Flea Sprays for Cats
A flea problem can be a real nuisance for your cat; it can make her itch like crazy, lose hair, and even cause serious skin issues. These pesky insects can also infest your home and bite humans. Are you looking for a flea home remedy? Thankfully there’s an easier, faster way. A flea spray safe for cats is readily available and relatively simple to use.
Fleas and ticks are a widespread problem for pet owners to deal with. They can sometimes be a real pain to get rid of if there are many fleas. If your cat has fleas, then we understand that you want them gone now. That’s why you need to use a quality flea product that can eliminate these little bugs quickly and keep them at bay.
We compiled a list of our top 6 flea sprays that are safe for cats and effective at dealing with fleas on your cat, in your home, or both. We will also take a closer look at the flea life cycle and the best ways to prevent your cat from getting infected; that way, you can help keep your cat flea-free for longer.
Our Top Picks:
Dremmel 7300 PT Cat Pedicure
- Trims nails safely and effectively
- Wireless and rechargeable, so no leads getting in the way
- 2 speeds, so you can choose which one is right for your cat
- Compatible with a wide variety of Dremel sanding drums
JW Pet Gripsoft Deluxe Cat Nail Clipper
- Easy to use guillotine style nail trimmer
- Rubber handle with non-slip grips
- Ergonomic handle design fits the natural curve of your hand to optimize comfort
- Cuts quickly and smoothly in one quick motion
JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper
- Suitable for all breeds and sizes
- Curved stainless steel blades
- Gripsoft technology features non-slip grips to optimize comfort and control
- Small size, to safely and efficiently trim your cat’s nails
Pet Republique Cat Nail Clipper
- High-quality product
- Sharp, long-lasting and robust stainless-steel blades
- Perfectly sized design for use in cats (and other small pets)
- Improved ergonomic handles for extra comfort
PetSpy Cat Nail Clipper
- Sharp and long-lasting stainless steel blades
- Safety guard to prevent cutting nails too short
- Safety lock to store the clippers in a closed position
- Discrete built-in nail file
- Comfy, non-slip handle design
Four Paws Ultimate Touch Cat Claw Clipper
- Blades have a stainless steel edge for long-lasting sharpness
- The molded plastic handle is comfy and light
- Recommended by professional groomers
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Pet Spray
- Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks and repels mosquitoes
- Contains an insect growth regulator (IGR), which helps prevent reinfestation for up to 2 months
- Provides immediate relief
Vet’s Best Cat Flea & Tick Home Spray
- Natural formula with potent plant extracts, essential oils, and no harsh chemicals
- Kills fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact
- Safe for use on your cat’s coat
- Safe for use on your home furnishings
- Leaves no stains or residue
- Pleasant smell
Frontline Spray for Dogs & Cats
- Fast-acting protection against fleas (all life stages), ticks, and lice
- Fipronil active ingredient is very effective: Kills 100% of fleas within 24 hours
- One flea spray application can offer cats up to 2 months of protection
- Waterproof and long-lasting treatment
- Safe for kittens over 2 days old
Cedarcide Original Biting Insect Dog & Cat Spray
- Kills and repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, mites, ants, and bed bugs
- Active ingredients: cedarwood oil and fully refined Non-GMO soybean oil
- Safe, non-toxic, DEET-free formula
- Safe for use with your family, pets, and home
- Non-staining, non-oily, and quick-drying spray
Virbac Knockout E.S. Area Treatment Spray
- Kills all stages of the life cycle of fleas and ticks rapidly on contact
- Prevents flea reinfestation for 7 whole months
- One 16oz spray can treat 2,100 square feet
- Leaves no odor, residue, or stains when used as instructed
- Aerosol spray gets into hard to reach places like under carpets, cracks, and corners
Pet Naturals of Vermont Flea + Tick Spray for Dogs & Cats
- A natural repellent spray to protect your pets from fleas and ticks, as well as mosquitoes, and flies
- Uses a unique blend of natural and essential oils: lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, sesame oil, and castor oil
- Safe for use on dogs and cats of all ages, including puppies and kittens
- Safe to use on pet bedding and grooming tools
- 100% natural ingredients, pet, and earth-friendly
What Are Fleas?
Fleas are tiny brown insects about 1-3mm in size that feed on a pet’s skin and blood. The most common type found on cats is the cat flea, also known as Ctenocephalides felis.
When they bite your cat’s skin, your cat will scratch, causing the skin to become red and irritated quickly. These insects can be difficult to spot as they are small and fast-moving, plus it can be extra challenging to spot fleas in kitties with darker colored fur.
Top 6 Flea Sprays for Cats
A flea spray is excellent as it is easy to use, and you are in full control of how much you apply to your cat or use around your home. There are many different types of flea sprays available, including those only for your cat’s coat, others only for your home, and some sprays that are safe for both. The active ingredients also differ significantly, ranging from totally natural products containing essential oils to ones with powerful anti-parasite chemicals. We have compiled a list of our favorite flea spray options for cats, including a wide range of different options, so you are bound to find one that suits you and your cat.
Let’s take a look at each of our top 6 flea sprays for cats in more detail.
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Pet Spray
Adams Plus flea and tick spray is designed to be applied directly to your cat’s coat and offers quick and long-lasting protection from fleas (including eggs and larvae), ticks, and mosquitoes. The great news is that once you have applied this flea spray, it will keep working for up to 2 months but can be used monthly onto your cat’s coat if needed.
It contains an insect growth regulator (IGR), a common flea treatment ingredient that kills fleas and stops the flea life cycle in its tracks to prevent new infestations. It is safe for use in dogs and cats, but only for kittens over 12 weeks of age and puppies over 10 weeks of age. We think that this is a very effective flea spray as it immediately kills fleas on your cat’s skin, giving them quick relief from itching. It simplifies spraying your cat with the easy-to-hold spray bottle and convenient trigger handle that produces a powerful flea spray.
Key Benefits
- Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks and repels mosquitoes
- Contains an insect growth regulator (IGR), which helps prevent reinfestation for up to 2 months
- Provides immediate relief
Vet’s Best Cat Flea & Tick Home Spray
Vet’s Best Cat flea and tick home spray is made with a plant-based formula using certified natural peppermint oil and Eugenol and doesn’t contain any harsh chemical ingredients. This effective product is proven to kill fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes on direct contact. It is effective against active flea infestations and offers ongoing protection too.
This spray is formulated to be safe for use on your home furnishings AND on your cat. You can use the spray directly onto bedding, cat furniture, upholstery, blankets, carpets, and more. Only a fine misting is required, and it doesn’t leave a stain. If you are worried about staining on certain types of furniture, then do a test spray first. It is safe for use on cats over 12 weeks of age, and the instructions state that you only need to lightly spray the cat’s entire coat until it is damp, not fully saturated.
Compared to some other flea sprays, Vet’s Best Cat flea and tick home spray doesn’t have a strong chemical smell. We found that this spray had a pleasant yet natural smell that cats don’t seem to mind. This flea spray is the perfect choice as a natural flea control option for your cat.
Key Benefits
- Natural formula with potent plant extracts, essential oils, and no harsh chemicals
- Kills fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact
- Safe for use on your cat’s coat
- Safe for use on your home furnishings
- Leaves no stains or residue
- Pleasant smell
Frontline Spray for Dogs & Cats
The Frontline brand offers various topical anti-parasite treatments for pets, and Frontline Spray for Dogs & Cats is probably one of the most well-known flea treatments on the market. The active ingredient is fipronil, a powerful insecticide that quickly kills the target parasites on contact.
This spray effectively kills fleas, ticks, and lice on dogs and cats and may also aid in controlling certain mites (e.g., Neotrombicula autumnalis, Sarcoptes spp. and Cheyletiella spp.) too. The Frontline flea spray has been proven to eliminate all existing fleas on your pet within 24 hours of administration and continues to offer protection against fleas for up to 2 months in cats.
You can apply the spray monthly if your cat tends to get fleas frequently. It is suitable and safe for use in kittens from two days of age; you need to read the instructions and be extra careful to apply the right amount on small kittens. The flea treatment dosage depends on the weight of your cat, with larger cats requiring more sprays.
The spray bottle and trigger are easy to use, and a small spray goes a long way, so the bottle will last you longer than you expect. Although it may be more expensive than some of our other options, we found this was one of the most effective and reliable sprays for getting rid of fleas on your cat’s coat fast.
Key Benefits
- Fast-acting protection against fleas (all life stages), ticks, and lice
- Fipronil active ingredient is very effective: Kills 100% of fleas within 24 hours
- One flea spray application can offer cats up to 2 months of protection
- Waterproof and long-lasting treatment
- Safe for kittens over 2 days old
Cedarcide Original Biting Insect Dog & Cat Spray
We like this flea spray as it is safe for your family, pets, and home furnishings. It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or DEET and is non-toxic and earth-friendly. The active ingredients are cedarwood oil and soybean oil.
These powerful plant oils work with other inactive ingredients like mineral oil and diatomaceous earth to kill and repel all life cycles of fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, mites, bed bugs, and ants. The instructions say that you need to lightly mist your pet’s coat and then massage the spray in, and you can repeat as needed or every 5-7 days for ongoing prevention against fleas. If your cat is under 5lbs, you should consult your veterinarian before using this product.
You can also safely use around your home to kill bugs on bedding, furniture, carpets, and rugs, and it doesn’t leave a stain. This spray has a fresh cedar scent that we found that cats didn’t seem to mind and is non-oily and quick-drying, which is very useful when applying to wriggly kitties. Cedarcide Original is an excellent option for the environmentally-conscious owner who wants a natural flea product that is safe to use around their pets and the whole family.
Key Benefits
- Kills and repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, mites, ants, and bed bugs
- Active ingredients: cedarwood oil and fully refined Non-GMO soybean oil
- Safe, non-toxic, DEET-free formula
- Safe for use with your family, pets, and home
- Non-staining, non-oily, and quick-drying spray
Virbac Knockout E.S. Area Treatment Spray
Virbac Knockout E.S. Area Flea Treatment Spray is designed for treating your home against fleas and ticks and is NOT to be used directly on your pet’s coat. It is an extremely fast-acting treatment spray for use around your home. It contains a few different ingredients, including pyrethrin, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen (insect growth regulator).
This combination of powerful chemicals will kill all fleas and prevent new flea infestations in your home for a full seven months. The 16oz can treat up to 2100 square feet of your home. If you use it as directed, it won’t leave a stain, smell, or residues on your furniture or upholstery. As this spray is so powerful, it is essential to follow the instructions and remove all pets and people (including yourself once you have finished) from the treated room for a few hours.
We think this is a top choice if you have an active flea infestation in your home as it kills fleas rapidly, and you get your money’s worth, as one application lasts a full seven months. However, there are many strong chemicals in this spray, so you need to be careful about where and when you use it.
Key Benefits
- Kills all stages of the life cycle of fleas and ticks rapidly on contact
- Prevents flea reinfestation for 7 whole months
- One 16oz spray can treat 2,100 square feet
- Leaves no odor, residue, or stains when used as instructed
- Aerosol spray gets into hard to reach places like under carpets, cracks, and corners
Pet Naturals of Vermont Flea + Tick Spray for Dogs & Cats
Pet Naturals of Vermont flea and tick spray is another natural option on our favorites list. Veterinarians formulate this spray, and the active ingredients include lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, sesame oil, and castor oil. It uses only plant-based natural oils and doesn’t contain any manufactured chemicals, artificial additives, or DEET.
We found that this spray is an excellent repellent for fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. However, it is not the best option to treat or kill fleas if your cat has an active infestation. The instructions state that you can apply it to your pet every 2-3 days before he goes outside, but it can be applied daily if required.
The spray is formulated to be safe for use on both dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens. Thankfully, it can also be used on your cat’s bedding and grooming tools and is non-staining. This spray is a good option for owners who want a natural product to repel and prevent flea infestations on their outdoor cats or in their homes. Product Information
Key Benefits
- A natural repellent spray to protect your pets from fleas and ticks, as well as mosquitoes, and flies
- Uses a unique blend of natural and essential oils: lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, sesame oil, and castor oil
- Safe for use on dogs and cats of all ages, including puppies and kittens
- Safe to use on pet bedding and grooming tools
- 100% natural ingredients, pet, and earth-friendly
Do Cat Flea Sprays Work?
There are many flea treatment options on the market, from sprays to spot-ons, shampoos, and powders, and all that choice can make it confusing and challenging to decide what is best for your cat. Flea sprays can be a very effective and convenient way of managing fleas on your cat and in your home.
Some natural flea sprays do not contain harsh chemicals but might take longer to kill the fleas, need to be applied more often, and not last as long as traditional flea sprays with a chemical insecticide. However, if using a natural plant-based spray is important to you, then you, by all means, that should be your first choice.
If your cat has fleas, then a suitable flea spray can often help manage the problem and help treat your home. However, sometimes sprays aren’t strong enough to tackle a large infestation on your cat, so you might need to use a more substantial flea treatment such as a spot-on with long-lasting activity to rid your cat’s fleas. Your veterinarian can recommend the best flea treatment for your cat if the infestation has progressed.
What to Look for in a Quality Flea Spray?
The first thing to think about is safety when looking for a flea treatment. If you buy a spray for your home furnishings like the sofa, bedding, and carpets, it still needs to be safe to be used around your cat. Check the ingredients list and look up any chemicals you are unsure of to be confident they are safe.
To kill fleas effectively, you need a spray that can kill all the flea life cycle stages; otherwise, you will continue to have flea eggs hatching and re-infesting your cat. Some natural sprays will kill all flea life cycle stages, but they often take longer to work and require more frequent applications than some of the traditional insecticide flea treatments.
If you buy a spray for around your home, you should choose one that won’t stain or damage surfaces, isn’t greasy, and fast-drying. Consider purchasing a spray that has a gentle scent because your cat will detest a strong smell.
It would be best if you never used a dog flea spray on cats, as some common ingredients that are safe for dogs can be extremely toxic to cats. Be sure to check the label and ingredients for flea sprays that can be used on both dogs and cats.
How to Use a Cat Flea Spray Effectively?
The most important thing with any cat flea spray is to read and follow the instructions carefully. Each spray will have different recommendations on the proper use and frequency of applications. If you don’t read the instructions, you are taking a significant risk with your cat’s health and wellbeing.
It is a good idea to carry out a sensitivity test patch before you use a new flea spray on your cat or in your home. This way, you can be sure your cat is not allergic to any of the ingredients or that the spray won’t leave a stain on your favorite carpet.
Use the spray in a well-ventilated area to ensure that you and your cat aren’t breathing in the spray. You can use gloves and a simple mask if you want when applying the flea spray.
You can use some flea sprays directly on your cat, others only in your home, and some can be used both on your cat and your furnishings. Never use a home spray on your cat that isn’t formulated for use on pets.
What Are the Signs of Fleas in Cats?
Some cats can be bothered by a couple of fleas, while other cats will not show any signs even if they have lots of fleas living on their coat. Fleas are fast-moving and tiny, and while grooming themselves, cats can eat any fleas they find. All this can make it difficult to spot them on your cat’s hair.
Common signs of fleas include:
- Itching
- Licking or biting coat
- Hair loss
- Skin red and irritated
- Skin infections
What Is the Flea Life Cycle?
Adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day, and the entire flea life cycle only takes around 15 days during the summer. Therefore a lot of fleas can be reproduced very quickly if left untreated. Adult fleas live on your pet, and when the females lay eggs, these fall off into your home.
Surprisingly flea eggs can survive two to three years indoors, and they often bury deep into carpet or bedding. Usually, the larvae (or young fleas) hatch within a few days and continue to grow within a sticky cocoon over the next few weeks. When it has fully developed into an adult, the flea can emerge and jump onto a host within a few seconds, and so the cycle continues.
To eliminate these pesky bugs quickly from your cat and your home, you need to ensure that you kill all parts of the flea life cycle. You need to ensure that you kill any adult fleas on your cat and prevent reinfestation from any flea eggs in your home.
How Can You Check if Your Cat Has Fleas?
You can check for fleas by gently parting your cat’s hair right down to the skin in various places. You can check all over the body, but the best places to look are over your cat’s back and at the base of the tail. Using a flea comb is the best and easiest way to check your cat’s coat thoroughly for fleas.
Another tip is to comb your cat’s hair over a clean white surface such as a white piece of paper or white tissue. That way, any fleas or flea dirt (flea poop) can be seen. If you are not sure if the black specks are flea dirt or just regular dirt or dust, you need to place the debris on damp white paper or cotton wool. If it is flea dirt, it will slowly dissolve and leave red-brown stains. Identifying flea dirt is significant because there are active adult fleas in your cat’s coat, even if you can’t find them.
If you need any help, your veterinarian will be able to check your cat’s skin and check for fleas thoroughly. Your vet will be able to diagnose what is causing your cat to itch.
Why Should You Treat Fleas On Your Cat?
Some people might think that a few fleas aren’t a big deal on their pet’s coat, but fleas can cause lots of problems for your cat, home, and family.
Regular flea control is essential for many reasons, including:
- Your cat will feel uncomfortable and itchy
- Constant itching can cause skin infections
- The cat flea helps transmit the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum
- As adult fleas feed on blood, a large flea infestation can cause weakness and anemia, especially in young kittens
- Some cats can develop an allergy to flea bites, which can cause a severe skin disease to develop
- Cat fleas can bite humans, usually around the ankles
- Fleas can infest your home if left untreated
It is important to treat and prevent flea infections on your pet with all these potential problems.
How to Combat Fleas in Your Home?
We think that flea sprays are a handy way of combatting fleas on your cat and in your home, but you will probably get much faster results if you use them alongside other effective flea control methods.
The best ways to combat fleas in your home include:
- Use a cat-safe flea spray in your home, including on the furnishings (bedding, sofa, cat bed, rugs, etc.)
- Use a cat-safe flea spray or spot-on treatment on your cat to kill adult fleas
- All pets in your home should be treated with a suitable flea treatment
- Regularly vacuum your home to remove flea eggs, flea dirt, and dormant fleas
- Repeated treatments are usually needed to eliminate fleas from a home
- Ask your veterinarian about regular cat flea treatment to prevent future flea infestations
Final Thoughts
Cat fleas can be a real nuisance as they can make your cat lose hair, continuously itch and even transmit tapeworms and other diseases. These pesky little bugs can also bite humans and, if left unchecked, can infest your home, lying dormant in places like carpets and bedding for up to two years. Home flea remedies are an option, but there are several effective, easy-to-use cat flea sprays for your cat’s coat and in your home.
Choose a good quality spray that effectively kills all flea life cycle stages and is safe for your cats. For the best possible results, a flea spray should be combined with other flea control methods such as frequent vacuuming and regular preventative flea treatments for all the pets in your home. That way, you can say goodbye to fleas forever!
