These are some of the newest, “latest and greatest” products out on the market. Many of these products work extremely well, and as a rule, are applied monthly.

Nitenpyram (tablet) – hyperactivity, panting, excessive grooming, yowling, and itchiness lasting less than an hour (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated), muscle tremors, wobbliness, and seizures (less than 1 in 10,000 animals treated). We've only looked at one or two examples of each active ingredient to compile this list. There are many different brand names for some active ingredients that may have other side effects. Lufenuron(injection or oral suspension) – itching, vomiting, and diarrhoea (less than 1 in 10,000 cats). While you may be thinking that this isn’t a flea shampoo, the truth is that shampoos designed to kill fleas can be very dangerous to cats. Even shampoos labeled as “all-natural” often contain oils that can be toxic or harmful to cats and the traditional flea shampoos contain pyrethrins which can be extremely dangerous. Dawn Ultra dish detergent is safe for animals, as many people may already know from advertisements that show wildlife being bathed with the soap. It's effective in killing fleas, and also in getting your cat clean. As a bonus, many homes already have a bottle of it under the kitchen sink.Generally speaking, cats that stay inside are at a lower risk of getting fleas than cats that are permitted to go outside. Injectable flea preventatives are usually only administered by veterinarians so taking your cat to the vet is all that is required of you for that option. Perhaps the biggest concern with oral flea treatments is that once you have given the medication, it is in your pet’s system until it wears off. If a cat has a reaction to the product, there is no real way to eliminate the medication from the system (unlike collars that can be removed and topicals that can be washed off).

The active ingredient in CAPSTAR—nitenpyram—has been extensively studied and found to be both safe and effective (in most cases, even more effective than CAPSTAR's 90 percent claim). Side effects are rare, but you should monitor your cat for 24 hours after dosing, watching out for symptoms like hyperactivity, panting, lethargy, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, salivation, seizures, and pupil dilation. Cats are much more sensitive to medications than some other species (such as dogs), so you should not assume that if you can use it on your dog, you can use it on your cat. Many cats have died from this misconception. If your cat shows symptoms that you suspect are related to flea medication, you should call your vet for advice. Even if no treatment is needed, your vet will usually ask you further information. The vet will use this to report the adverse effect to the drug manufacturer. Credille, Kelly M. et al. Evaluation Of Hair Loss In Cats Occurring After Treatment With A Topical Flea Control Product. Veterinary Dermatology, vol 24, no. 6, pp. 602-e146, 2013, Wiley. doi:10.1111/vde.12075Flea treatments for cats may come as shampoos, dips, sprays, bombs, powders, spot-ons, orals, collars, combs, and even injections. Some delivery methods are only appropriate for killing live fleas while others will help prevent a flea from being able to reproduce. Some flea treatments, like bombs, aren’t meant to be put on your cat at all, and are actually instead designed to be used in the environment where your cat lives. The more eggs and larvae you can clear out of the house, the fewer adults that will hatch and cause a problem for your cat. In many cases, the most effective route here is diligent vacuuming and laundering of any bedding that your pets lie on. So, now we know which flea treatment you should never give to cats; let's look at those that are safest. Assessing the safest flea treatment for cats is difficult. We looked at the datasheets to discover the side effects for each of the common active ingredients in flea treatments for cats: Sarolaner - Only used in combination with other ingredients when treating cats (do not buy a sarolaner dog flea treatment for your cat). Also treats ear mites.

Even if you have hardwood floors, running the vacuum cleaner twice a week will help get rid of some of the flea eggs and larva. Likewise, throwing pet laundry through the washer and dryer a few times a week will also remove and kill some of these “fleas in waiting.” How Long Must You Treat Your Cat for Fleas? Fleas can be very hard to spot on cats. Cats are very diligent groomers, so you often don’t see any evidence of the flea infestation. Catching live fleas can be a challenge but combing dead ones off your cat can be just as difficult if you don’t have a flea comb. The Hartz Groomer’s Best flea comb helps you clean your cat, removing dead fleas, debris, and eggs. It can also help detangle small mats and detangle small mats. The comb has a comfortable grip to help you gently navigate sensitive areas such as paws and the face. It can also be used to comb out short-haired cats, even if they don’t have fleas. From this information, the product with the least serious and least frequent side effects is likely the lotilaner tablets, with the lufenuron injection coming a close second. However, there are a couple of things to consider here:If you’re thinking your cat can’t have fleas because they don’t go outside, you’ll be surprised to know that even indoor-only cats can get fleas. In fact, it often seems that you see just as many flea cases in indoor cats that are not on flea medication as you do on outdoor cats. Rust MK, Waggoner MM, Hinkle NC, Stansfield D, Barnett S. Efficacy and longevity of nitenpyram against adult cat fleas(Siphonaptera: pulicidae). J Med Entomol. 2003;40(5):678-681. doi:10.1603/0022-2585-40.5.678 Firstly, use a prescription product advised by your veterinarian. They’ll be able to weigh your cat and discuss their individual risks based on their age and other health conditions. They may even say that flea treatment is not needed year-round in your area. A flea comb can be used to try and catch a live flea but some cats will have fleas and you won’t see live ones because cats are such fastidious self-cleaners.

Of course, when in doubt, it’s best to consult your veterinarian, who can provide you with personalised advice about your pet's needs. They'll be able to help with ways to prevent fleas and how to treat sore skin from flea bites. They can also help you decide whether flea medicines vs. collars are the best prevention course for your feline. It does require a prescription from your veterinarian, but is a safe and effective option for your young cat.Untreated pets are at risk of flea infestations. For every adult flea you can see, there are many more eggs, larvae and pupae hidden away in your home, waiting to develop, breed and spread. Around 95% of any flea population exists in immature stages in your home - hidden away in your carpets, bedding and upholstery. So, if you discover fleas on your pet, you may need to treat your home too. Fortunately, treatments for fleas in cats have improved significantly, and there are a lot of options available. Use Only Flea Treatments That Are Made for Cats Since pyrethrins, permethroids, and pyrethroids can be dangerous to cats, look for other, safer active ingredients in the flea treatment you choose. Some ingredients to look for include imidacloprid, fipronil, indoxacarb, dinotefuran, spinetoram, fluralaner, spinosad, nitenpyram, lufenuron, methoprene, or pyriproxyfen.