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Protect Your Feline Friend: The Best Tick & Flea Prevention for Cats

Cat in a field

Cats bring immeasurable joy to our lives. However, the cuddles and purrs come with responsibilities — including protecting your cat from fleas and ticks. These tiny nuisances not only irritate your pet, but they also pose significant health risks. As warmer weather approaches, fleas and ticks are on the rise as well. But it’s important to remember that regularly administering tick and flea prevention for cats is a year-round responsibility.

Why to Prioritize Tick & Flea Prevention for Cats

Fleas and ticks can transmit various diseases to cats, including Lyme disease, Bartonellosis (cat scratch fever), and even tapeworms. Some cats may develop allergic reactions to flea saliva, leading to intense itching, skin irritation, and potential hair loss. Left untreated, infestations can lead to other serious complications, like anemia.

How to Identify Signs of Fleas and Ticks on Your Cat

If your cat has fleas, you may notice excessive scratching, biting, or grooming, particularly in areas like the neck, head, and back. You may also notice small black specks (flea dirt) on your cat's fur, which are actually flea feces. In your home, you should keep an eye out for any signs of flea activity, such as small dark specks moving on surfaces or even jumping. Fleas tend to congregate in warm, humid areas where pets spend time, such as carpets, rugs, pet bedding, upholstery, and cracks in floors or furniture.

Ticks, on the other hand, often attach themselves to areas with less hair, such as the ears, armpits, and groin. Feeling for small bumps or lumps during grooming sessions can help you spot these intruders early. If your cat spends time outdoors, whether it's exploring the backyard, going for walks on a leash, or enjoying outdoor playtime, you should check them for ticks afterward. Cats that frequent areas with dense vegetation, such as wooded areas, tall grasses, or areas with bushes and shrubs, may be at higher risk of encountering ticks.

How to Handle a Flea Infestation in Your Home

Remediating a flea infestation can be costly, requiring significant time, effort and money to fully get rid of fleas on your pet and in your home. If your cat has fleas, you should follow these steps:

  • Use flea control products recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Regularly groom your pet with a flea comb to remove adult fleas and flea dirt.
  • Bathe your pet with flea-repellent shampoo.
  • Wash your pet's bedding, toys, and other accessories in hot water.
  • Vacuum your home frequently, including carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
  • Treat your yard and outdoor areas with pet-safe flea control products.
  • Dispose of vacuum bags or empty vacuum canisters immediately.
  • Wash all bedding, linens, and curtains in hot water and dry them on high heat.
  • Use flea sprays or foggers specifically designed for indoor use.
  • Steam clean carpets and upholstery to kill fleas and their eggs hiding deep within fibers.
  • Seal cracks or gaps in walls, floors, and doors to prevent fleas from entering your home.

The Best Flea Prevention for Cats

Prescription medication is the best flea prevention for cats. These medications also provide effective protection against ticks. When choosing tick and flea prevention for cats, your veterinarian can prescribe a number of different preventatives. Frontline Plus and Simparica Trio are two popular options, offering comprehensive protection against these parasites.

The Frontline Plus topical solution combines two powerful ingredients: fipronil and (S)-methoprene. Fipronil kills adult fleas and ticks on contact, while (S)-methoprene disrupts the flea life cycle by preventing eggs and larvae from developing into biting adults. Frontline Plus flea prevention for cats provides fast-acting, long-lasting relief, offering up to 30 days of continuous protection with just one application.

Simparica Trio is an innovative chewable tablet that takes tick and flea prevention for cats to the next level. Simparica Trio not only kills ticks and fleas but also prevents heartworm disease and treats and controls roundworms and hookworms. Its active ingredients — sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel — work together to provide broad-spectrum protection against multiple parasites. Plus, its tasty beef-flavored formulation makes oral administration easier.

Beyond Frontline Plus and Simparica Trio, there are a host of other prescription preventatives. Talk to your veterinarian to find the best flea prevention for your cat.

It’s important to administer flea and tick medication at the recommended intervals. To help you remember, consider utilizing your phone’s calendar or a print-out calendar that you’ll check regularly. Always remember to check in regularly with your veterinarian.

In addition to prescription medications, pet owners may choose some non-prescription options as well. Flea collars are an inexpensive option offered at many pet stores. However, not all flea collars are equally effective, and some may provide only limited protection against fleas. While a good additional option if you are heading to the great outdoors with your cat, it’s important to stay up-to-date with preventative prescription medications like Frontline Plus and Simparica Trio.

Safeguard Your Pet with Top Tick & Flea Prevention for Cats

If your veterinarian doesn’t stock the preventatives your cat needs, they can send your prescription to Mixlab. We’ll deliver your cat’s medication directly to your doorstep with free next-day delivery. 

By staying vigilant, utilizing top-tier flea prevention for cats, and taking advantage of convenient solutions like Mixlab, you can keep your feline friend happy, healthy, and pest-free for years to come. Contact our team to get started.

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