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Flea treatments for fleas are not a “one-and-done” experience. Not only do you have to use flea medication year-round, but you need to treat the entire household. So, now we know which flea treatment you should never give to cats; let's look at those that are safest. Assessing the safest flea treatment for cats is difficult. We looked at the datasheets to discover the side effects for each of the common active ingredients in flea treatments for cats:
Of course, when in doubt, it’s best to consult your veterinarian, who can provide you with personalised advice about your pet's needs. They'll be able to help with ways to prevent fleas and how to treat sore skin from flea bites. They can also help you decide whether flea medicines vs. collars are the best prevention course for your feline. CAPSTAR tablets start killing fleas in 30 minutes and achieve greater than 90 percent effectiveness within six hours. In addition to its fast-acting effectiveness, one of the big advantages to CAPSTAR Fast-Acting Oral Fela Treatment for Cats is that its dosing doesn't change depending on your cat's size, as is the case with a lot of topical treatments. Instead, CAPSTAR will work for any cat or kitten more than two pounds and over four weeks old. Until recently, flea collars were not recommended for cats. They simply didn’t work—plus, cats seemed to hate wearing them. That all changed with the release of the Seresto collar, made by Bayer.
Cats are much more sensitive to medications than some other species (such as dogs), so you should not assume that if you can use it on your dog, you can use it on your cat. Many cats have died from this misconception. It does require a prescription from your veterinarian, but is a safe and effective option for your young cat. Some ingredients are simply not safe to use as flea treatments in cats. Products specifically designed for dogs are sometimes dangerous to use in cats but even some products labeled or marketed for cats can be harmful. Untreated pets are at risk of flea infestations. For every adult flea you can see, there are many more eggs, larvae and pupae hidden away in your home, waiting to develop, breed and spread. Around 95% of any flea population exists in immature stages in your home - hidden away in your carpets, bedding and upholstery. So, if you discover fleas on your pet, you may need to treat your home too.
Avoid using pyrethroids in cats as they can be toxic. These are more commonly found in some dog flea treatment products, but are still occasionally seen in cat products. Pyrethrins and permethrin products can also be dangerous to use in cats, but each cat has a different level of sensitivity. One cat may have a seizure from one drop of a pyrethrin or permethrin product while another may have no problem at all. Delivery Method Not all flea treatments work well with cats, especially because they are very sensitive to certain chemicals (including some often found in flea treatment shampoos). Using vetted, cat-specific treatments is key to maintaining you cat's health while getting rid of their flea problem. We evaluated products for reliability, safety, and ease of use.
Nitenpyram (tablet) – hyperactivity, panting, excessive grooming, yowling, and itchiness lasting less than an hour (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated), muscle tremors, wobbliness, and seizures (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated).
It works within 24 hours, and the fleas do not even need to bite your cat to be killed. Topical Products Flumethrin/imidacloprid(flea collar) – temporary itchiness, redness and hair loss (less than 1 in 100 cats), eczema, inflammation and skin lesions (less than 1 in 1000 cats), change of food intake, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea (less than 1 in 1000 cats). Some people prefer oral products for cats because there is no residual medication left on your cat’s coat. Each product has its own pros and cons, so you should consult with a veterinarian who knows your cat’s medical history to find the best option for flea medication. Oral Flea Treatment ProductsWhile you may be thinking that this isn’t a flea shampoo, the truth is that shampoos designed to kill fleas can be very dangerous to cats. Even shampoos labeled as “all-natural” often contain oils that can be toxic or harmful to cats and the traditional flea shampoos contain pyrethrins which can be extremely dangerous. Dawn Ultra dish detergent is safe for animals, as many people may already know from advertisements that show wildlife being bathed with the soap. It's effective in killing fleas, and also in getting your cat clean. As a bonus, many homes already have a bottle of it under the kitchen sink.
Injectable flea preventatives are usually only administered by veterinarians so taking your cat to the vet is all that is required of you for that option. The active ingredient in CAPSTAR—nitenpyram—has been extensively studied and found to be both safe and effective (in most cases, even more effective than CAPSTAR's 90 percent claim). Side effects are rare, but you should monitor your cat for 24 hours after dosing, watching out for symptoms like hyperactivity, panting, lethargy, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, salivation, seizures, and pupil dilation. It is important to remember, however, that for every LIVE flea that you find, there are up to 10,000 more “fleas in waiting” in the environment, and they come in the form of eggs, larvae, and pupae waiting to feed.Individual pets may react differently, or the side effects may be more debilitating on top of other illnesses your pet may have. Since pyrethrins, permethroids, and pyrethroids can be dangerous to cats, look for other, safer active ingredients in the flea treatment you choose. Some ingredients to look for include imidacloprid, fipronil, indoxacarb, dinotefuran, spinetoram, fluralaner, spinosad, nitenpyram, lufenuron, methoprene, or pyriproxyfen. Most cat owners that use preventatives use spot-ons because they are easy to use and last a good amount of time but if your cat will take a treat, oral products may be a good option, too. Collars are easy to place on a cat that will allow them but as previously discussed, concerns surround the use of flea collars. We've only looked at one or two examples of each active ingredient to compile this list. There are many different brand names for some active ingredients that may have other side effects. Kittens are extra sensitive so not all flea treatments are safe to use on baby cats. Our favorite overall flea treatment for cats—Revolution Plus Topical—is also available in a size appropriate for cats between 2.8 and 5.5 pounds. It can be used with kittens over the age of 8 weeks. Look for the gold box.
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