Best Flea Protection For Outdoor Cats

Vets Best Flea & Tick Collar For Cats Premium Choice

At first glance, the Vets Best Flea & Tick Collar for Cats may not seem that expensive. However, it only lasts for 4 months, which means that youll be purchasing it more often than other collars. Over time, this price can add up.

This collar is made in the U.S.A. using completely natural oils. It doesnt have many of the harsh chemicals that some other options have, potentially making it safer for your feline. It is formulated with a mixture of peppermint and cedarwood oils, which can chase away pests. The collar is designed both to stop a current infestation and prevent new ones from occurring. It is one of the few collars that can actually stop a current infestation.

The collar is 20 inches and adjustable. If you have a large cat, this may be the only suitable option to fit them. It is effective against both fleas and ticks. The formula is water-resistant, so you wont have to worry about it rubbing off or washing away.

The Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea & Tick Collar for Cats is a premium option for the brand, which means it is slightly more expensive than its other models, though it doesnt include that many extra features. But it is still a decent option.

This collar is designed to be worn by felines for up to 7 months. It kills and repels both fleas and ticks for complete prevention. It also stops flea eggs from hatching, effectively stopping the fleas lifecycle and ending the infestation.

How Do Cats Get Fleas

Cats can get fleas if they come in contact with another animal that has been infested with fleas. Felines can also get fleas if the parasites have lodged into the carpet or other household material. People may unknowingly bring fleas into their homes if they become lodged on their clothing or in their belongings.

As we’ve learned, indoor kitties can get fleas, toobut how?

Have you ever wondered how long fleas can live in your house? Believe it or not, fleas can live in your house for as long as 100 days without a food source but fleas on your cat can live as long as two to three months.

Another question we hear a lot from our readers is: Can a cat die from fleas? It’s an important question, and here’s the truth you should know:

Your cat can die from fleas if she is bitten by a large number of them and subsequently develops anemia. Anemia is potentially life-threatening, especially in kittens.

If your cat was recently bitten by many fleas or is exhibiting signs and symptoms of anemiaincluding lethargy, rapid breathing, and weaknesscall your veterinarian right away.

Adams Flea & Tick Collar For Cats

The Adams Flea & Tick Collar for Cats can kill fleas and ticks. It works on flea larvae and flea eggs, as well as adults. This helps prevent future infestations, as the eggs wont hatch one day and cause another infestation. It works for up to 7 months. There are two collars included in each pack, which leaves you with a total of 14 months of protection for a decently low price.

The solution is completely odorless and non-greasy. It wont leave a film on your cats fur. It also has a breakaway design, which can prevent your cat from losing oxygen if they get caught on a tree branch or something similar. This collar is easily made to size and can be used for cats over 12 weeks of age.

Some people did complain that this collar doesnt work as well as advertised. It likely varies from cat to cat and may depend on external factors, like your climate. It doesnt seem to be as effective as other options on the market.

• Not as effective as some other options
• A bit more expensive than most collars

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Natural Cat Flea Treatments To Avoid

The flea treatments in the table are age-old remedies for parasites that dont work or are harmful to cats:

Garlic

Garlic, when used internally and externally, is a popular insect repellent. Some sources may also suggest adding garlic to your cats food as it makes the fleas bloodmeal less appealing.

However, there is no evidence that proves garlics effectiveness against fleas or other bugs. In fact, garlic is poisonous for dogs in high doses, and cats are even more vulnerable to garlics toxic effects.

According to studies in Interdisciplinary Toxicology and Frontiers in Veterinary Science, accidental ingestion of garlic is a common cause of food-related poisoning in cats. Therefore, using garlic topically or adding it to your cats food is not recommended as a way to get rid of fleas on cats.

Citronella

Citronella oil is a popular natural insect repellent. Because humans use it to keep away mosquitos, some users may consider using citronella to treat fleas on cats.

However, citronellas side effects on cats outweigh its potency against fleas. Citronella is a skin and eye irritant. It can also be toxic if inhaled or ingested in high concentrations.

Pennyroyal Oil

Derived from the pennyroyalherb, pennyroyal oil has a longstanding history of being an effective fleadeterrent.

Brewers Yeast

Diatomaceous Earth

• Applying it to your cats fur
• Applying it to your carpets

Neem Oil

Cat Fleas And Ticks Do I Need Prevention

Cat fleas and ticks: Are they just an annoyance? Or can they cause real health problems? If my cat never goes outside, do I even need to worry about them?

The short answers are No, Yes and Yes. Fleas and ticks are certainly annoying, and if your indoor cat has them, their human family may also be affected. But fleas and ticks can also carry diseases and parasites, so you dont want to be caught unprepared.

Understanding their life cycles are a big part of the battle. If you know how they affect your cat, you will understand how to better protect your family, both two legged and four.

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Does Your Cat Currently Have Fleas

If your cat is currently struggling with a flea burden, we recommend a product that kills fleas quickly, rather than a product that interrupts the flea breeding cycle. Our top recommendations for strong flea killers include Bravecto, Revolution Plus, and Comfortis. Please also note that in order to effectively eradicate fleas, you may need to do a full flea clean of your house and bedding to eliminate pesky eggs in the environment.

Want a clear-cut recommendation? See our flowchart below. Please note that each recommendation is just one option of many. For more options, please feel free to Ask a Pet Circle Vet.

Still confused? See our Flea and Tick Quiz which interactively takes you through relevant steps and picks a combination for you!

Petarmor Simple Source Flea & Ticks Cat Collar

The PetArmor Simple Source Flea & Ticks Cat Collar is suitable for kittens over 6 months of age. It can fit cats necks measuring up to 14 inches. This makes it useable for even large cats. It is all-natural and doesnt contain the chemicals that are commonly found in other cat collars. Instead, it uses cinnamon oil, clove oil, and lemongrass oil. These ingredients are advertised to drive away fleas and ticks for up to 3 months.

The plant-based ingredients are safe to use around cats, children, and other pets. If you have dogs, this flea collar will not harm them.

That said, this collar lasts for much less time than other collars on the market. It isnt particularly effective, though it does seem to work at least a little. The scent can be overwhelming at first, though it does wear off with time. The collar just needs to air out. It is a bit girthy, so it may not be suitable for much smaller cats.

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The Fleas On Your Cats Body Are Just A Symptom Of A Larger Infestation

When you treat your cat for fleas, you need to treat your home and outdoor surroundings as well.

Remember that fleas lay their eggs in crevices and corners throughout the house. These eggs and the larvae that hatch from them may lurk in your bedding, around cushions, deep in the carpeting, and in curtains. Theyll be particularly prominent in your cats beds, trees, and in any cat-specific living areas.

Heres a helpful video sharing advice for those who need to eliminate the fleas in their home:

How To Prevent Fleas

Your cat’s warm, furry coat and nourishing blood supply are a flea’s dream home. Protect your pet with a flea barrier to prevent these tiny pests from settling in. There are a few different types:

Products you put on your cat. Spot-on treatments are safer, more convenient, and more effective than traditional dusts, shampoos, and sprays. You can buy them from your vet or online. Ask your vet where on your cat to put the product, how much to apply, and how often to use it. If youre not getting the treatment from your vet, read the product label first to make sure it’s safe for cats. Some common active ingredients and brands include:

• Fipronil
• Fluralaner

A flea collar with flumethrin and imidacloprid can also work well.

Medicines your cat eats. The pill nitenpyram kills adult fleas on your cat within 30 minutes. It doesnt have any lasting effects, though. Spinosad is a fast-acting chewable that starts killing fleas before they lay eggs. It provides a full month of flea protection to help prevent future hatchings.

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How Does Flea Medicine Work

Fleas are treatable with various methods like spot-on treatment or oral medications to animals that got affected. In case of spot-on treatment, individuals should apply a specific therapy on their fur buddies bodies where they couldnt reach with their mouths. Insect neurotoxins are active ingredients that stop any infestation of fleas and ticks by attacking them. It poisons every insect quickly and makes them incapable of spreading. Though this chemical is harmful to insects, it is safe to use for any affected animals.

What Are The Options For Flea Control

When it comes to flea control, there a few key things to look for. First, you want to find a product that will kill adult fleas on your cats body. Second, you want a flea control product that will either kill flea eggs and larvae or prevent them from growing into biting adult fleas. Third, you want something that will protect your cat against future infestations. Flea control products come in a variety of different forms here is a quick overview of the most popular options:

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The Best Flea Shampoo For Cats

Natural Chemistry De Flea Shampoo Review

This flea shampoo is made with safe, natural ingredients it doesnt contain any harsh chemicals or insecticides like pyrethrins or permethrins. Natural Chemistry De Flea Shampoo is a botanical formula that kills fleas on contact for up to 7 days and it is also effective against black flies and mosquitos. This all natural formula is effective in killing fleas in all life stages without the use of an insect growth regulator it features natural ingredients like cinnamon oil, cedar oil, and clove oil. Natural Chemistry flea shampoo is only recommended for kittens over 8 weeks of age and it does have a strong odor that some cats may not like. As a bonus, however, it contains soothing natural ingredients to moisturize your cats skin and coat.

Pros for Natural Chemistry Flea Treatment

• Made with safe and natural ingredients
• Contains soothing natural ingredients to moisturize skin and coat
• Effective against fleas and ticks in all life stages for up to 1 week
• Can be safely used with other flea control products for cats

Cons for Natural Chemistry Flea Treatment

• Not recommended for kittens under 8 weeks of age
• Doesnt provide long-term protection against fleas over 1 week
• Might have a strong odor at first

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor Review

Pros for Adams Flea Treatment

Cons for Adams Flea Treatment

Do Not Use Flea Preventatives For Dogs On Your Cat

Many flea treatments for dogs are toxic for cats. Ingredients like permethrin are commonly included in dog flea and tick treatments, which can actually kill cats.

Always follow the instructions on the products label with regards to dosing amounts and frequency unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

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What Are The Dangers Of Fleas For Cats

The cat flea is the most common external parasite known to affect cats and, though they may be small, they have great potential for becoming a serious nuisance for both you and your cat. Though the average flea may not seem like much of a threat at up to 3.3 mm in length, these parasites can mean big trouble when they start to multiply. Your cats coat is the ideal environment for these tiny pests, providing shelter as well as food and a place to reproduce. All it takes is a couple of fleas to produce an infestation and it can happen in the blink of an eye.

As a type of parasite, fleas feed on the blood of their hosts female fleas also use the blood to create the blood meal that is required to lay her eggs. Flea bites can cause itching which leads your cat to scratch the affected area. With serious flea infestations, myriad flea bites can cause horrible itching to the degree that your cat actually hurts himself with scratching. Incessant scratching can open up wounds in the skin which then become vulnerable to infection. Some cats also develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva, some of which is transferred to your cats skin with every bite this is called flea allergy dermatitis. Left untreated, a serious flea infestation may also cause anemia related to blood loss.

Sentry Puurscriptions Flea & Tick Collar For Cats

Sentry is a well-known brand that produces several products for animals. However, its Sentry PuurScriptions Flea & Tick Collar for Cats is a bit disappointing. It does protect against fleas and ticks for 6 months, though this is somewhat shorter than most other options out there. It can also repeal mosquitos, but only for 1 month.

The adjustable sizing system allows it to fit on most cats. It is not suitable for cats under 6 months, though. This is a bit older than the cut-off for most brands. It isnt particularly suitable for kittens. It contains an insect growth regulator that prevents eggs from hatching and larvae from growing correctly. This effectively ends infestations. However, it only works in this manner for 3 months. The collar states that it may take up to 30 days to break the fleas lifecycle.

Some users do report that this collar is smelly. Indeed, it is scented, so it mostly depends on how sensitive you are to odor. There are also reports of the chemicals injuring cats. However, no recalls have been reported, so we are unsure how much of this is user error.

While this collar does seem effective at repealing small numbers of fleas and ticks, it does not effectively work against large infestations. If your cat already has fleas, you may want to look elsewhere for an appropriate collar. It may work on current infestations over time, but this may take as long as 2 weeks.

• Not as effective as some other options

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Revolution Plus Topical Solution For Cats Best Flea And Tick Treatment For Cats

If you want to be sure that youve killed every last little biter on your cat, youll need to call in the big guns, and they dont come more powerful than Revolution Plus. It will start knocking off fleas in as little as 4 hours.

A quick caveat: Revolution Plus is our top pick because its incredibly versatile. Its primary ingredient, Selamectin, kills fleas, ticks, ear mites, and various worms . Its basically a one-stop shop for parasite management, which is why we believe that its the best overall flea treatment for cats.

Theres one big thing that it doesnt do, however: kill flea eggs and larvae. As a result, you may see a huge difference in the flea population the first few days after application, only to see a few more pop up a little while later.

Thats normal, and nothing to worry about those fleas will die off before they can lay eggs, and the life cycle will be snuffed out. Still, it can be disconcerting to see a flare-up after youve applied a treatment.

Revolution Plus also requires a prescription, which is a bit of a hassle . Its easy to apply and only needs to be put on once a month, giving you hassle-free protection.

• Doesnt kill eggs or larvae