Best Flea Treatments for Cats

Fleas are the most common type of external parasite among felines. They not only make your cat’s skin itchy causing her to scratch and groom excessively.

Fleas can also transmit bacterial infections, such as Bartonellosis, internal parasites called tapeworms, and cause serious health problems, such as anemia in young kittens.

Fleas can affect the health of a human too. They can bite humans causing allergic reactions to the skin. Bartonellosis is a zoonotic disease that can be passed from a cat to a human through scratches and bites.

Therefore, it’s important to get rid of fleas on your cat and in your internal and external environment as soon as possible and prevent future re-infestations.

To save you time, we have reviewed dozens of flea treatments for cats on the market to help you choose the best cat flea treatment for your feline.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

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The Top 5 Best Flea Treatments for Cats in 2023

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Brand	Product Image	Price
Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats		Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy
Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment		Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy
Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats		Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy
Catego Flea & Tick Treatment		Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy
Vet's Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Cats		Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy

Before we start reviewing the best flea treatments for cats, have a look at the table below. It shows the most important factors to look at when choosing the best cat flea treatment for your cat:

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Best Flea Treatment for Cats – Comparison Table

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Product Image
Product Name	Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats	Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment	Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats	Catego Flea & Tick Treatment	Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray	Bayer Advantage Treatment Shampoo	Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
Type	Topical	Topical	Oral Tablets	Topical	Spray	Shampoo	Collar
Treatment or Prevention?	Treatment & Prevention	Treatment & Prevention	Treatment	Treatment & Prevention	Treatment & Prevention	Treatment	Treatment & Prevention
Age & Weight	For cats from 9 lbs or more	For cats from 8 weeks or older and 1.8 lbs or more	For cats from 4 weeks or older and 2 pounds or more	For cats from 8 weeks or older and 1.5 lbs or more	For cats from 12 weeks or older	For cats from 12 weeks or older	For cats from 10 weeks or older
Frequency	Repeat every 30 days	Repeat every 6 weeks	N/A	Repeat every 30 days	N/A	Repeat every 7 days	Repeat every 8 months
Ingredients	Imidacloprid, Pyriproxyfen	Spinetoram	Nitenpyram	Dinotefuran, Fipronil, Pyriproxyfen	Peppermint Oil, Eugenol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, Insecticide Synergist	Imidacloprid, Flumethrin
Price	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy	Buy on Amazon Buy on Chewy

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Best Flea Treatment for Cats – Reviews

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1. Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats, Over 9 lbs – Best Topical Flea Treatment for Cats

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Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats is a topical cat flea treatment highly rated for its effectiveness and rapidness in killing fleas, eggs, and larvae (breaks the flea life cycle). It offers both treatment as well as prevention.

The treatment comes in the form of tubes with a liquid (applications). Each tube contains a pre-measured dose of the treatment, so that you don’t need to handle measuring on your own.

To apply the product on a cat, administer the liquid from the tube onto the back of the cat’s neck, at the base of the skull (so that the cat can’t lick it). The product kills fleas on contact, which means that the fleas don’t need to bite your cat first to get killed.

A single application of the product starts killing fleas just after 12 hours and protects the cat from a re-infestation for up to 30 days. It means that you would need to apply the product once a month all year round to keep fleas at bay.

The treatment starts to be waterproof 24 hours after the application. Although the medicine is advertised as fragrance-free, the reviewers were complaining that they could feel a strong chemical smell.

The medicine can kill fleas in multiple flea life stages thanks to two active ingredients: imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen. The product comes in the packages of 6, 4, 2 or 1 one-month application.

Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats is designed and safe only for cats that weigh 9 lbs or more. If you have a smaller cat you can use Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Small Cats, 5-9 lbs, or Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Kittens, 2-5 Ibs. None of these products should be applied to kittens that are younger than 8 weeks.

People who used this treatment on their cats are advised not to apply the whole dose in one spot of the cat’s skin, but to spread it in a bigger area from the back of the cat’s neck to the shoulder blades. That will help minimize the risk of skin irritation due to chemicals.

Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Large Cats Key Features:

2. Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment – Best Cat Flea Treatment for Multiple Cats

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Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment is another topical treatment that works fast and effectively. It starts killing fleas after 30 mins and kills 98-100% of fleas in 12 hours.

The product comes in one dose size for all cats and kittens that are no younger than 8 weeks and don’t weigh less than 1.8 lbs. Therefore, it makes it a great product for households with multiple cats.

The treatment comes in the form of liquid contained in the tubes. To apply the treatment, squeeze the tube and apply its contents on the back of the cat’s neck at the base of the head.

Once the treatment is applied, it will last for six weeks. You will have to apply the treatment once every six weeks to keep the protection up.

Cheristin works on contact, therefore fleas don’t need to bite a cat to get killed. The active ingredient which kills fleas in the treatment is spinetoram.

The product is advertised as non-greasy, quick-drying, and fragrance-free, however, reviewers said that they could feel a strong patchouli-like smell.

Cat owners who used this treatment on their cats advised spreading the drops on more than one spot so that it’s not concentrated on one patch of the skin. It may minimize the risk of irritation of the skin by chemicals.

Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment comes in the packages of 1, 3, and 6 dozes.

Cheristin for Cats Topical Flea Treatment Key Features:

3. Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats – Best Oral Flea Treatment for Cats

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Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats is the most popular cat flea treatment in the form of tablets.

One tablet of Capstar has 11.4 mg and can be given to cats that weigh no less than 2 pounds and are no less than 4 weeks old. There are 6 tablets in a package. An active ingredient that kills fleas in this treatment is nitenpyram.

One tablet starts killing fleas within 30 minutes of administration. It will kill 90% of fleas within 6 hours. It’s safe to administer one tablet per day until flea infestation is resolved.

To administer a tablet to a cat, place it directly in your pet’s mouth or hide it in food. Unlike topical treatments, shampoos or collars, oral treatments work internally. That means that an active ingredient, in the Capstar’s case nitenpyram, circulates in the cat’s blood and fleas get killed once they bite a cat and suck her blood.

Capstar will tackle a flea infestation quickly and effectively, however, it won’t provide protection before further re-infestation. Therefore, once the adult fleas have been killed, you will have to find another product that will prevent future infestations.

Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats Key Features:

4. Catego Flea & Tick Treatment – Best Cat Flea Treatment for Small Cats

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Catego Flea & Tick Treatment is another topical cat flea treatment that is effective and starts killing fleas in just 6 hours.

It’s designated for cats no younger than 8 weeks old and weighing no less than 1.5 lbs. The treatment works on contact, meaning the fleas are not required to bite your cat to die.

The medicine provides both treatment and prevention from further re-infestations by killing fleas, eggs, and larvae. It also kills chewing lice and ticks.

The medicine comes in the form of liquid contained in the plastic tubes. To apply the medicine, squeeze the contents of the tube on the back of your cat’s neck, at the base of the skull.

Once the treatment is applied it will last for 30 days. You will need to apply it once a month every month to prevent new fleas from infesting your cat.

The active ingredients in the Catego treatment are dinotefuran, fipronil, and pyriproxyfen. The formula is non-greasy and quick-drying, however, it’s not waterproof. Reviewers praised the product for having practically no smell.

Catego comes in packages of 3 and 6 doses. One dose suits any size cat (provided it weighs more than 1.5 lbs and is no younger than 8 weeks), which makes it a great product for multi-cat households.

Catego Flea & Tick Treatment Key Features:

5. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Cats – Best Natural Flea Treatment for Cats

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Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Cats is a cat flea spray that can be used for treatment and prevention of flea infestations on both a cat and an environment.

The treatment breaks the flea life cycle by killing adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae. It also kills ticks. It kills fleas on contact, which means the fleas are not required to bite a cat to get killed.

There are no harsh chemicals used in the formula of the product. Instead, it consists of a blend of steam-distilled essential oils. Active Ingredients in the formula are: peppermint oil 0.20%, eugenol (from clove plants) 0.46%, sodium lauryl sulfate 1.78% and inactive ingredients are water and sodium benzoate (97.56%).

Peppermint oil and clove extract are natural flea repellents that are in fact essential oils that are also toxic to cats. However, when used in small quantities they are still safe to be used on cats.

The spray can only be used around cats that are 12 weeks or older. To apply the treatment on the cat, set the trigger-sprayer to the mist setting and lightly spray the cat’s entire coat (including the legs, tail, and stomach) until damp. Then massage the spray into the coat until the product reaches the skin. Allow the coat to completely dry before allowing pets to groom themselves or each other.

The product kills fleas immediately, although, it may not get rid of all fleas at once and will need to be reapplied. The spray can be reapplied once it dries and every 2-4 hours the pet. It shouldn’t be exceeded twice in 24 hours.

Because the product is water-based, it means it’s non-staining and can be safely applied on all sorts of surfaces and furniture (avoid using on fine furniture). To apply the product inside the house, spray the surfaces uniformly with a light mist until moist. Allow the product to dry completely before allowing pets to reenter the area.

Because the product is made from only natural ingredients, it can be used safely in the proximity of the whole family. The product is not artificially scented, however, it has a smell of the ingredients that it’s made of, which was described by reviewers as pleasant.

Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Cats is available in 32 oz and 96 oz bottles.

Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Cats Key Features:

6. Bayer Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Cats – Best Cat Flea Shampoo

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Bayer Advantage Treatment Shampoo, in contrast to many other anti-flea shampoos, is designed exclusively for cats.

The shampoo works on contact, which means that fleas don’t need to bite the cat to get killed. The fleas will drown under the leather of the shampoo. The active ingredients in the shampoo are pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and insecticide synergist.

To apply the shampoo, start from creating a leathery ring around the neck to avoid fleas wandering to the cat’s head (you must never wet the cat’s head and ears). Then move on leathering the cat’s whole body. For the treatment to effectively kill fleas, leave the cat completely leathered for five minutes. Then rinse and thoroughly dry your cat.

The product is safe for use on cats and kittens over 12 weeks of age. The treatment can be used only once every seven days. If you use it more than once in seven days you may overdose your cat.

The shampoo eliminates only adult fleas and ticks. It won’t kill flea eggs and larvae. Therefore, it offers only treatment, not prevention and you should treat your inside and outside environment separately to break the flea life cycle.

Bayer Advantage Treatment Shampoo for Cats Key Features:

7. Seresto Flea and Tick Collar – Best Cat Flea Collar

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Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats is the most popular cat flea collar on the market made by Buyer.

It starts to repel and kill fleas within 24 hours of initial application and provides continuous prevention against re-infestation of fleas and ticks for up to 8 months.

The collar works by slowly and continuously releasing low concentrations of active ingredients imidacloprid and flumethrin over a cat’s coat and skin. The substances kill fleas and ticks on contact, meaning fleas don’t have to bite your cat to die (which is good because fleas won’t be able to spread any diseases).

The collar is adjustable and easy to put on a cat. It comes with optional reflectors you can put on the collar for added visibility at night. It also features a quick-release mechanism so that you don’t need to worry your cat may get stuck.

The collar is non-greasy, unscented, and water-resistant. It can be safely used on cats that are 10 weeks of age or more.

Some people observed that their cats would react badly to the substances released by the collar, for example, balding or neurological problems. On one hand, it might be because a cat could be allergic to the substances.

On the other hand, a lot of people said that there are counterfeit Seresto collars sold on the market, and those, in particular, cause the most serious problems for cats. When buying this product, please pay special attention and buy it only from a trusted seller.

Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats Key Features:

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Best Flea Treatment for Cats – Buyer’s Guide

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Who should buy a flea treatment for cats?

You should consider applying a cat flea treatment on your cat whether your cat has already been infested by fleas, or if you want to prevent a future flea infestation on your cat.

Although fleas have become common within a cat population, they should not be ignored due to the number of negative consequences they can cause to your cat and to you.

When a flea bites the cat it can transmit a number of diseases that can subsequently deteriorate the health and wellbeing of your cat. To name a few:

– Tapeworms (they attach to the intestines and steal nutrients from the cat)
– Bartonellosis (this is a zoonotic disease which can transfer from cats to humans through scratches and bites, especially dangerous from people who are immunocompromised)
– Anemia (blood loss is especially dangerous to small kittens which may even cause a death of a kitten)

The most prone to catching fleas are cats that go outside, however, indoor cats can also get them. Often times cat owners raise their eyebrows when their all-time indoor cat gets fleas, but it’s not that strange and unheard of.

Some of the most common scenarios of bringing fleas into the house are as follows:

– On a different pet that goes outside
– On your (or someone else’s) shoes/clothes
– On luggage

Factors to consider when choosing a flea treatment for cats

Here are the factors you should take into account when choosing the right cat flea treatment:

1) The age and weight of your cat

All the cat flea treatments use chemicals or essential oils to kill the fleas, which in high doses are also harmful to cats. Therefore, it’s of the utmost importance to make sure that your cat is old enough and weighs enough to obtain a certain treatment.

If you apply an adult cat product on a small kitten, it may kill her. On the other hand, if you apply too little of a treatment on an adult cat, the product may not be effective.

2) Ease of application

It’s important that you know what kind of application will be the easiest and the most comfortable for both you and your cat. Topical treatments can be quite messy for you and some cats don’t like them. Baths are usually detested by most of the cats and it may be difficult for you to make sure no water goes into your cat’s ears or shampoo into her month. Some cats refuse to eat oral tablets and you may have to hide them in your cat’s food.

3) Does the product offer both treatment and prevention

The products available on the market offer either killing adult fleas only or breaking the whole flea life cycle. The former can get rid of the current flea infestation only, the latter will get rid of the current and further infestations.

Topical treatments and collars usually offer both treatment and prevention. Whereas oral tablets and shampoos offer only treatment and will need to be supplemented with other product that offers prevention.

4) How quickly the product starts to work

If the flea infestation is so intense it poses danger to your cat, you have to act quickly and choose the treatment that will kill fleas really fast. On the other hand, if the infestation is only minimal, you could choose the treatment that acts slower.

5) Does the product kills the fleas on contact with the skin, or after biting a cat

Treatments that kill fleas on contact don’t require fleas to bite your cat in order to die. This is a preferred scenario because when fleas bite the cat they can transmit diseases or cause a cat to have anemia.

6) How long the product lasts

Treatments that last for longer means you won’t need to reapply them too often. They may also cost cheaper in the long-term.

7) Is the product waterproof or not

Waterproof treatments will last longer on your cat and you won’t need to reapply them too often.

8) Cost per use/application

When working the price of the application take into account points 5 and 6. A product may be cheap, but having to apply it often will make it more expensive in the long-term.

Types of flea treatments for cats

Taking the above considerations into account, you can choose from the following types of cat flea treatment on the market:

1) Flea Drops (Topical Treatment)

How do flea drops work?

Flea drops is a cat flea treatment in the form of liquid, also known as topical, or spot-on. The drops are applied to the back of the cat’s neck, at the base of the skull, so that the cat cannot lick it.

The liquid spreads the active ingredients over the cat’s body killing the fleas on contact with the skin. Fleas don’t need to bite the cat in order to die, which protects the cat from the transmission of diseases.

When choosing topical cat treatment pay attention if they are waterproof so that they can last longer.

Benefits of flea drops:

Disadvantages of flea drops:

2) Flea Shampoos

How do flea shampoos work?

The oily properties of the shampoo pull the fleas under the water droplets which simply drowns them. The shampoo kills the flea on contact, so they don’t need to bite your cat in order to die.

Flea shampoos are applied like any other bath products, except, you have to create an oily ring around your cat’s neck first to stop the fleas from running to your cat’s face and ears.

While bathing your cat you need to be careful not to let the water go into your cat’s ears. After bathing, thoroughly dry your cat’s coat and make sure she stays warm, especially if it’s a small kitten.

Benefits of flea shampoos:

Disadvantages of flea shampoos:

3) Flea Sprays

How do flea sprays work?

To apply a flea spray, simply spritz it over your cat’s coat (make sure it doesn’t get into your cat’s eyes or mouth). The active ingredients will spread over the cat’s fur and kill the fleas on contact, without the need of biting a cat.

Benefits of flea sprays:

Disadvantages of flea sprays:

4) Flea Collars

How do flea collars work?

A flea collar works by slowly releasing small concentrations of active ingredients across your cat’s skin and fur. Active ingredients kill the fleas on contact with the skin, with no need for the flea to bite your cat.

Because of the low emission of active ingredients, flea collars may not be as effective in fighting an active infestation as other treatments, but they act as a good preventative measure against further re-infestations.

Benefits of flea collars:

Disadvantages of flea collars:

5) Flea Pills

How do flea pills work?

Flea pills are available in form of tablets or chewables. Once a cat digests the pill, the active ingredients contained in the pill start circulating throughout the cat’s bloodstream. A flea gets killed once it sucks the cat’s blood.

Flea tablets can quickly and effectively fight the current infestation, however, they won’t protect your cat against future infestations. You will need to buy a supplementary product that offers prevention, like for example, collar.

Benefits of flea pills:

Disadvantages of flea pills:

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Best Flea Treatment for Cats – Frequently Asked Questions

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What do cat fleas look like?

Adult fleas are tiny. They are approximately between 1/12 – 1/16” long. They are of a reddish-brown color. A body of a flea is vertically flat which helps it easily maneuver through the pet’s hair. Fleas are wingless and have six legs. The hind legs help them jump large distances.

The adult fleas are only about 3% to 5% of the overall flea infestation. They are usually also the only ones from the flea population that you can see. That’s why it’s so important to also treat the fleas in the stages that are not easily visible to the human eye: flea eggs, flea larvae, and flea pupae.

How to tell if a cat has fleas?

The visible symptoms of a flea infestation on your cat are as follows:

– Excessive scratching and grooming
– Excessive biting or gnawing at themselves
– Red bumps or scabs
– Losing fur
– Lack of energy and lethargy (blood loss may cause anemia)
– Brown parasites jumping or crawling in fur

To check if your cat has fleas, at the early stage (before she starts displaying visible symptoms), comb your cat’s fur with a fine-tooth comb and look for black, pepper-like particles. The black particles, also called ‘flea dirt’, are the flea feces. If you discover the black particles in the fur of your cat it means your cat has fleas and you should react quickly to stop the infestation to intensify.

How did my indoor cat get fleas?

Even strictly indoor cats can get fleas. It happens when the fleas get transported from the outside to the house on someone’s shoes, clothes, luggage, or other pets.

How to get rid of fleas on a cat?

If it’s the first time you have identified that your cat has fleas, the best course of action is to take your cat to the vet. A veterinarian will examine your cat and prescribe the most suitable treatment for your cat’s age and weight.

If you don’t want to go to the vet, you can use products that are available over the counter, provided you strictly adhere to the instructions on the product’s label and you don’t exceed the safe dose for your cat’s age and weight.

To make sure the treatment is effective, apply the treatment to any other animals in your household too. For the treatment to be long-lasting and to prevent further infestations, you should treat your house and yard too.

How to get rid of cat fleas in the house?

It’s not enough to get rid of fleas on the cat only. Once you have eliminated the adult fleas on the cat, you also have to eliminate flea eggs, flea larvae, and flea pupae that are lurking on the surfaces of your house.

To get rid of fleas in all their development stadiums from the house follow the steps below:

1) Clean and vacuum everything inside the house: pick up all the loose items and clean them, wash pet bed covers, wash your bedding, vacuum the floors and the furniture, make sure you dispose of the bg vacuum cleaner outside the house.

2) Once the inside of the house is clean apply the chemical treatment: spray the treatment on the carpets, floors and upholstery.

3) Make sure you also trim your lawn and apply spray treatment on the lawn and any places your cat likes to spend time on, for example, like flower beds.

4) Make sure you regularly repeat all of the above steps as a preventative measure.

Is flea treatment harmful to cats?

Cat flea treatments are safe provided you strictly adhere to the instructions on the product’s label. You should exactly know what’s the age and weight of your cat to safely administer a suitable dose for a given age and weight. Too high dosage or too frequent administration of treatment in a given timeframe may kill your cat, cause serious internal damage or serious neurological problems.

The majority of cat flea treatments use harsh chemicals. That makes them so effective and fast-working. The chemicals effectively kill fleas, but may not always be the best fit for your cat as your feline may react badly to it (with an allergy, skin irritation, balding or neurological problems). If you see your cat reacting badly to the treatment that you applied, seek a veterinarian’s help immediately (bring the packaging of the flea treatment with you so that the vet can act quickly).

Last but not least, never give a cat a flea treatment designated for dogs. The substances used in canine products are poisonous to cats and will cause your cat’s death.

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