Flea treatment for indoor/outdoor cats?

November 5, 2023 2:58 PM

What kind of flea treatments are out now that work well?

Have two indoor/outdoor cats. Have tried to keep them indoor only, but for multiple reasons this isn't feasible now. They are indoors at night, of course.
That being said, I think we might have a flea problem. In any case, I don't want them to get fleas or worms.

Old threads from 2022 and 2019 here made me confused. Google is overwhelming.

I know I should just take them to the vet for a check up and will do that soon. In the meantime, any advice on effective treatments for adult cats?

posted by AnyUsernameWillDo to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Where do you live? When I was in the deep south, my vet told me to use Cheristin, because the fleas had developed resistance to some of the other brands - they also recommended though alternating a bit between that and Revolution. If you live somewhere where it doesn't always freeze every winter, that might be a consideration. Revolution also provides heartworm protection. Both of my cats have been pretty good about eating their heartworm pill though, on months they don't get Revolution - I forget the brand.

This is a long way of saying, your local Reddit page might be a good resource, since fleas in one place might be more resistant to one med than another.
posted by coffeecat at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks. I'll check reddit. I just made an appointment with the vet but it's not for two weeks, but I'll ask the doctor then!
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 3:30 PM on November 5, 2023

I agree that it's area-based. Cheristin has been our go-to in Los Angeles as of a few years ago (though now my cats are indoor only so we don't use it).

But if you think you have fleas, don't wait until the cats' appointment because you'll have more fleas. Comb them, do a lot of vacuuming (to scoop up fleas + the eggs they lay), give them a treatment.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:29 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

We switched to Seresto flea & tick collars for our dogs & cat a few months ago & they are working pretty well. None of the topical treatments (including Frontline) were effective against the fleas in our area. Our vet suggested Seresto, so I figured it was worth trying if they liked it enough to recommend for their patients.
posted by belladonna at 4:59 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Flea comb (comb, dip into a container of soapy water, repeat) was surprisingly effective. I also was rather aggressive about cleaning any gritty sand-like particle in the house (I use masking tape to clean up any cushions where the cats sat).
posted by spamandkimchi at 8:53 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Most vet practices will answer these sorts of questions on the phone, so you could probably get your vet's advice on what to use without waiting for your appointment.
posted by Rhedyn at 1:29 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

In addition to medications, can you bathe them? Any adequate flea shampoo will kill fleas and make the cats more comfortable once they get over the shock. I get flea powder with permethrin, dust the house, esp. where the dog sleep, leave it for a bit, vacuum.
posted by theora55 at 8:12 AM on November 6, 2023

The Seresto collars are pretty good, but imo are not really suitable for very long haired cats, since they can get tangled and can cause matts. Definitely pick up a flea comb, if you don't have one (in my area you can get them in the pet section of the grocery store). Comb around the ears, neck, and at the base of the tail. If you have an active flea problem, you'll find live fleas or "flea dirt" (a blackish crumbly detritus) or flea eggs. The sooner you address fleas the better, so if you're finding a lot of flea sign, get pest treatment (any kind) on the cats asap and vacuum or wash any soft furnishings in the house that the cats can access aggressively for a week or two until you're confident the cats are flea free. The humans in your household may also benefit from a daily otc anti-histamine to help with the itchies.
posted by radiogreentea at 9:37 AM on November 7, 2023 [1 favorite]