The 5 Greatest Tick Remedies for Cats of 2024

Revolution Plus is the trade commonplace for parasite prevention and flea and tick therapy in canines and cats, and it’s solely out there by prescription. This topical resolution has an alcohol additive that helps it to dry shortly, decreasing the prospect of the product working down your cat’s fur because it dries and doubtlessly being licked up by your cat throughout bathing. It kills three kinds of ticks—the black-legged tick, American canine tick, and Gulf Coast tick—in addition to fleas, ear mites, hookworms, and roundworms. It’s additionally a heartworm preventative. Nevertheless, it doesn’t deal with tapeworms (solely NexGard gives this).

Revolution Plus can be more likely to be much less efficient in opposition to some West Coast tick species, together with the widespread Pacific Coast tick. It additionally hasn’t been confirmed efficient in opposition to the Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), which might carry Lyme illness. This on-line instrument may also help you discover tick, flea, and different parasite therapies, primarily based on which parasites you wish to forestall in opposition to.

Revolution’s tick therapy can be utilized on kittens not less than eight weeks outdated, so long as they weigh not less than 2.8 kilos. There are three separate dosing ranges primarily based in your cat’s weight, as much as 22-pound chonks. One of many two lively elements has been identified to trigger neurological unwanted side effects in cats, so it’s price monitoring your cat after utility. Revolution Plus is bought in three, six, and 12-dose packages, so that you’ll be paying for not less than three doses proper off the bat.

_{Energetic Substances: Selamectin, sarolaner | Dosing: 3-, 6-, and 12-dose packages | Lifestage: Kittens not less than 8 weeks outdated, adults, seniors; 2.8 to 22 kilos}

Frontline Plus is a topical resolution that works in opposition to fleas and ticks. Not like many of the advisable merchandise we’ve picked, Frontline Plus doesn’t require a vet prescription, which might make it a handy therapy and prevention possibility if time is an element. It’s additionally about half as costly, making it extra accessible than expensive prescription choices (that additionally require a vet appointment). Frontline Plus can be utilized on kittens not less than eight weeks outdated and weighing simply 1.5 kilos, making it a stable choose for strays or rescues. It not solely works in opposition to all life levels of the deer tick, brown canine tick, American canine tick, and lone star tick, nevertheless it additionally breaks the lifecycle of the flea by killing it within the egg and larval stage. The one factor that offers us a pause for thought is that it’s the identical dosage irrespective of the age or measurement of your cat.

It’s price noting that Dr. Le Houllier flagged that Frontline Gold works sooner than Frontline Plus relating to killing fleas (however not ticks), so that’s price contemplating for those who’re itching to do away with a right away infestation of fleas.

_{Energetic Substances: Fipronil, (S)-methoprene | Dosing: 3 doses; 1 per 30 days | Lifestage: Kittens eight weeks and older weighing not less than 1.5 kilos}

This topical resolution stands out as the primary and solely topical parasiticide therapy that additionally works to deal with and kill tapeworms. That is along with its safety and prevention of fleas, ticks (black-legged and lone star), heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms. Not like Revolution Plus, it doesn’t work on ear mites. After utility, NexGard Combo will final for a month earlier than needing to be reapplied. We like that it may be used on kittens as younger as eight weeks outdated, weighing as little as 1.8 kilos, as many therapies have a minimal weight of over two kilos. As with many tick prevention therapies, one of many three lively elements has been identified to trigger neurological unwanted side effects, like seizures, so you’ll want to monitor your cat after every dose at the start of therapy. You’ll want a prescription for this.

_{Energetic Substances: Esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, praziquantel | Dosing: 1 dose per 30 days | Lifestage: Kittens over 8 weeks, adults; 1.8 to 16.5 kilos}

Credelio chewable tablets are a great possibility for cats that received’t put on collars or don’t tolerate topical options effectively. That is the primary—and solely—chewable pill for cats made to work on treating and stopping flea and tick infestations. We like that it may be used on kittens as younger as 8 weeks for flea therapy and on kittens six months and older for black-legged ticks. Notice that it solely works on one species of tick, so it’s price discovering out if that may be a dominant species in your space earlier than grabbing a prescription out of your vet. This once-a-month tablet have to be given with meals, and it’s price watching your cat after the primary few doses for the reason that lively ingredient can have neurological unwanted side effects in some cats.

_{Energetic Substances: Lotilaner | Dosing: 1 tablet a month | Lifestage: Six-month-old kittens and older; 2–17 kilos}

This tick-pulling instrument is straightforward to maintain available throughout journey walks or in an easy-to-access drawer at residence. Roughly the size of a bank card, the patented plastic Tickcheck card is designed to lure, raise, and take away nymph and adult-stage ticks whereas leaving them intact. We like the benefit of the cardboard’s press-and-pull movement, which vastly reduces the quantity of battle and frustration that may include tick elimination. Small nymphs require a bit extra focus.

A built-in 3x magnification space of the instrument helps to determine tick traits, which will be referenced in opposition to the included tick identification booklet (although this will simply be separated from the instrument). It could actually additionally assist you discover tips in hiding spots round your cat’s ears, neck, armpits, and genital space.

When eradicating a tick at residence, Dr. LeHoullier notes that “it could take a minute or two of rigidity to trigger the tick to launch,” and you need to keep away from twisting or jerking the tick—the aim is to get the tick out with its head nonetheless connected.

_{Materials: Plastic | Dosing: A number of makes use of | Lifestage: All}