This is the season for prudence! Whether your cat prefers the indoors, the outdoors, or both, ticks and fleas must be avoided. Ticks can transmit the plague and cat scratch fever, while fleas can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and a variety of other ailments.
If your cat has been bitten by a tick or flea, he or she will most likely exhibit itching, rashes, and extreme discomfort. There are many products available to help prevent and treat this problem, but a cat parent must utilize them correctly.
The majority of products are not suitable for kittens, cats under a specific weight, or pregnant cats. Cats with sensitive skin may also respond negatively to products. Before you start looking, there are a few factors you should keep in mind that will help you decide what to use on your cat.
What You Should Know Before Buying Flea and Tick Treatment
1. Suggestions from Your Veterinarian
You should talk to your pet’s veterinarian about your alternatives. This way, you can be sure it’s the safest option for your cat. So, if you’re thinking about getting a cat flea collar, ask your vet for recommendations—some collars include substances that are poisonous, even lethal, to cats.
2. Your Cat’s Age
Many products recommend that your cat be at least 8 weeks old before beginning any type of tick and flea prevention for cats. Young kittens can be harmed by products designed for older cats.
3. Health of Your Cat
Some products can aggravate existing health issues. If your pet has a known beef or chicken allergy—which is uncommon but can occur in cats—an oral pill may not be the best option because they are all typically based on beef or chicken. On the other hand, if your pet has sensitive skin or asthma, you should avoid using a topical product that would irritate their skin and respiratory system even more.
4. Weight of Your Cat
The most common toxicities are to provide a product intended for a larger animal to a smaller animal. This is yet another reason why you should use a vet-recommended flea treatment on your cat.
5. Type of Targeted Parasite(s)
You should ideally choose a treatment that kills both fleas and ticks. However, some products, particularly those designed for cats, only treat fleas. So, instead of making assumptions, read the label.
[Also Read] When is Flea and Tick Season in USA
6. Your Cat Habits and Personality
Some cats are more easygoing than others, while others are far more fastidious. If delivering a pill to your cat, no matter how skillfully disguised, is your notion of torture, then avoid oral tablets and go for topical therapy or cat flea collars instead. If your cat is an indoor-outdoor cat, you might consider putting a flea and tick collar on them for extra protection.
7. Your Individual Preferences
Yes, your needs do matter when it comes to selecting the finest flea and tick treatment for your cat. Of course, you’ll want to think about the expense. And how simple it is to apply the treatment to your cat—topical’s can be messy and, if applied incorrectly, may not perform as effectively as a tablet. Also, some products stay longer than others, so if memory is not your strong suit, you may want to consider treatments that last for several months. If you have extremely small children, you should avoid using a cat flea collar. Small children can remove the collar and insert it into their mouth.
Are you ready to shop treatments for your cat? Allow us to assist you in making the best choice for your cat. Learn about the various types of flea and tick prevention for your cat described below.
Spot-on Flea And Tick Treatments For Cats
Topical flea and tick products are most usually connected with new flea and tick products, but other treatments, such as antibiotic creams and ointments for wound care, are also available.
Some topical products come with an applicator to make application easier. The solution in flea and tick treatments is absorbed by the skin and enters the bloodstream after being administered to the skin. It is then disseminated throughout the body. Topical treatment is easy to administer, but it does need your pet to sit still for a short period of time. The solution must be kept in an area where the cat will not be able to lick it. The best option for flea and tick treatments is to apply the treatment to the skin between the shoulder blades.
1. Revolution Plus For Cats
Revolution plus is a safe and effective flea killer that also kills ticks, heartworms, ear mites, and intestinal parasites. As a result, it is a popular choice among cat owners who want to protect their cats against as many parasites as possible.
Revolution Plus contains a little amount of alcohol-based liquid that is applied to the back of your cat’s neck once a month. It isn’t oily and has no odor. As with any spot-on or topical flea treatment, some cats don’t like the feeling of the alcohol on their skin, and some cats experience hair loss in the region where the product is applied. You should also wait for the product to dry before touching your cat in that region, but other than those monthly application restrictions, you shouldn’t have to worry about fleas for the rest of the time.
2. Bravecto Spot-on For Cats
Bravecto is a spot-on treatment that is applied to the back of your cat’s neck, similar to Revolution Plus. It protects against fleas and ticks for up to three months with just one treatment. If you also want heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention, there’s a Bravecto Plus alternative (view Bravecto Plus for Cats), however, it only lasts two months instead of three. Bravecto solutions make it simple to deliver safe and effective flea prevention to cats without the need for a monthly application in either case.
3. Broadline Spot-on For Cats
Broadline Spot-On from Boehringer Ingelheim (Merial) is an all-in-one treatment for fleas, ticks, biting lice, tapeworms, and heartworms that protect your cats from both internal and external parasites. The topical application is effective against cestodes, nematodes, and ectoparasites in mixed infestations. It keeps flea eggs from developing and tick infestations at bay. Broadline Spot-On kills fleas in 24 hours and ticks in 48 hours after application. Furthermore, the spot-on not only kills but also prevents flea and tick infestations. Over the course of a month, the clinically established treatment eliminates adult fleas as well as their immature stages.
Oral Flea and Tick Treatments for Cats
Oral flea treatments are less popular for cats, but they can be quite useful if you have small children and are concerned about them scratching your cat’s coat after applying a topical flea treatment.
In addition, unlike topical therapies, the efficacy of a tablet is unaffected by wetness in your cat. Credelio (a safe and effective tablet for fleas and black-legged ticks), Comfortis (a month-long preventative), and Capstar are all oral flea treatments for cats (a 24-hour flea killer intended for one-off use). These oral treatments for cats are described below:
4. Credelio For Cats
Credelio for Cats has been proved to eliminate fleas safely and efficiently in cats 8 weeks and older, as well as provide protection against black-legged ticks in cats 6 months and older. Within 6 hours, this tasty chewable begins to destroy adult fleas. It eliminates more than 98 percent of fleas in 12 hours and 100 percent in 24 hours. According to a company announcement, it also provides fast-acting, persistent flea efficacy throughout the month in cats 8 weeks and older. Furthermore, this little tablet protects cats and kittens 6 months and older against black-legged ticks for one month.
5. Comfortis For Cats
Comfortis (Spinosad) is a flea treatment that is effective, safe, and fast-acting. For a month, it prevents and destroys flea infestations. Comfortis is used for three months to treat current infestations, and continuing administration acts to maintain insect prevention. These flea pills for cats are an excellent choice for effective flea elimination and prevention.
6. Capstar For Cats
Capstar (Nitenpyram) is a flea treatment for cats that works quickly and effectively. It starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of administering the tablets, providing excellent flea control. The tablets, when taken orally, cause fleas to die within half an hour and kill 100 percent of fleas within seven hours. The tablets are easy to use, odorless, and offer flea protection without causing irritation.
Collars for Flea and Tick Prevention for Cats
Not only do the finest flea collars for cats protect your cat from those bothersome non-flying parasites, but they also provide you peace of mind that your home isn’t likely to be invaded.
Chemical collars are quite effective and widely used. They work by releasing a constant supply of flea and tick repellant chemicals onto your cat’s skin. The chemicals are then disseminated through your cats’ natural oils, which keeps parasites at bay while also killing any pests that have already landed.
7. Bayopet Flea And Tick Treatment For Cats
Bayopet Tick and Flea Collar is an excellent topical flea and tick repellent for cats. Ticks and fleas are eliminated after 24 hours of wearing the collar. The comfortable tick collar keeps fleas at bay for 16 weeks and ticks at bay for 10 weeks. The collar provides a wide range of safety while causing no long-term skin discomfort.
8. Seresto Flea And Tick Treatment For Cats
The Bayer Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Cats is suitable for10 weeks and older cats. It provides continuous flea and tick control for 8 months. The Seresto collar repels fleas and ticks while killing them on contact, so they don’t need to bite your cat to die. Seresto cat collars have an 8-month formula that ensures your cat’s skin and coat is protected for long term. The non-greasy, odorless collar is simple to put on and can be used in conjunction with other identification collars. Seresto provides strong protection without the bother of messy monthly treatments.
Spray for Flea and Tick Prevention for Cats
A spray can also protect your cat, especially if you use a flea prevention shampoo. Sprays should only be used on rare occasions, according to our vet’s recommendations.
These can be non-toxic and safe for your cat as well as your family. They can also be used on your cat’s bedding. Spray the formula all over the cat; avoiding the eyes, nose, mouth and massage it in.
9. Frontline Spray
Frontline Spray is an excellent flea and tick treatment for cats. It shields cats from flea and tick infestations. It eliminates fleas and ticks while also preventing new flea infestations. Frontline spray kills newly emerging fleas and prevents flea infestations. It alleviates flea allergic dermatitis in cats. The topical solution is easier to use and lasts for a full month. Frontline Spray is safe to use on kittens beyond the age of two days.
Further Reading
Always use a product designed for cats, whether it’s a topical, pill, collar, or spray. Some dog products are toxic to cats, while others are ineffective. The majority of products are not suitable for kittens, cats under a specific weight, or pregnant cats. Cats with sensitive skin may also respond negatively to products. Before deciding on the type of protection for your cat, consult with your veterinarian.
