.
My blue Russian foams at the mouth and gets lethargic and has bad reactions if a topical flea medication is applied. I’ve tried almost every brand. She hates dawn bath and I hate traumatizing her doing it. She doesn’t have fleas now but I want to prevent her from getting any. She is 95 percent indoor. I’ve been reading about capstar oral flea treatment. Is this safe to give them daily? What is the best flea protection for sensitive cats. We have no carpets. I vacuum and mop 2-3 times a week. Wash the bedding weekly but it seems we keep getting fleas. We live in south Carolina and our yard is mostly sand.
Hi Laurie,
Capstar appears to be safe and can help to destroy an active infestation, but it only kills adult fleas and isn’t something I would want to give my cat as an ongoing preventive treatment. A good alternative is a prescription-only tablet called Comfortis, which is administered orally like Capstar but provides 30 days of protection. It appears to be safe for cats.
If that doesn’t work, you might consider using the Bayer Seresto flea collar. It’s the only flea collar I’d feel remotely comfortable using. It’s made with flumethrin and imidacloprid, the latter of which is commonly used in topical flea medications. I would look back at the products you’ve used in the past to make sure your cat isn’t sensitive to anything in the Seresto collar, then cautiously try it out.
You must be frustrated, by the way! It sounds like you’re doing everything right and the fleas keep coming back. I just did a quick Google search and found that, according to Banfield veterinary hospital data, the state of South Carolina is ranked third in the nation for the most dogs with fleas. For some reason, it doesn’t make the top five for cats, but still—you’re definitely in the so-many-fleas-it-drives-you-crazy zone. Hope you and your cat find something that works soon!
Take care,
Mallory
I’ve seen or read about about vinegar water sprays, flea combs,, brewers yeast tablets and using salt on rugs, baseboards and vacuuming frequently, cedar chips or nematodes on lawns, washing beddings, cat brushes etc in soapy hot water
Please research the horrible side effects of Comfotis esp death before administering to any pet!
I earlier misspelled the product I meant to say COMFORTIS. TY
Yes, I have heard the same and seen the med in action watching YouTube videos
Re: Seresto. Active Ingredient (AI): Imidacloprid and Flumethrin
Popular flea collar linked to almost 1,700 pet deaths. The EPA has issued no warning. 2021-03-02
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/03/02/seresto-dog-cat-collars-found-harm-pets-humans-epa-records-show/4574753001/
We just heard about this. Planning to update the article to reflect this disturbing news.
We were told by our Vet that this report related to counterfeit Seresto collars bought online. We only buy them in pet stores; never online and have had no problems.
There is a so-called “natural” product called “GCP (Guardian’s Choice)” which has been advertised on FaceBook recently. The active ingredients are Vitamin B1, apple cider vinegar and anise. I know that you said that most veterinarians think “natural” flea treatments are useless, but do you have any specific information on whether or not this particular one is worth considering?
Tony, this is an interesting one! I’m not a vet, but here are my thoughts. It looks like this product is intended to be taken internally to deter fleas and strengthen your cat’s immune system. Starting with the latter, the idea that you can deter fleas by strengthening the immune system is…weird. A healthy immune system is what causes the allergic reaction to flea bites. A strong immune system is fine, but a stronger immune response is not necessarily what you want when dealing with fleas.
The first ingredient is brewer’s yeast, which is added as a source of vitamin B1. While there is a large group of people who tout it as a flea deterrent, I’ve not found any controlled studies that demonstrate vitamin B1’s ability to deter fleas. In fact, the evidence points to the contrary. Additionally, I don’t see any evidence that consuming apple cider vinegar will acidify the body enough to deter fleas, and if your cat was consuming enough vinegar to acidify their blood, they might also experience unwanted effects. Similarly, there isn’t a lot of evidence showing that eating catnip will help to deter fleas.
Overall, I don’t see anything that suggests that this product would be effective in repelling fleas or preventing flea bites. We need to see more trials and evidence that the ingredients and formulation do what they promise to do.
Hope this helps!
– Mallory
We’ve been using Revolution for years and it has been 100% effective. We get this from the vet, and although it’s pricey it’s worth the cost.
what do all you cat people think of bravecto? i am surprised not to see it anywhere in this article, good or bad. i use it in my clowder with decent results. it definitely does not give 3 months of coverage for my indoor/outdoor family. works well for about 6 weeks then i start preparing to dose again. some kids experience hair loss at the spot which disturbs me but have never seen neuro effects. have tried lots of natural remedies and am big on prevention with d. earth and vacuuming often and wood floors and hot washes for bedding…
would prefer another option tho frontline stopped working for us after many years…
Hi Kimi, thanks for the comment! That’s a good question. Bravecto does have a good reputation, and our trusted vet Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM CVJ recommends it as one of the best preventives out there. From what I can tell, it looks like a sound option.
Your link to the Vet’s Best flea and tick spray leads to the spray for dogs, a dangerous mistake!
Lauren, thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. I’ve corrected the link.
Maxwell, my 9 month old Himalayan, is an indoor cat. How he got fleas I’ll never know. My vet told me that people coming into the apartment can bring fleas into the apartment and that the doormat is flea egg heaven (many cats and dogs track through the halls).
I tried my vet’s recommended solution. Expensive and it did nothing. Then I got Frontline and that didn’t work.
Lately I looked at his face and I could see the fleas crawling around his head. I cried. All the flea bites on my upper arms and neck seemed secondary to Maxwell’s infestation.
Then I saw this product (https://amz.run/5u6D). Maxwell is a large cat, although he’s still a baby. I ordered the Advantage for 9 lbs+ and received it this AM. Applied it and WOW. It started working right away! His head and face are flea-free. I just have to clean up the “flea dirt”.
Hi Ashley! Thanks for sharing your experience with Avantage II. Glad it worked for Maxwell.
Please update your site to remove all references to Seresto products!
Mary, we’ve added some additional information on the Seresto problem in this article, and I have it slated for removal in the near future.
My indoor cat has started licking constantly and he has licked one side of his body so much it’s almost bare. He doesn’t have flees, he’s been treated, I comb him with a flea comb, no flees. Is there anything I can do to help him? Could it be dry skin or perhaps an allergy? No changes in his food. Please advise. Thank you. Rosalie
Hi Rosalie, thanks for commenting! There are a number of reasons why cats start excessively licking themselves—anxiety, allergies, and skin conditions may all contribute. I would look into everything that changed around the time you started to see this licking behavior. If you can identify any environmental changes, this could be your solution. You may also want to talk to a veterinarian to get help identifying what caused this issue.
Thank for your reply, I have done everything you suggested, however we have an appt this wed. with a veterinarian. thanks again, Rosalie
Hi! Do you have any information about petfriendly’s flea and tick products? I haven’t been able to find a lot of reviews.
Thank you!
Hello Stephanie, we hadn’t heard of Petfriendly before! Very interesting—I’d like to look a bit more deeply into this. For now, I can see that their cat topical is basically the same as Frontline Plus, which is one of our top-recommended flea and tick prevention products. It looks like the company has jumped through the appropriate hoops and is doing everything they ought to be—seems like a safe choice. If you’re interested in getting this product on a regular basis, this would be a more affordable way to do it.
My cat received flea medicine monthly as recommended by vet. It worked 100%, but my cat ran away from me when it was time for his Revolution med. He got cancer of tongue, drooled, lost fur, lost use of hind legs and had to be put down. I would not use meds again for any cat.
What a terrible story. Thank you for sharing, though I would not immediately assume that the Revolution was responsible for your cat’s illness. This would be worth further investigation if possible, but I understand that you wouldn’t want to use this medication again for another cat. I’d also feel quite cautious about any flea medication, especially collars and topicals, due to the frequency of adverse effects. I’m sorry for the loss of your cat.
Please tell me the best flea treatment for a 14 year old cat with a history of seizures.
Hi Pam, I can’t give veterinary advice (and I’m not a veterinarian), but I believe any of the topicals or pills mentioned here should be a good choice.
Does Advantage ll work good?
Hey Jill, Advantage II does work well, but remember that it only kills fleas, not ticks and lice. You can learn about it here.
What about PetArmor plus? It has the same active ingredients as Frontline plus. We used it last season and we didn’t have any problems but would like to know if it was one of the brands you tested.
Thanks ,
Ron S.
Hello Ron, apologies for the late reply! We didn’t try PetArmor Plus, but it seems like a good economical alternative to Frontline Plus. Remember that it only contains Fipronil and no insect growth regulator, which means it’s only able to kill fleas and ticks but won’t stop the growth of eggs and larvae.
Thanks for your reply, but it does say on the box that it Kills: Fleas, Flea eggs & Larvae, Ticks, Chewing Lice just like the Frontline brand box. Ingredients listed are the same also.
Thanks,
Ron
I’m sorry; I must have gotten outdated information. Thank you.
Hi there, have you checked out Cheristen? I’ve used it for years in Portland but now live on Hawaii Island where my vet alerted me to the “super fleas” that live here. I’m trying out Revolution Plus, but it’s So expensive.
Mahalo for any insight.
I read one review online that this called reviewer’s cat within ten hours
At 8:31 of the YouTube video, the can of Raid list Pyrethrin as an ingredient. Is it a synthetic pyrethrin which this very article says is toxic to cats?
Hi Tony, it looks like these may, in fact, be synthetic pyrethrins. Your cat should be kept away from the Raid and treated surfaces for at least 24 hours.
Well, if that’s the case, shouldn’t you update your YouTube video so then all other cat-owners know about that?
You don’t have to re-shoot the whole video, but you can certainly add an annotation to it, or you can edit your pinned comment and add that important info on there.
Is it fine if some of the flea topical I used on my cat ended up in my cat’s fur? I have a cat that hates being held or restrained and so when I tried to put the flea topical on her I did my best to get it to her skin or as close to it as best as I could. Unfortunately, the entire time she was moving around so I have no idea how much ended up on her skin if at all. I guess my ultimate question is will the flea treatment still be effective? If it helps my cat is long haired and the topical I used was front line plus for cats.
Hello there! Thanks for the comment, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you! It is essential that the full dose goes onto your cat’s skin, not fur, but I wouldn’t recommend re-applying before it’s time to, since we don’t know how much made it onto her skin and was absorbed by the body. I know it’s frustrating, and you’re doing your best! Hopefully, it’ll work a little better next time. All the best!
Our 14 year old indoor cat has a worse flea condition than in previous years and we’re running out of ideas for safe treatments. I cosnidered Capstar but reading horror stories in Amazon reviews (related to this and others like Chesterin) of cats suffering or dying saddens or terrifies me and am baffled why safer veterianry medicines can’t be made