Seresto Flea And Tick Collar
Seresto is one of the leading brands that design the best flea collars for cats. This particular one can last up to 8 months without any major issues.
This anti-flea collar works through contact. This means that fleas and ticks dont have to bite your pet for them to die because of this collar. Mere contact is enough for the fleas and ticks to die.
It is convenient, non-greasy, and odorless. It doesnt irritate your cat at all. Also, this one is highly recommended by veterinarians as well. Once invested in, be rest assured that your pet wont have to go for any messy monthly flea-treatments.
The best part is that it starts to repel and kill fleas and other pests within just 24 hours of wearing it. This makes it one of the best flea and tick collars for cats.
Key Features
Best Area Spray: Virbac Knockout Area Treatment Spray
Chewy
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Kills more than just adult fleas
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Continues killing multiple flea life stages for several months after application
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Gets into hard-to-clean places in the home where fleas hide
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Must remove all pets and people from the home before using
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May need more than one bottle for multiple living spaces
If your cat has fleas, odds are your home also has them so youll need an effective area spray to treat your cats inside environment. The Virbac Knockout spray contains an insect growth regulator to kill not only the adult fleas but the eggs and larvae, too. It lasts in the home for up to four months to prevent future infestations, but is not meant to be applied to a cat or any other pet. Your pets should be removed from the house before spraying this aerosolized treatment spray. Once it dries, your pets can return to their space.
Revolution Plus offers the most complete parasite prevention in a single application. It lasts for one month, contains no pyrethrins, permethrins, or pyrethroids, and contains a small amount of quick-drying, alcohol-based liquid. Your cat will be protected from fleas, ticks, heartworms, ear mites, and intestinal parasites by simply applying Revolution Plus once a month.
If you have live fleas that you need to kill quickly, Comfortis is your best option since it works within 30 minutes, and this chewable tablet will then continue working for up to one month, just like Revolution Plus.
How To Check A Cat For Fleas
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 . Back when I worked in the veterinary hospital, I learned a handy trick to help find out if those little specks are regular dirt or flea dirt. Scoop some onto a damp paper towel. If the paper towel turns red, it’s flea dirt.
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 any live or dead fleas or flea dirt, your cat has a flea infestation.
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Best Topical: Bravecto Topical Solution For Cats
Chewy
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Only need to apply once every three months
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Scientifically-backed ingredient
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Protects from more than just fleas
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It’s easy to forget after three months to reapply
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Higher initial cost due to how long it lasts
Similar to Revolution Plus, Bravecto is a spot-on treatment that is applied to the back of your cats neck. It protects from fleas and ticks and one treatment lasts for up to three months. A Bravecto Plus option is also available if you would like heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention too , but it only lasts for two months instead of three. Either way, Bravecto products make it easy to provide safe and effective flea prevention to cats without the monthly application. This product also requires veterinary approval prior to purchasing.
Hartz Ultraguard Plus 2 Pack Flea & Tick Collar
The Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea and Tick Collar is another great option for getting rid of parasites. Not only does it kill fleas, ticks, lice, and other internal and external parasites, but it also removes all the flea larvae from your felines fur.
In addition to this, it also prevents existing flea eggs from hatching on your cats precious fur. This is what makes it one of the best flea collar for cats. It can last up to 7 months without any hassles and without bothering you. It is efficient and very effective in keeping your pet clean and safe.
The water-resistant design protects the collar from damage in case your cat gets wet. It has a fresh scent that is attractive and doesnt irritate either you or your cat. This collar can be used for all cats and kittens that are 12 weeks of age or older.
Key Features
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Sentry Flea & Tick Oatmeal Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo
This flea and tick shampoo from Sentry is meant for dogs with sensitive, dryer skin. Like Vets Best, this product can treat both fleas and ticks on contact, the brand says. Sentry says it conditions the skin as it effectively gets rid of fleas and ticks for up to 10 days . The pH-balanced formula can also kill the deer ticks that may carry Lyme disease, according to the brand. The formula contains permethrin, an insecticide that can be dangerous if swallowed or overused make sure to use the shampoo as directed and consult your veterinarian beforehand.
Some Flea Products Are Dangerous To Cats
Products labeled for use in dogs only should never be used on a cat. 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 said. ” 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.”
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Best Overall: Revolution Plus Topical Solution For Cats
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Protects from more than just fleas
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Some cats dislike how it feels
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May cause hair loss at application site
With not only safe and effective flea killing power, Revolution plus also kills or prevents heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites. It even kills or protects against ticks, targeting the three most common species, making it a useful tool in your arsenal during tick season.
Revolution Plus has a small amount of alcohol-based liquid which is administered monthly on the back of your cats neck. It isnt oily and doesnt smell. As with any spot-on or topical flea treatment, sometimes hair loss is noted in the area that the product is applied and some cats dont like the feeling of the alcohol on their skin.You also need to let the product dry before petting your cat in that area but aside from those quick, monthly application rules, you shouldnt have to worry about fleas the rest of the time.
Revolution Plus uses two active ingredientsselamectin and sarolanerboth of which are safe for use in cats, and have minimal side effects. When combined, the two antiparasitics are fast-acting, killing fleas within six hours and offering robust protection after 24. Revolution Plus should not be used in cats with nuerologic disorders.
A prescription is needed to purchase Revolution Plus. It is available in three different sizes, with different dosages depending upon your cat’s weight.
How Fleas Attach To Your Pet
Fleas can survive for up to two weeks without a host your pets can come in contact with them in backyards, dog parks and kennels, not to mention contracting them from another animal that has fleas. Once an adult female flea attaches to your pet, she can lay as many as 50 eggs per day and live up to 100 days . The female flea will start laying eggs within a day of attaching to your pet, Kratt said, and within two to 16 days, those eggs will hatch into larvae, which then grow into pupae this is the cocoon stage, the last developmental stage before the adult flea emerges.
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Best Oral: Comfortis Chewable Tablet
Chewy
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No topical application to have to let dry
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Good for cats that cannot tolerate topical products
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Lasts for one month
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May be difficult to get your cat to eat the tablet
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Does not protect against any other parasites
Flea prevention for up to one month in cats and kittens 14 weeks and older can be found in the chewable tablet option called Comfortis. This tablet works very quickly to kill fleas in as few as 30 minutes and can be crushed and mixed in your cats wet food if necessary. Its a great option for cats that dont tolerate spot-on or other topical treatments. It requires veterinary approval but for fast-acting and long-lasting flea protection, Comfortis fits the bill.
Why You Should Trust Me
As Wirecutters pets writer, Ive covered everything from essential oil myths to how to get rid of fleas. Im also a lifelong pet owner and a shelter volunteer with over a decade of experience whos dealt with her share of pets with fleas, ticks, and other pests.
For this guide, I spoke with six professionals, from veterinarians to pesticide experts, about how to select the best flea and tick treatment for your pet. I spoke with Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist at the National Pesticide Information Center, and Ken Labbe, a spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about pesticide regulation. I consulted Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, about how to select the appropriate medication for your pet. I asked Dr. Tierra Price, a spay-neuter surgeon and founder of the BlackDVM Network, and Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer at , about their favorite flea and tick medications. And I discussed product safety with Dr. Tina Wismer, senior director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
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How To Spot Fleas
Usually, the first sign of a fleaor other pestinfestation is your pet frequently and aggressively scratching. Also, keep your eyes open for flea dirt, small black flecks that youll see on the floor and furniture . If youre worried that your dog or cat might have fleas, check their fur using a flea comb, paying attention to the base of the neck near the shoulder blades, as well as the tail and tummy. Remove as many as you can before giving your pet a bath and treating them with flea and tick medication.
Fleas rise to the top of your pets fur when they die, so dont worry if you see their remains after applying treatment. But if you continue to see living fleas in your home, its possible that flea eggs existed before you started using flea medication. Some owners may also skip treatments, thinking their pet was in the clear. But if the fleas havent been completely eradicated, they can multiply again. So be sure to keep up your treatments for as long as your vet recommends.
People think because they dont see fleas, that their cats and dogs dont have fleas, Price said. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you discover fleas on your pet, you discover only 5% of the infestation, echoed Welser of Mars Veterinary Health. The other 95% is hiding throughout your home in the form of eggs, larvae, and pupas.
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The best way to prevent a flea infestation is to give your pet a flea preventative. But if the pests have already arrived, heres how to get rid of them.
Qu003cstrongu003e1 Why Should I Use A Flea Collar For My Catu003c/strongu003e
Such collars not only protect your cat from fleas and ticks, but they also act as preventive blankets so that the fleas dont return. Parasites and pests can lead to serious health concerns for your pets. Furthermore, cat flea collars are the cheapest way to get rid of flea and tick infestations, unlike other flea treatment methods that can hurt your budget.
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Can You Use Frontline Cat Flea Treatment On Dogs
Despite using the same active ingredients to treat both dogs and cats, it is not safe to use flea and tick FRONTLINE Plus for Cats on dogs. Different species of animals metabolize medication differently. As such, using the cat medication on your canine pal may result in severe illness. Do not use this or any other flea medication on rabbits, hamsters or guinea pigs. Consult your veterinarian for treatment options for your small mammals.
Use Natural Methods To Get Rid Of Fleas On Very Young Kittens
There are two ways to get rid of fleas on kittens that dont require the use of flea productsbathing and flea combing. But both treatments only get rid of the adult fleas living on your kitten. They wont prevent any new fleas living in the environment from getting on your kitten or other pets. So these methods are not long-term solutions but are safe for very young and small kittens that cant safely use flea products yet.
Heres how you can help with fleas naturally.
Use a Flea Comb
For very young kittensunder 8 weeksthe safest option is using a flea comb on them once or twice a day. This will allow you to physically remove the adult fleas without exposing your young kitten to potentially toxic ingredients in products.
Give Your Kitten a Bath
Bathing your kitten is another pretty safe and effective option to help your kitten get rid of fleas. Follow these safety tips:
Start a Topical Treatment When Your Kitten Is Old Enough
Once kittens are 8-10 weeks and over 1.5-2 pounds, they can safely receive appropriate topical flea treatments. These products not only kill fleas on your kitten but can prevent new fleas from hitching a ride on your pet.
There are numerous OTC and prescription options available for flea treatment that are safe and effective for kittens. If youre using an OTC product, remember to check all ingredients and be sure to use the right dose for your kittens weight.
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Why Trust The Spruce
Adrienne Kruzer is a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three states and has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a decade. She loves researching, learning, and problem solving in order to better help pet owners. Her years of working in various animal hospitals, alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes, have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge to benefit cat owners.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas According To Veterinarians
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In most parts of the country, temperatures are above the freezing point for the majority of the year. And unfortunately, fleas thrive in temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you need to be prepared for any potential infestations. Fleas very much enjoy kind of a hot, humid environment, said Dr. Douglas Kratt, a small-animal practitioner at Central Animal Hospital. Even in the winter, you arent totally out of the woods: According to pet care products giant Hartz, although fleas die off within five days in temperatures as low as 33 degrees Fahrenheit, the cold encourages these hardy little critters to make their way into your home, where its more comfortable for them.
The best way to get rid of fleas is to take steps to prevent them in the first place, but if youre dealing with a breakout, there are things you can do to clean your pet and your home. We spoke to veterinarians about the telltale signs of fleas, how to get rid of them and how to prevent them.
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How We Picked And Tested
To find the best flea and tick treatments, we spoke with six pet and pesticide experts about medications, side effects, active ingredients, and regulatory concerns. Our two veterinarians shared their personal product recommendations and shopping advice, which guided us in this review. They agreed that flea and tick treatments should both kill and protect against these bugs and work for at least 30 days. They also shared the favorite treatments they recommend to their own clients. We cross-referenced their advice with dozens of treatments sold across retailers like 1-800-PetMeds, Amazon, Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart, among others.
We categorized our search by orals/chews, topicals, collars, sprays, and shampoos. We dismissed sprays and shampoos because they offer protection for only days or a week at a time, and pet owners are more likely to misuse them compared with other products. That left us with eight brands of chews, topicals, and collars for cats or dogs. We selected the four brands that were highly recommended by our experts, that kill and protect against a wide range of pests, and that are sold across retailers at a variety of budgets.
Flea And Tick Species Effectiveness
There are hundreds of different species of fleas and ticks all across the globe. It is important to know what kind of species has infested your pet or what species are common in your area before you buy a collar.
Discuss with your veterinarian about the same. Ask about the types of species usually found in your area. When buying the collar, check whether it would be effective against those species.
The best flea collars for cats are those which are labeled with medicines as broad spectrum. They are usually effective against several species.
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