Looking for the best flea treatment for your cat? Well, you’re in the right place!
In this Pest Strategies guide you’ll learn:
- Our 4 favorite cat treatments (and our #1 pick)
- The stages of the cat flea life cycle
- If flea treatments are toxic to cats
- What to do if your cat has sensitive skin
- Some quick flea removal tips and our full review of each product
Click here to skip our recommended pick!
Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management. He manages Pest Strategies now helping homeowners around the world!
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Advantage II Flea Control Treatment for Cats
Features
- Kills fleas in every stage of their life cycle on contact
- Kills adult fleas within 12 hours
- Waterproof
Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
Features
- Kills adult fleas, flea larvae, and ticks
- Lasts up to 8 months
- Waterproof
Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats
Features
- Works fast, within 30 minutes
- Convenient tablets
- Can be used together with other flea treatments
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray for Cats
Features
- Easy to apply, just spray and massage
- Natural ingredients, safe to use indoors
- Can be used directly on your cat
Table Of Contents
Top 4 Best Flea Treatment for Cats
Short on time? Check out below for our short list of recommended cat treatment products. Continue reading if you want to learn more!
How Do Cats Get Fleas?
This is what I wondered when I first saw a flea scurry across his belly one day while he was napping in the sun.
It can be difficult to notice fleas on cats because they are so good at taking care of their personal hygiene on their own…
To check if your cat has fleas, you can wipe a white damp cloth over its fur and close to its skin to look for flea “dirt.”
Flea dirt is actually the feces of fleas, which is the digested blood they’ve eaten from your cat. If you see red-colored streaks on the white cloth after you wipe your cat’s skin, your cat has fleas. You’ll need to treat the flea problem your cat has as soon as you can.
When a cat ingests a flea, they can get tapeworms and flea bites can cause horrible skin diseases and allergies. For small cats, anemia can develop from blood loss.
This is aside from the fact that fleas on your cat cat spread throughout your home.
That being said, let’s make sure you get the right treatments for your cats to prevent any kind of flea infestations!
What are the stages of the cat flea life cycle?
Once you have determined there is a flea problem, it is important to understand the flea life cycle so that you can truly tackle the issue head on. Surprisingly, adult fleas only represent about 5% of the population of fleas. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, so you can only imagine how many eggs are laid over just a few days.
Most of the eggs fall off of your cat where he sleeps and plays in bedding and carpeting. Eggs can also hide between wooden floor crevices. There, the eggs hatch and larvae appear. The larvae then create cocoons and may not emerge from them as adults until two years later.
When you treat your cat for fleas, you need to treat your home and surroundings as well, and you’ll need to make sure you target all stages of the flea life cycle.
When treating your home for fleas from your cat, include:
- Bedding
- Carpeting
- Baseboards
- Outside yard areas
- Windows and curtains
- Furniture
- And cat trees and play areas
Further Reading
Curious about other cat related products? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems.
What flea treatment is toxic to cats?
Possible flea treatments for cats include sprays, collars, powders, topical solutions, and oral medications. Many of these same treatments are also available for dogs. It’s critical to understand that just because a certain flea treatment works on a dog, doesn’t mean it is safe for a cat. There are many formulas for dogs that are toxic for cats and can cause death. When you are selecting a flea treatment for cats, be sure the label clearly states that the product is safe for use on cats.
Some people try natural and essential oils to treat fleas on cats. This is also dangerous because even some natural plants can be harmful to your cat. Check with your veterinarian before trying any natural home remedies for cat fleas to make sure they are safe.
Some known toxic chemicals for cats are permethrin, tea tree oil, peppermint, cedar oil, and lavender. These products cause your cat’s liver and kidneys to work overtime trying to break these chemicals down. Ultimately, these ingredients can cause liver and kidney failure in your cat!
Another concern for cat flea treatment is making sure you only use the amount necessary for your cat’s weight. Always read the packaging instructions for any product you use to determine the proper and safe dosage for the size of your cat.
What is a good flea treatment for cats with sensitive skin?
For cats with sensitive skin, cat flea pills, flea collars, and natural powders may be good choices. Cat flea pills are administered orally, and the pills typically kill fleas quickly, but you have to give them to your cat on a daily basis.
Flea collars for cats might be a good option because the collar releases the active ingredients slowly, over time. These collars may be best for cats who are already familiar with wearing collars, but if they aren’t, they’ll get used to the feeling of a collar in a few weeks.
Natural cat powders may provide relief from fleas without negative skin side effects. Look for a natural powder that you can sprinkle and brush into your cat. The extra brushing may help with any skin issues by removing dead skin cells and fur.
With any flea product that needs to be applied to your cat’s skin, it is always best to do a very small spot test first. Apply a small amount to the skin and wait a few hours to see if there is any reaction. This should be done for all products, because even well-known ingredients can cause allergic reactions for some cats.
How to get rid of cat fleas in the house?
One of the best things you can do to get rid of fleas around your home is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Flea eggs and flea dirt fall into your carpet and larvae feed on the flea dirt. The sooner you can vacuum everything into a bag and get rid of it, the better. When the fleas are in the pupae stage, it is a little more difficult to vacuum them because their cocoons are sticky.
Start by completely treating your cat and making sure all adult fleas have been killed. Use can use a fine-toothed flea comb to check that you’ve gotten them all. Next, you can either use a flea fogger for a large infestation, or a spray on certain areas.
When selecting which products to use, check to see if it kills adult fleas only or if it kills fleas throughout their entire life cycle.
While you are treating your home, you can also apply Diatomaceous Earth (DE) to your yard if you have an outdoor cat. It is also safe to use indoors on carpets, but you should wear a mask when you are applying it. Make sure you get food grade DE and not the type that is for your swimming pool.
Finally, be sure to wash and dry any linens, towels, mats, or curtains that can be laundered on high heat to kill remaining fleas.
Cat Flea Treatment Reviews
Here are a few of the best options for cat flea treatment available on the market right now.
Related Articles
Advantage II Flea Control Treatment for Cats
Advantage is a topical solution that is applied to the back of your cat’s neck once per month. The largest benefit is that it kills adult fleas, larvae, and eggs, though you will probably still need to treat areas of your home. You can either use a fogger or a flea spray for spot treatments.
This product is strong so you should apply it outside and let it dry before letting your cat come inside. Be sure to apply it where your cat can’t reach to lick it.
The Good And The Bad
- Kills fleas in every stage of their life cycle on contact
- Kills adult fleas within 12 hours
- Waterproof
- Good for cats and kittens 8 weeks of age and older
- Some cats may have reactions to the formula. Test a small area before applying the product fully
- Strong odor
Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
Applying sprays and topical solutions to some cats can be tricky. They either fight to run away or immediately begin licking and cleaning themselves. The Bayer Seresto flea collar may be a good option for these types of cats.
The collar is odorless and not greasy, and it even comes with a safety release feature if your cat gets caught up on something.
The Good And The Bad
- Kills adult fleas, flea larvae, and ticks
- Lasts up to 8 months
- Waterproof
- Just one application, no monthly treatments necessary
- Some cats could experience itching and hair loss at the site of the collar for a few weeks
- May take some cats time to get used to wearing a collar if they haven’t worn one before
Vet's Best Flea and Tick Spray for Cats
This flea and tick spray from Vet’s Best kills pests while keeping your home free from harmful chemical insecticides. A combination of certified, natural oils kills fleas and ticks on contact. And it can be used safely on most surfaces around your home.
The secret is in the plant-based formula. It’s blended with certified, natural essential oils to be gentle but effective. It’s safe to use indoors, and it won’t harm the environment.
You can spray it on surfaces, such as:
- Baseboards
- Rugs
- Pet bedding
- Upholstery
And it’s even safe enough to spray directly onto your cat. It works best between the toes and armpit areas. After spraying, gently massage into the fur. The fresh scent will leave your cat smelling great for days afterward.
The Good And The Bad
- Easy to apply, just spray and massage
- Natural ingredients, safe to use indoors
- Can be used directly on your cat
- Made in the USA
- Natural ingredients sometimes take longer to work
- Not as long-lasting as pyrethrin sprays
Capstar Oral Flea Treatment for Cats
If your cat has fleas, one of the quickest ways to get rid of them is with Capstar’s Oral Flea Treatment. One tablet starts working within 30 minutes. And 90% of the fleas will be gone within four to six hours. Also, it’s safe enough to administer another dose after 24 hours if needed.
These tablets give you the convenience of oral flea medication for your cat without a prescription. Capstar is labeled for cats, kittens, and dogs. But it should not be given to pets that are younger than four weeks.
Capstar can be administered directly in your cat’s mouth. But sometimes it’s easier to hide it in their favorite food. Either way, it’s safe to use in conjunction with other flea treatments. Just be sure to check with your veterinarian first.
The Good And The Bad
- Works fast, within 30 minutes
- Convenient tablets
- Can be used together with other flea treatments
- No prescription needed, but be sure to read the label carefully
- Your cat may display some nervousness as the flea infestation rapidly dies off
- There are some rare but serious side effects, so it's best to talk to your vet before administering