This post will outline the best and most popular flea medications for cats currently available.
Frontline vs Advantage Flea
Does Frontline work?
Frontline Plus – Frontline is one of the most well known and widely used topical flea treatments for cats. It is a good option, however some people are beginning to report that it is no longer effective for killing all fleas. The effectiveness seems to depend on the fleas in your area. After a time, fleas begin to develop resistance to the medications used to kill them. This is why there are new versions of the same flea meds coming out every few years. The ingredients have to be continually modified so that they remain effective against the fleas evolving resistance. It seems that in certain areas, fleas are beginning to show resistance to Frontline Plus.
Advantage II – In my personal experience, Advantage II is the best flea medication currently on the market for cats. I have been using Advantage II on my cats for several years now and it always kills all the fleas off within 24 hours, and the fleas do not return unless its past time for the next treatment. If you’re wondering about differences between Advantage I and Advantage II, have a look at our article on this topic: Advantage I vs Advantage II
Where to buy Advantage? The cheapest Advantage II I’ve found is available here.
Do flea collars work?
Flea collars and off-brand flea treatments – Although these options are a bit cheaper, they generally do not work very well. These may kill off some of the fleas upon initial usage, but they will not get all of the fleas and most likely will stop working within a few days. In my early days as a cat owner, I tried several of these and always ended up frustrated at having wasted money and time, while the flea infestation just became worse.
In addition to topical flea treatments for your cat, you will also want to be sure to address any flea problems in your house and yard. I have put together a guide on how to easily and efficiently wipe out those pesky fleas here: What to do about fleas
