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How to Find Ticks on Cats

Can You Use Essential Oils on Cats for Fleas and Ticks?

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As our vets’ favorite flea and tick prevention for cats, Revolution® Plus covers just about every parasite that can harm your feline: fleas, ticks,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_heartworm_disease">heartworms</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_ear_mites">ear mites</a>, and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/hookworms-cats">hookworms</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/roundworms-cats">roundworms</a>. The top-rated cat flea treatment is applied topically every month to cats at least 8 weeks old and 2.8 pounds. Talk to your veterinarian about whether your cat can be prescribed this medication, as&nbsp;it might not be safe for <a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/symptoms/seizures-cats">felines with a history of seizures</a>.

Revolution® Plus Topical Solution

Credelio™ is a monthly chewable tablet that prevents adult fleas and ticks from biting your cat. Formulated to taste like yummy vanilla and yeast, the chew is typically appealing to most cats, even <a href="https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/cat/dr-coates/2015/september/feeding-finicky-cat-33206">ones that are picky eaters</a>. This medication might not be a good fit if your cat has a history of seizures, and your cat must be at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2 pounds to safely take it.

Credelio™ Chewable Tablets

This recommended cat flea treatment is a topical medication that covers nearly every parasite your pet can come into contact with, except ticks. If your cat is at low risk of encountering ticks, Advantage Multi® may be a good fit. This medication is suitable for cats that are at least 9 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds or more.

Advantage Multi® Topical Solution

For felines that prefer to not be touched (or for pet parents who have a hard time remembering monthly preventatives), our vets recommend Bravecto™ as the best flea and tick treatment for cats. Each dose of this topical medication offers flea and tick protection for three months, but it doesn’t provide protection against other parasites such as heartworms or mites. Cats need to be a little older to take this preventative—at least 6 months old and 2.6 pounds or more.

Bravecto™ Topical Solution

This medication protects cats against fleas, intestinal parasites, heartworms, and ear mites. While Revolt® doesn’t offer tick protection, our vets recommend it as a budget-friendly product for pet parents of indoor-only cats. Make sure your cat is at least 8 weeks old and weighs at least 5 pounds before giving them this medication.

Revolt® Topical Solution

A good cat flea treatment that’s easy on your wallet.

The Seresto® cat collar protects cats against fleas and ticks, and it’s effective for up to eight months. Seresto® is also a good choice for budget-conscious pet parents—the collar costs $68, which comes out to about $9 per month at the date of publication. Keep in mind the collar doesn’t offer protection against other parasites, such as heartworms.

Seresto® Cat Collar

No prescription needed for eight-month protection.

If you’re actively&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/flea-infestation-guide-how-kill-and-get-rid-fleas">fighting a flea infestation in your home</a>, Capstar® is a go-to flea treatment product. The oral tablet starts killing fleas within 30 minutes, and it can be given every 24 hours until the infestation is under control. But note that&nbsp;this is not a preventative medication, and it should only be used if your kitty is already crawling with fleas. Your cat needs to be at least 4 weeks old and 2 pounds to take this product.

Capstar® Oral Treatment

Kittens are particularly vulnerable to bloodsuckers and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/c_ct_anemia_iron_deficiency">can become anemic</a>&nbsp;during bad infestations. Revolution® offers great coverage in very young, very tiny kittens—it’s formulated specifically for kittens 8 weeks of age and older that are less than 5 pounds, with no weight minimum. This flea and tick medication for cats also protects against ear mites, heartworms, and intestinal parasites.

Revolution® Topical Solution for Kittens

Great protection for very young, very small cats.

For moderate infestations, Advantage™ shampoo may come in handy. But pet parents should know that flea and tick shampoos are not an effective treatment against fleas and ticks alone, and they won’t offer protection from future parasites. Your cat should always be on a preventative medication to keep parasites at bay. Talk to your veterinarian about whether flea and tick shampoos are useful in your situation.

Advantage™ Flea and Tick Shampoo for Cats

Kills fleas on contact, but it shouldn’t be relied on alone.

The 9 Best Flea and Tick Medications for Cats in 2024, Recommended by Vets

The product reviews in this article are compiled from feedback provided by a panel of veterinarians that are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD. 
 
Veterinarians are asked to provide honest reviews of the products based on their knowledge and practical experience and review information published by the manufacturer. The opinions expressed are their own and not reflective of Chewy. Manufacturers cannot pay to be included in Vet Verified, and product reviews are never made available to manufacturers before publication. Similarly, the veterinary review panel does not receive any external compensation of any type for their review. Product links are to Chewy’s website where the product can be purchased.

Flea and ticks are year-round parasites, so it’s important to keep your cat safe with the proper preventatives. Here are the best flea and tick medications for cats, approved by vets.

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