There are a few health concerns that most pet owners care about the most. From annual vaccines to protecting your cat from heartworm disease and killing fleas, finding the right cadence and treatment for your cat is important.
At PetFriendly, we offer two types of flea and tick treatments for cats. In this article, we'll break down:
- What is cat flea treatment
- What to look for
- Paws Plus® vs. Purrs Advance®
- How to choose between flea treatments
What is cat flea treatment
Originally, flea medications were created to control fleas traveling in the home on dogs and cats. Over time, the solutions have evolved to kill fleas and prevent flea infestations by eradicating them at every stage of the flea life cycle.
Flea and tick treatments are a type of flea control products for dogs and cats that kill and repel:
- Fleas and ticks
- Chewing lice
- Mosquitoes
- Biting flies
- Ear mites
What to look for
The best flea control products for pet parents range from a monthly chewable tablet to a flea and tick collar. But deciding which to get your cat isn't always simple.
Here are a few factors to consider when looking for your cat's flea and tick prevention.
Ingredients
Two main active ingredient categories make up most flea medications. These are:
- Insect growth regulators (IGRs): IGRs interfere with the flea life cycle to prevent fleas. Some example ingredients include s-methoprene and pyriproxyfen.
- Adulticides: An insecticide that kills adult fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. The primary types are pyrethrins like permethrin, fipronil, and imidacloprid.
DISCLAIMER:
Permethrin is toxic to cats. Be sure to check the ingredients list before treating your cat.
Efficacy
One of the most important factors in flea medication is the efficacy of your product. This means how long the product lasts and how effective it is at killing and preventing external parasites like fleas and ticks.
Most products last a month to 30 days but some can protect your pet for six to eight months. It's always best to give it time if you are still dealing with fleas and ticks because many flea issues can take up to 90 days to eradicate.
In terms of killing fleas right away, topical flea treatments and oral fast-acting tablets, such as Nitenpyram, are the best flea remedies.
Safety
Best-in-class topical treatments need regulatory compliance to make it to shelves and online stores. Beyond getting approved by the EPA or FDA, it's not uncommon to see many pet products either formulated or recommended by veterinarians.
Coverage
While cat flea treatment provides a lot of coverage from harmful pests, it may not cover ear mites, treat internal parasites, or prevent heartworm disease.
Finding the right protection for your pet's needs is important. Different factors such as where you live and how often your cats spend time outside can impact your choice.
Here's what is covered (and not) by most over-the-counter flea and tick medications.
Adult fleas
At the very least, your cat's flea medication should cover adult fleas. However, look out for ones that treat fleas at every life stage — flea eggs, flea larvae, and adult fleas.
Common ticks
Many flea meds also treat the most common ticks. In the United States, this includes the American dog tick, Brown deer tick, Black-legged tick, and Lone Star tick.
Chewing lice
Similar to fleas, lice can be a stressful experience for pet owners and their pets. Luckily, most topical treatments on the market treat fleas and lice.
Ear mites
There are a handful of topical solutions that also treat ear mites — a common factor in cat ear infections. Be sure to check the label to understand what's covered.
Intestinal parasites
A single flea can transmit diseases very quickly. Intestinal parasites (or intestinal worms) like tapeworms occur when your cat consumes a flea. While flea and tick protection helps prevent fleas, they typically do not treat intestinal worms that come from them.
Internal parasites
Flea treatment that also prevents heartworm disease does exist. However, there are only a few products available for pet owners. In most cases, your pets will also need a heartworm preventative.
Form Factor
Depending on how finicky your cat is, you may need to try out a few different forms for treating fleas. The most common types include:
- Oral treatments: These include chewable tablets, soft chews, and other pill-form medications.
- Topical solution: Topical treatments come in small vials that you apply directly to your cat's skin.
- Flea collars: A flea and tick collar is worn around their neck and can last up to eight months.
- Injections: This type of flea and tick preventative is a one-time shot that lasts up to six months.
Paws Plus vs. Purrs Advance for Cats
PetFriendly offers two different types of flea and tick medications for cats. So what's the best choice for your cat? Here are some differences and similarities.
Paws Plus for Cats Flea and Tick Treatment
What it is
Paws Plus for Cats is a fast-acting, vet-formulated, and EPA-approved topical flea and tick treatment for cats. It contains the same active ingredients as in Boehringer Ingelheim’s Frontline Plus® for Cats:
- The active ingredient fipronil is an insecticide that kills fleas, lice, and ticks
- S-methoprene is an insect growth regulator that helps prevent future flea infestations
What does it do
Paws Plus for Cats rapidly and critically kills and prevents:
- Ticks (i.e. American dog ticks and deer ticks)
- Chewing lice
- Flea eggs
- Flea larvae
- Adult fleas
It is effective at treating fleas and continues to prevent flea infestations for up to a month. Paws Plus® may reduce the incidence of diseases from fleas, ticks, and other parasites including:
- Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD)
- Lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
How long does it last
A single dose of Paws Plus for Cats is effective for 30 days (up to 4 weeks). It starts working right away.
Paws Plus for Cats is waterproof, however, the topical solution requires the natural oils in your cat's skin and fur to properly distribute the active ingredients. Avoid bathing your cat or submerging them in water for at least 48 hours before and after treatment.
If you bathe your cat often or want to get rid of adult fleas and flea dirt we recommend using a mild shampoo.
If you are still seeing fleas after one dose, our vet team can help you switch to Purrs Advance.
How is it dosed
No matter your cat's weight, every cat receives the same amount of topical solution every month. But, your cat should weigh at least 1.5 pounds and be at least 8 weeks old. We recommend checking with your veterinarian before starting treatment for young kittens.
How do you apply it
Snip the tip and apply the entire contents at the base of your cat's neck. Topical treatments use the natural oils in your cat's skin and fur to distribute the solution through their hair coat.
Are there any side effects
While typically very rare, flea control products can cause mild side effects or adverse reactions. The most common health-related symptoms include:
- Hair loss
- Sensitive skin
- Skin irritation
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Lethargy
- Allergic reaction
If your cat experiences an adverse reaction you can call our 24-hour medical hotline at (888) 738-3911. We also recommend you contact your vet right away.
Is it safe on pregnant, nursing, or breeding cats
Paws Plus for Cats topical flea and tick protection has not been tested on breeding, nursing, or pregnant cats. Consult with your veterinarian before applying this treatment to your cat in these conditions.
Do I need a prescription
Paws Plus for Cats is delivered straight to your door without a prescription, veterinarian visit, or trip to the store. We recommend checking with your veterinarian if you are switching from another flea treatment to maintain your cat's health and continue to protect them from fleas and ticks.
Purrs Advance for Cats Flea Treatment
What are the ingredients
Purrs Advance for Cats is a fast-acting, vet-formulated, and EPA-approved topical flea treatment for cats. It contains the active ingredients in Elanco’s Advantage® II for Cats:
- Pyriproxyfen is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea and tick infestations
- Imidacloprid is an adulticide that kills fleas
How is it dosed
Purrs Advance comes in three sizes, dosed specifically to your cat's weight:
- For small cats weighing 2-5 lbs
- For medium cats weighing 6-9 lbs
- For large cats weighing 9 or more lbs
One dose of Purrs Advance for Cats is safe and effective for cats weighing at least 2 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. Check with your veterinarian before starting treatment for young kittens.
How do you apply it
Purrs Advance is applied the same as Paws Plus. Snip the tip and apply the entire contents at the base of your cat's neck. Do not bathe your cat for at least 48 hours before and after applying treatment.
What does it do
Purrs Advance for Cats does not cover as many parasites as Paws Plus but it is one of the best flea control products available. Purrs Advance:
- Rapidly kills fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae within 12 hours
- Kills fleas and helps prevent fleas and flea infestations for up to a month
- May reduce the incidence of skin irritation and allergic reactions from flea bites
Purrs Advance does not kill or prevent ticks — making it a great option for indoor cats. If you have outdoor cats consider a treatment that covers ticks and helps prevent a future tick infestation.
How long does it last
A single dose of Purrs Advance for Cats is effective for 30 days (up to 4 weeks). It should be applied once per month to continue killing fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae.
Purrs Advance for Cats is waterproof 24 hours after application but requires the natural oils in your cat’s skin and fur to distribute the active ingredients. Avoid bathing your cat in water for 48 hours before and after treatment.
For complete flea control, we recommend using a household spray on baseboards, furniture, and other pet items in your home and yard.
Applying sprays to your pet's environment will help prevent fleas from returning. Vacuum your home in the event of a severe infestation, empty the contents of your vacuum bag, and filter immediately.
Are there any side effects
Like Paws Plus for Cats, this topical treatment could cause an adverse reaction in your cat. The most common side effects include hair loss, skin irritation, gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, and paresthesia.
Is it safe on pregnant, nursing, or breeding cats
Purrs Advance for Cats has not been tested on breeding, nursing, or pregnant cats. We always recommend you discuss applying any product to your cat in these conditions with your veterinarian.
Do I need a prescription
Purrs Advance for Cats does not require a prescription or visit to your vet. We recommend checking with your veterinarian if you are switching from another flea and tick treatment. If your current treatment prevents heartworm disease, know that you'll need additional medication to treat internal parasites.
How to choose between flea treatments
By now you should have a good understanding of what flea and tick prevention is and the difference between our products.
If you are still looking for guidance in your choice, as always check with your veterinarian. Otherwise, consider these questions.
- Is your cat an indoor or outdoor cat?
- Do you live in an area with lots of fleas and ticks?
- Do you have multiple pets?
- Do you need coverage for heartworm disease?
- Do you want something natural (like essential oils)?
Regardless of your choice, keeping your cat protected from fleas and ticks year-round is key. PetFriendly makes it easy to remember with perfectly timed monthly delivery.
