8 Best Flea and Tick Medications for Cats in 2025, Recommended by Vets

As our vets’ favorite flea and tick prevention for cats, Revolution Plus covers just about every parasite that can harm your feline: fleas (adult and larvae), ticks, heartworms, ear mites, and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, such as hookworms and roundworms.  

“This medication is a great one-stop shop,” says Stephanie Howe, DVM. 

A personal favorite among our panelists, it’s effective and user-friendly. “It is my favorite flea, tick, and heartworm prevention in cats because it is easy to apply and offers great protection,” says Jo Cornett, DVM. 

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 it might not be safe for felines with a history of seizures. 

Credelio is a monthly chewable tablet that treats flea and tick infestations. Fast-acting ingredients begin killing adult fleas within six hours, and it continues to protect against fleas for one month. It also provides monthly control of tick infestations in cats 6 months and older. 

Formulated to taste like yummy vanilla and yeast, the chew is typically appealing to most cats, even ones who are picky eaters.  

“Credelio can be a good option for cats who easily take treats, as it can be placed in a pill pocket, or sometimes cats will consume it with no wrap,” says Veronica Higgs, DVM, adding that it must be given with food or within 30 minutes of eating. 

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. 

This vet-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 might be a good fit. 

“This product is one of my favorites to use in cats,” says Dr. Cornett. “I usually recommend it for pet parents of totally indoor kitties who are not worried about coverage for ticks.” 

This popular topical offers 30 days of protection and treatment against a broad range of parasites, including adult fleas, ear mites, heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms.  

As a topical medication, which is applied to the back of your cat’s neck, Advantage Multi makes a great alternative to in-the-ear treatments for ear mites, as well as deworming medications given by mouth, says Molly Price, DVM. 

This medication is suitable for cats who are at least 9 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds or more. 

For felines who prefer not to be touched (or for pet parents who have a hard time remembering monthly preventives), 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 up to three months, but it doesn’t provide protection against other parasites, such as heartworms or mites.  

“This long-lasting product helps to prevent flea infestations for up to 12 weeks and is great for hard-to-catch cats who resist medication,” says Dr. Howe. 

If you have a hard time sticking to a medication schedule, Bravecto might be ideal, as consistent, year-round coverage is important. “I recommend it to pet parents who have trouble remembering to give flea medications each month,” adds Dr. Cornett.  

Cats need to be a little older to take this preventive—at least 6 months old and 2.6 pounds or more. 

The Seresto cat collar protects cats against fleas (adult fleas and larvae) and ticks, and it’s effective for up to eight months.  

Seresto is also a good choice for budget-conscious pet parents—as of the date of publication, the collar costs $60, which comes out to less than $8 per month.  

“This is a great product for pet parents on a budget who do not want a prescription and are looking for long-lasting protection against fleas and ticks,” says Dr. Cornett.  

For cats wary of medication, Seresto might be a good option. “The Seresto collar is a great choice for a cat who does not tolerate handling, topical medications, or oral medications,” says Dr. Price. 

Keep in mind the collar doesn’t offer protection against other parasites, such as heartworms, and it should be used only on cats at least 10 weeks old.  

If you’re actively fighting a flea infestation in your home, Capstar is a go-to flea treatment product. The oral tablet starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes, and it can be given every 24 hours until the infestation is under control.  

“This product is best for pet parents looking for help getting a flea infestation under control,” says Dr. Cornett. “I would use this over others, because it can be used daily, starts to work in 30 minutes, does not need a prescription, and can be combined with other flea products.” 

But note that this is not a preventive medication, and it should be used only if your kitty is already crawling with fleas. “This is a great first-step product that kills existing fleas quickly,” says Dr. Howe. 

Your cat needs to be at least 4 weeks old and 2 pounds to take this product. As a tablet, it needs to be administered orally, making it ideal for cats who tolerate taking pills.  

Kittens are particularly vulnerable to bloodsuckers and can become anemic during bad infestations. Revolution offers great flea coverage for very young, very tiny kittens—it’s formulated specifically for kittens 8 weeks of age and older who are less than 5 pounds.  

“Revolution has been proven to be safe and effective in kittens, and it is my top pick to protect kittens from parasites,” says Dr. Price.  

Formulated to kill adult fleas and prevent flea eggs from hatching, this monthly treatment also protects against ear mites, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. It does not treat ticks on cats (only on dogs).  

“Revolution offers great coverage for young animals,” says Tiffany Tupler, DVM. “It’s FDA-approved and offers increased safety over generic products in the same class.” 

For moderate infestations, Advantage shampoo might come in handy. It kills adult fleas and ticks on contact for cats over 12 weeks old.  

But pet parents should know that flea and tick shampoos alone are not an effective treatment against fleas and ticks, and they won’t offer protection from future parasites.  

“Advantage Flea and Tick Shampoo is a very good and established name brand from a reputable veterinary company,” says Dr. Higgs. “However, it is not a replacement for preventive care, and pet parents may still need to treat the house and yard.” 

Your cat should always be on a preventive medication to keep parasites at bay. Talk to your veterinarian about whether flea and tick shampoos are useful in your situation.