Best Flea Pills for Cats: Updated

Find that your cat has got fleas is never nice and getting rid of them can be a challenge. The question that comes up most often is whether to treat them orally or topically and it’s a question that has left some pet owners stumped. It can be challenging to try and get your pet to take any kind of pill, so it’s understandable that many pet owners would prefer topical flea treatments for their pets. But if you’re going by effectiveness, a study published in Veterinary Parasitology found that while flea topical treatments were 88.4% effective at ridding pets of fleas, oral treatments were 99.9% effective. Flea pills for cats can play a crucial role in keeping your cat free from these pests. When they are long-lasting as well as fast-acting, your cat can start having healthy skin once again.

One of the biggest challenges that cat owners face is whether they can get these pills without a prescription. Even if you have to give the pills only monthly, you don’t want to run out at the wrong time. Access to vet-approved options will ensure that your cat always has the protection required. Oral options, especially chewable, help take a lot of the headache out of making sure your cat has proper protection.

Even tough choosing the right flea product for your cat can be daunting we’re here to help. We’ve provided a detailed review of the products that we think are the best on the market and also addressed some common concerns, the pros and cons of each product, and some common questions.

The Top Picks for Flea Pills for Cats: Ranked

#1 Best Overall: Capstar Oral Flea Treatment

Our overall choice for the best flea pills is Capstar Oral Flea Treatment, which starts working as soon as the pill is taken.

With this product you’ll find fleas dropping off your cats right away. This treatment is said to kill 90% of adult fleas within six hours of use.

This pill is an effective preventive as well as a treatment. Doses can be given once a day as necessary, and fight against flea re-infestations in your cat. It is suitable to use on cats of any size, including kittens. These pills are easy to break up into smaller sizes to feed to your pet more easily or to make sure that you give the accurate dose. You can purchase this product without a prescription, which is another plus for us.

Many customers have testified to the fact that the fleas just start falling off the cats when combed after taking the treatment one time. However, it’s important to note that it only kills the live fleas on the cat —not the eggs that have been laid. Therefore, subsequent treatments will need to happen as fleas reproduce quickly, and by the time you first notice them on your cat, they can already have produced two to three new generations of offspring.

The only concerns that we found were reports of severe reactions that include anaphylaxis, as well as side effects like weight loss and hair loss.

Pros and Cons of the Capstar Oral Flea Treatment

#1 - Top Rated Cat Flea Pill

Bundle: Capstar Flea Oral Treatment

• Starts working effectively in JUSTt 30 minutes
• Works for both treatment, and prevention
• Readily available at most major retailers
• Low reported rate of issues from other users

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2. Best Chewable Flea Pills: Flea Away All Natural Supplement

If a natural, chewable option is what you prefer for your cat then the Flea Away All Natural Supplement may be the best option.

This product is designed as a daily supplement to build up immunity. The formula is pesticide-free, making these chews safe for nursing females and their kittens. These chews are vitamin-enriched which contributes to skin and coat health as well as healthy joints. They are also liver-flavored so the pill can be passed off as a new “treat” for you cat — meaning they’re easier to get down fussy pets. In addition to protecting against fleas, this supplement also provides long-lasting protection against ticks and mosquitos.

One complaint from customers was that the tablet size was too big for some, especially kittens. Additionally, there are accounts of some cats having bad reactions because of underlying conditions, with one kitten reported suffering from liver failure.

Pros and Cons of the Flea Away All Natural Supplement

Best Chewable Flea Pill

Flea Away All Natural Supplement for Cats and Dogs

• Chewable option makes it easier for both cats and dogs to consume
• Easier to 'hide' in food compared to firm pill options
• Tablet size may be too large for kittens, but will work for full size cats and dogs

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3. Best Quick-Acting Flea Pills: CapAction Flea Tablets for Cats

If speed is one of your biggest concerns in selecting a product, you will not go wrong with the CapAction Flea Tablets for Cats.

The best feature of this treatment is that it successfully begins to kill fleas in as little as half an hour. This treatment is also safe for pregnant and nursing cats, while it is also safe for kittens weighing as little as two pounds.

There are accounts of cats having side effects that included lethargy and violent itching as the medication was taking effect. While most cats can tolerate the active ingredient nitenpyram, there’s always that risk of side effects. If your cat has a history of sensitivity to medications, you may want to use caution. Also, as these are pills they are more difficult to get into cats than treat-based treatments.

Pros and Cons of the CapAction Flea Tablets for Cats

Best Fast Acting Flea Tablet

CapAction Flea Tablets for Cats

• Works in as little as 30 minutes
• Dosages for kittens as well as cats
• Pills were not as easy to 'hide' in food as the #1 overall option, but still very effective

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Our Criteria: How We Chose the Best

One important benefit about flea pills for cats is that they are usually fast-acting. For the most part, we have found options that are long-lasting. Being able to acquire these products without prescription was another selling point for us.

Despite some of these products being vet-approved, there are cases of reactions that have come on with minimal warning. When some customers used these products, they complained that their cats experienced side effects that include weight and hair loss. There have also been some incidences where cats are resistant to pills and this was an issue in our research.

We referenced the CAPC guide for ingredients to ensure all of the products recommended were as safe as possible for your cat or kitten. We also reviewed the FDA Veterinary Safety site to see if any new recalls had been issued that affected our choices here.

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