The 5 Best Flea And Tick Treatments For Cats Of 2024, With Advice From Veterinarians

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A key aspect of supporting your cat's health and wellness is providing consistent flea prevention and control. With the best flea and tick treatments for cats, you can safely and effectively prevent and eliminate not only fleas and ticks but also parasites like worms and lice. 

To recommend the top cat flea medicines, I spoke with four veterinarians and referred to the Quick Product Reference Guide published by the Companion Animal Parasite Council. I'm also very familiar with flea treatments, having spent eight years working as a veterinary assistant in animal hospitals where I helped treat countless cats for fleas. Revolution Plus is my best overall pick for a prescription topical flea and tick treatment for cats. It also controls heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites. If you're looking for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, Frontline Plus for Cats is your best bet.

Before buying any flea treatment, be sure to ask your veterinarian which medication is recommended for your cat's temperament, lifestyle, and the parasites they're most at risk for contracting where you live. It's important never to use a product labeled only for dogs. Dog flea medicines can make cats extremely sick, and in some cases, they can be fatal.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.

Our top picks for the best flea and tick treatments for cats

Best topical overall: Revolution Plus Topical Solution - See at Chewy

Best OTC topical: Frontline Plus for Cats - See at Chewy

Best fast-acting: Comfortis Chewable Tablets for Cats and Dogs - See at Chewy

Best collar: Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats - See at Chewy

Best for young kittens: Capstar Tablets - See at Chewy

Best topical overall

Revolution Plus Topical Solution is a topical treatment that kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs and prevents heartworms. It also treats and controls ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and black-legged (deer), Gulf Coast, and American dog ticks.

Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, a veterinary dermatologist at Animal Dermatology Clinic, prefers Revolution Plus. She says that its active ingredients (selamectin and sarolaner) are very effective and well-tolerated by cats.

Dr. Keith Harper, a veterinarian at Hayward Veterinary Hospital, also likes Revolution Plus. "It's one of the most effective topical flea preventions on the market," he says. "I'm a fan of Bravecto as well; it's a longer-lasting flea prevention, effective against fleas and ticks." Bravecto contains fluralaner, which is in the same drug class as selamectin and sarolaner, and is also very effective and well-tolerated by cats. However, it doesn't control as many parasites and can't be given to kittens under 6 months of age.

Revolution Plus is easy to apply every 30 days to a cat's skin at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades. The liquid absorbs and dries quickly, leaving no residue. Unlike with some topical preventives, you don't need to wear gloves to apply it or avoid touching your cat after application. If you get the liquid on your hands, simply wash them with soap and water.

You'll need a prescription from your vet to buy Revolution Plus. Make sure to use it cautiously in cats with a history of neurologic disorders such as seizures.

Best OTC topical

I chose Frontline Plus as one of the best flea and tick treatments for cats because it not only kills fleas and ticks and controls flea infestations but also kills chewing lice. The topical medicine protects for 30 days with one application, and fleas do not have to bite your cat for it to work — they die on contact.

Frontline Plus has two active ingredients, fipronil and S-methoprene, which kill parasites and break the flea life cycle. Fipronil kills adult fleas and ticks, while S-methoprene prevents the development of immature flea stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae). It can sometimes take a little time of consistent use before all fleas are completely gone, especially with heavy infestations, since flea eggs can still be present in your home, Bourgeois says.

Frontline Plus is easy to use. Squeeze the contents of the tube onto one spot on your cat's skin between the shoulder blades. The liquid medication spreads across your cat's skin and gets stored in the oil glands. It then self-distributes continuously through the hair follicles throughout the month. 

This medication does not treat worms. If you also want to treat or prevent worms, you'll need one of the best cat dewormers.

Best fast-acting

Comfortis Chewable Tablets are fast-acting and good for cats that can't tolerate topical flea preventives. Spinosad, the active ingredient in Comfortis, starts to work within 30 minutes and kills 98% of adult fleas within four hours.

Although topical flea control products are typically easier to use (no need to convince your cat to swallow a pill), there are some cases when an oral preventive is an ideal choice among the best cat flea treatments. For instance, some cats with sensitive skin can't tolerate a spot-on treatment. "Comfortis is one of the ones I like," Harper says. "It's harder to get the cat to take an oral product, but if you can manage it, it's a pretty effective oral flea medication. It's strictly and solely for fleas."

Comfortis is one of two oral flea control products available for cats; the other is Capstar Flea Control Tablets. Unlike Capstar, which kills fleas for only 24 hours, Comfortis protects cats against fleas for an entire month. However, Comfortis is not safe for kittens younger than 14 weeks old, while Capstar is safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks old.

Give your cat one of the beef-flavored tablets once a month. You can give them the tablet just before or after feeding your cat or hide it in a small amount of food. To purchase Comfortis, you will need a prescription from your veterinarian.

Best collar

A March 2021 investigation by USA Today reported 1,700 animal deaths and other adverse reactions linked to Seresto flea collars. It's unknown if the EPA-approved pesticides used in the collar caused these incidents. You can read more about the safety of Seresto collars in the FAQs at the end of this guide. Purchase a Seresto collar only from a reputable online retailer, brick-and-mortar store with a guarantee program, or your veterinarian. Before placing the collar on your cat, make sure it's authentic. You can call Elanco product support at 800-422-9874 to verify a collar is authentic.

Flea collars were once a standard option for flea control, but they now take a back seat to the best flea and tick treatments for cats that are topical and oral preventives. One standout in the category remains: the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar. It uses patented sustained-release technology for eight months of continuous protection against adult fleas, flea larvae, and ticks. 

The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar contains imidacloprid and flumethrin, which are released in low concentrations over your cat's skin and coat to kill fleas on contact. The water-resistant collar kills 100% of fleas within 24 hours. The collar is nongreasy, odor-free, lightweight, and adjustable for cats of all sizes. Your cat can wear it alongside their existing collar. If the flea collar catches on something, your cat can free itself thanks to a two-step safety system.

While topical and oral medicines are the easiest and most effective form of flea control, there are instances when the Seresto collar might be a good option. Dr. Colleen Sawyer, a veterinarian at Rolesville Veterinary Hospital, says the collar may be a good choice for people who forget to give their cats monthly treatments. She also likes it for cats who can't tolerate topical flea products and resist taking pills. Bourgeois says the Seresto collar might also be a good choice for cats that roam outside often and whose owners don't see them consistently.

Although the EPA is reviewing the safety of the Seresto collar, Harper doesn't think pet owners need to stop using the collar if it's the best flea control for their cat. "The jury is still out," he says. "If you absolutely can't use any other form of flea preventive, I know the fleas are going to be a problem, so let's prevent that." 

Best for young kittens

Available without a prescription, Capstar is the only flea control product safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks and weighing at least 2 pounds. Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and sometimes older to be treated with other topical or oral flea control products. 

With heavily infested cats, especially young kittens, it's important to eliminate fleas as quickly as possible. The active ingredient in Capstar, nitenpyram, works within 30 minutes and kills more than 90% of adult fleas in as little as six hours.

Capstar only protects against fleas for 24 hours, but it is safe to give daily if necessary. Since giving a cat a pill every day can be inconvenient, pet owners should follow up with one of the best flea treatments for cats that provides long-term flea control once their cat is old enough.

What to look for in flea and tick treatments for cats

When shopping for the best flea and tick treatments for cats, you can evaluate products using the same standards I applied to the top picks in this guide. As always, it's best to talk to your veterinarian before beginning any treatment.

Safety and efficacy: A cat flea and tick medicine should be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If you want to verify that a product is approved, you can search the Animal Drugs @ FDA database to verify FDA approval. For drugs that aren't FDA approved, you'll want to check the EPA's Pesticide Product and Label System since the organization regulates some flea and tick treatments containing pesticides.

Number of parasites treated: Flea preventives that treat additional parasites are ideal. Generally, the more parasites a preventive product covers, the higher I rated it. Among my recommendations, the exceptions are Capstar, the only treatment available for kittens younger than 8 weeks, and Frontline Plus, which treats fleas, ticks, and lice.

Ease of use: Look for products that are easy to use. When comparing two similar products, the easiest one to apply may be your best bet. For instance, I ranked products lower if a person must wear gloves to apply the treatment or if children and pets must be kept away from the treated animal for a specified time.

Minimum age and weight: Cats must be above a minimum age and weight to use flea medications. For this reason, there are fewer options for young kittens.

Prescription vs. OTC: Some flea control products are available over the counter, while a veterinarian must prescribe other products. Prescription flea control products are usually more expensive than OTC options because they protect against more parasites, most importantly, deadly heartworms. 

There is no treatment for cats with adult heartworms, and they will eventually die from the infection. Veterinarians recommend using a year-round heartworm preventive for all cats, whether they live indoors or out. They also recommend year-round intestinal parasite prevention. For these reasons, prescription flea control products that prevent heartworms and other parasites are best. The more parasites you can prevent with one treatment, the better off your cat will be. 

You can purchase prescription medicines from your vet or at online pet stores like Chewy, Petco, and Petsmart.

Types of flea and tick medications: There are various medications, including topical, oral, collars, shampoos, and sprays. They vary by cost, convenience, ease of use, and effectiveness. Your vet can help you choose the best flea and tick medicine for your cat.

• Topical preventives, often called "spot-on," kill fleas and prevent flea infestations.
• Oral flea control products, or "flea pills," are given to a cat by mouth to kill fleas and prevent fleas. 
• Flea collars deliver medication to a cat's skin and coat. 
• Flea sprays are applied to the skin and coat. My experts do not recommend them because topical and oral products are more effective. 
• Flea shampoos kill fleas that are currently on your cat, but topical and oral flea control products are far more effective. Some flea shampoos are even harmful to cats since many contain pyrethrins.  "Nowadays, flea shampoos are rarely if ever needed because the topical and oral flea products are much more effective and safer," Sawyer says. "For flea-infested animals, we typically give a fast-acting oral product such as nitenpyram [Capstar] and follow with a bath in Dawn dish detergent or another mild cat shampoo. You can use a flea comb to assist in removing dead fleas and flea dirt [flea feces]."

Natural vs. synthetic: The veterinarians I spoke with do not recommend natural products, as they do not work nearly as well as topical and oral flea control products. "They are just not proven to be really effective," Bourgeois says. "My biggest concern with natural products is, even if they're safe, if they're not effective, that's not helping our pets." If you're considering using natural flea control products that contain essential oils, exercise caution because some essential oils can be toxic to cats.

How we selected the best flea and tick treatments for cats

To find the best flea and tick treatments for cats, I referred to the quick product reference guide published by the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council. This handy reference includes all FDA- and EPA-approved parasite control products for small animals. It lists each product's active ingredients, how to use the product, and which parasites it controls.

For additional expertise on preventing and treating fleas in cats, I consulted with four veterinarians: Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist with the Animal Dermatology Clinic in Portland, Oregon; Dr. Herman Jeffer, a veterinarian with Cornwallis Road Animal Hospital in Durham, North Carolina; Dr. Keith Harper, a veterinarian at Hayward Veterinary Hospital in Hayward, California; and Dr. Colleen Sawyer, a veterinarian with Rolesville Veterinary Hospital in Rolesville, North Carolina. These experts did not specifically endorse any of the products included in this guide unless explicitly mentioned.

Cat flea treatment FAQs

Which flea and tick treatment is best for cats?

Veterinarians say topical and oral flea treatments are the most effective and easy to use. The best flea control product for your cat will depend on several factors, including their age, weight, and preexisting health issues. Topical preventives are great for both killing fleas and preventing flea infestations. They are usually applied to the skin in one spot on the back of the neck once a month. They spread across the entire body as they dry, leaving no residue. Oral flea control products are given to your cat by mouth to kill fleas. Some pills kill fleas for up to a month; others require more frequent application to continue killing fleas, as often as once a day.

Is Frontline or Advantage a better flea treatment for cats?

Frontline and Advantage both make two different topical flea control products. Frontline Plus, Frontline Gold, and Advantage II are available over the counter, while Advantage Multi requires a prescription from your vet. Frontline Plus is my OTC recommendation; it kills fleas at all life stages and protects against chewing lice and ticks. Frontline Gold protects against the same parasites as Plus and works faster but is significantly more expensive. Advantage II lost out to Frontline Plus because it does not kill ticks and may require more frequent applications to eliminate severe infestations. Advantage Multi does not kill ticks, but it prevents heartworms and treats and controls roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites. However, Revolution Plus is my top pick for treating worms, fleas, and ticks due to its easier application.

How can you tell if your cat has fleas?

Although outdoor cats are more likely to pick up fleas, indoor cats can get them when they go to the veterinarian or a boarding facility or when the family dog has them. Fleas can even hitch a ride indoors on your clothes or shoes.  Signs of fleas in cats include scratching, skin irritation, and the presence of dark red or black specks on your cat's skin, fur, bedding, or furniture. These specks, about the size of grains of black pepper, are called "flea dirt" and are flea feces (or digested blood). To check your cat for fleas or flea dirt, run a flea comb through your cat's coat or part the hair with your fingers to examine the skin. If you find live or dead fleas or flea dirt, your cat has a flea infestation.

How harmful are cat fleas?

A severe infestation can seriously damage a cat's skin, induce an allergic reaction, or cause anemia from blood loss. Fleas can also spread parasites like tapeworms and may transmit diseases.

Why are some flea products dangerous to cats?

Never use a product on a cat if it is labeled only for dogs. Some ingredients that are well-tolerated by dogs can be toxic to cats. "Anything with a permethrin, also known as pyrethrin, should never be used on a cat," Sawyer says. "[Cats] are very sensitive to pyrethrins and can have significant neurologic side effects, even death. Never use a product labeled for a dog on a cat as it may have pyrethrins in it even if not exclusively mentioned on the label."  

Is Seresto harmful to cats?

In March 2021, USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting published a report alleging that the Seresto flea collar is linked to thousands of adverse incidents in pets and humans. Elanco published a statement defending the collar's safety and efficacy. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Pet Poison Hotline followed suit. The EPA recommends pet owners read the entire label before using any flea collar and follow all directions carefully. Your veterinarian can provide additional safety guidance. If your pet has an adverse reaction, immediately remove the collar and call your veterinarian. Tim Carroll, EPA's press secretary, advises pet owners to contact the  National Pesticide Information Center and report adverse reactions to the EPA.