As long as your cat isn’t scratching excessively or you’re experiencing itchy bites from fleas or other pests (mosquitos, for instance), you might not even notice they’re hiding there! Even though they’re small, jumping specks can be a real pain. They cause irritation and anxiety in your pet’s fur when they take up residence there.
Hazardous tapeworms larva can be carried by these pesky insects. If a cat ingests an infected flea during grooming, it may become infected with parasites like fleas and ticks. Flea bites can spread a variety of diseases and cause hair loss as well.
Fleas are the most prevalent external parasite that plagues our feline companions. If this is the case, you should be ready to deal with an infestation as soon as it occurs by using the finest flea shampoo for cats on the market. To help you narrow down your options, we’ve compiled a list of the top rated flea shampoo available right now.
We’ve also included a complete buyer’s guide with information on the most important things to consider when selecting the best flea shampoo for cats. We’ve also answered some of the most frequently asked questions about how to keep your cat free of fleas and ticks.
Let’s get started!
7 Best Flea Shampoos for Cats Reviewed – Our Top Picks
Using a flea shampoo for cats can be an effective, safe, and cost-effective way to eliminate fleas and ticks the cats catch. But there are so many shampoos on the market that it can be difficult to find one that is dependable and doesn’t compromise quality to save money.
We’ll go through the top 6 cat flea shampoos to guide you in making the ideal choice for your feline friend.
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Waterless Bath Foam for Cats
This dry shampoo for cats contains plant based formula with active ingredients like eugenol and peppermint oil and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a common detergent that helps the mix lather.
However, SLS can cause skin irritation (which is not the case with dry shampoo). The company suggests testing this cat shampoo with the natural formula for sensitivity 60 minutes before treatment.
Since this waterless bath foam for cats doesn’t require rinsing, it’s probably easier to use than traditional shampoos for cats (unless your cat is a bath lover). A sparing application of the foam to your pet’s coat, avoiding sensitive regions like the eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals, is enough. Let the mix dry on the cat’s fur before grooming the feline.
The flea & tick cat shampoo is available in 5- and 8-ounce bottles with a pump. If you don’t like harsh chemical odor, this waterless flea shampoo is for you. It leaves a strong clove scent that lingers.
This is a good flea killer that also kills eggs, but it doesn’t offer prevention, which may bother people who live in flea-prone areas. These shampoos are only for cats 12 weeks and older.
Pros
- A top pick for dry shampoo for fleas
- Doesn’t need to be rinsed off
- No added perfumes in the solution
- Deodorizes with a pleasant smell
- Plant-based, natural ingredients, no harmful formulas
- Lathering is possible
- Effectively repels fleas and ticks
- Moisturizes and soothes irritated skin
Cons
- Does not prevent re-infestation
Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor
Adams has been selling pet care products since 1975. The company sells anti-parasite remedies for cats and dogs, including flea and tick treatments.
Adams Plus flea tick shampoo with Precor is a flea bath enhanced with an insect growth regulator that prevents parasite hatching for 4 weeks. This is a strong medicated cat shampoo that kills flea eggs and larvae while loose dandruff.
This cat flea shampoo is safe for use on 12-week old kittens and adult cats (like most other options here). The formulation combines piperonyl butoxide and pyrethrins, natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers.
This shampoo comes in a 24-oz transparent bottle with a pump for easy dosing. It also has oatmeal, aloe, coconut extract, and lanolin in it.
This flea shampoo is friendly toward sensitive skin. The only drawback is that it takes 5 minutes to kill fleas and larvae in your pet’s fur.
Pros
- Amazingly effective against adult fleas and ticks
- Smells heavenly for a sensitive nose
- Destroys flea life cycle by preventing eggs from hatching and killing larvae
- User friendly packaging
- Designed specifically for the sensitive skin of animals
Cons
- Suitable for only adults, not newborn kittens
Advantage Flea and Tick Treatment Shampoo for Cats and Kittens
The Advantage Cat Flea and Tick Shampoo is a good choice for cat shampoo if you’re seeking a flea & tick cat shampoo that works quickly for most cats. Ticks and fleas on an animal die immediately as they come into touch with the product’s potent active ingredients.
Although it is intended for kittens, caution should be exercised when using this shampoo. Pyrethrin, a strong insecticide, is used in the Advantage Shampoo formula. A very little kitten may not be able to handle the strength of this natural flea shampoo.
Even so, adult cats can use this shampoo without fear of harm. It won’t hurt the environment or small children, either. As a result, Advantage Shampoo for cats is ideal if you want to eliminate fleas and ticks from your pet’s coat and skin.
Pros
- Effectively kills fleas
- A natural shampoo that doesn’t irritate the skin
- Eliminates both fleas and ticks
- Requires a small amount of product for a single wash
- Unscented
- Kills fleas on contact with a fast-acting formula
Cons
- A bit expensive
Zodiac Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs & Cats
Pest control for homes and gardens is a specialty of Zodiac, as is anti-flea treatments for pets like cats and dogs. They use an effective formula based on piperonyl butoxide and pyrethrins to boost the insecticidal capability of their flea tick shampoo.
This alcohol-free shampoo contains coconut conditioners that make cat fur softer and easier to groom without irritating the cat’s skin. Like most other shampoos, it comes in 12- and 18-ounce plastic bottles and is ready to use.
According to the label, 1 1/3 tablespoon of this flea tick shampoo is needed per 5 pounds of pet’s weight, so even the smaller container will last if you only have one cat to treat. Also, it’s a great value for money when compared to the other shampoos.
Since this flea shampoo doesn’t kill larvae or prevent egg hatching, the flea & tick shampoo can be used up to once a week to keep fleas from reappearing. However, if your cat has sensitive skin or is prone to dryness, frequent bathing may be inconvenient.
Fleas spend most of their time outside of the host. Thus, it makes sense to combine the flea wash with bedding and house treatment using appropriate solutions, as recommended by Zodiac Health. If your kitten is at least 12 weeks old, you can safely use this cat flea shampoo as a flea bath.
Pros
- Safe and effective killing fleas
- Affordable price
- Provides protection against fleas and itching for up to seven days
- A little amount goes a long way
- Coconut conditioner for a healthy, shiny, and tangle-free coat
- Amazing fresh scent
Cons
- Doesn’t kill flea larvae or prevent flea eggs from hatching
SENTRY PurrScriptions Flea and Tick Shampoo for Cats
SENTRY cat flea shampoo has coconut conditioners, making the cat’s coat lustrous and easier to brush flea dirt with a flea comb or brush. Additionally, it has a delicious coconut berry aroma.
This Flea and Tick Shampoo for Cats from PurrScriptions is also ready to use the product. You do not have to mix it yourself. All you have to do is warm up some soapy water and lather up the wet cat. On the other hand, the manufacturer recommends leaving it on for four to five minutes to get the preferred results.
This can be a problem if you have a cat who refuses to bathe. Since the cat shampoo’s manufacturer makes no claims regarding the shampoo’s ability to prevent further infestation, this poses a huge problem for pet owners who are trying to manage the spread.
When it comes to reapplying this flea shampoo, the instructions recommend cat owners wait at least two weeks after the first application. Only kittens over the age of 12 weeks old should use this shampoo to eliminate fleas.
Pros
- Effectively kills fleas, ticks, and lice
- Leaves the coat lustrous and easier to brush
- Sweet coconut berry scent
- Relatively mild and safe formula
- Affordable price
Cons
- No potential for prevention of re-infestation
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Cats
This Veterinary Formula Clinical Care flea shampoo may well be the greatest value for money. It comes in a huge 16-ounce bottle for less than other comparable shampoos. But it wouldn’t matter if the cat shampoo wasn’t effective.
Luckily, it’s a great shampoo with a PH-balanced formula. After one application, it effectively stopped the first wave of fleas. It leaves your cat covered with a lovely, mild fragrance. Also, it soothes flea-infested cats’ irritated and itchy skin. The aloe and lanolin in this shampoo help irritated skin recover rapidly so that the cat can stop scratching.
However, this shampoo doesn’t kill eggs and larvae. Therefore, it doesn’t prevent re-infestation.
Pros
- Very inexpensive compared to other products on this list
- Features a powerful active ingredient, pyrethrum, to kill fleas and ticks effectively
- Leaves a pleasant scent behind
- Soothes skin irritated from flea bites and tick bites
- Gently exfoliates and washes your cat’s skin and coat to promote healing
Cons
- Only kills adult fleas, not egg or larvae
Adams Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo
It is cheaper and more efficient to safeguard your family, pets, house and yard with Adams products. In addition to flea and tick preventative remedies, Adams also offers a wide range of shampoos and leashes for pets of all sizes as well as sprays for the apartment and yard.
If it comes to dealing with tough parasite outbreaks in dogs and cats, Adams has another great product in its arsenal: a cleaning shampoo. Your pet’s aches and pains will be a thing of the past with this shampoo, which contains a variety of powerful chemicals proven to kill a wide range of insects
For cats and kittens, the oatmeal in Adams Plus Flea and Tick Foaming Shampoo and Wash gives long-lasting treatment. Your cat’s regular bath should include the flea and tick shampoo treatment, which will rid your pet’s skin of the irritating pests. Keep soap out of your cat’s nose and mouth by lathering with warm water. Rinse the dish well before putting it away.
The mixture of chemicals in our cat solution acts to interrupt the flea life span by offering immediate relief from currently identified insects and inhibiting the birth of new flea eggs. Conditioner and shine-restorer, our oatmeal-enriched product also leaves behind a nice smell. In order to avoid a re-infestation, it destroys flea eggs for 28 days. With this product, your cat’s coat will be silky, lustrous, and easy to handle because it was created with their delicate skin in mind. Cats and kittens 12 weeks of age and older can utilize our formula.
Pyrethrins, Piperonyl butoxide, and Pyriproxyfen are among the active constituents in the Adams cleaning shampoo. It removes fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and lice, as well as prevents flea eggs from developing for 30 days due to this strong mixture. The end result is a clean and healthy coat for the long haul. In addition to cleaning and odor control, the shampoo is an excellent choice for pets with unclean coats and foul odors. This shampoo is great for families with several pets because it may be used on dogs of all ages, including puppies, as well as cats of all ages, including kittens.
Pros:
- interrupts the flea life span
- fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and lice
- Conditioner and shine-restorer
- Pyrethrins, Piperonyl butoxide, and Pyriproxyfen
- silky, lustrous, and easy to handle
Cons:
- Possible fake products exist
Types of Cat Flea Treatment
Whether your cat prefers the home or the outdoors, ticks and fleas must be avoided with the flea treatments formulated with the ideal active ingredients. Ticks can spread the plague and cat scratch fever, while fleas spread Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If your cat has a tick or flea, it will have itchy skin.
Products exist to assist in preventing and treating this issue, but they must be used carefully. See below for cat flea and tick preventive options.
i. Cat Flea Shampoo
Shampooing your cat is a great first line of defense against fleas and ticks. Using a non-toxic, moderate, yet extremely effective shampoo for cats will safeguard your pet’s skin while still providing the advantage of clean and healthy skin and fur.
ii. Spray
A spray can also protect your cat, especially after using an effective flea shampoo. Sprays should only be used on rare occasions. These can be non-toxic and safe for your pet’s coat and skin, as well as your family. They can also be used on your cat’s bedding.
iii. Flea Collars
Flea collars, worn around your cat’s neck, deliver flea prevention continuously (unlike other flea treatments). For the most part, these collars last for several months before needing to be replaced. They work better in combination with other anti-flea products.
iv. Topical Flea Treatments
We also recommend a topical flea treatment that is applied monthly in conjunction with other measures. Applied and massaged into the cat’s fur, topical flea treatment is also called a spot-on treatment. Fleas and ticks on your cat’s fur are effectively killed and deterred using this flea treatment.
v. Oral Medication
As an alternative to topical, we highly recommend taking an oral medication once a month. In most cases, they work well on felines. Your cat will be better protected against fleas and ticks if the proper dosage is given to them on a full stomach. Oral tablets may be a better option for newborn kittens and pregnant cats because they are easier to administer orally.
Buying Guide for the Best Flea Shampoo for Cats
If you want to take the easy route, follow our suggestions. We’re convinced that you’ll end up with a shampoo that works for your cat. However, if you like to make a better-informed decision before making a purchase, this short guide will help you.
It can be tough to compare two different shampoos unless you are well-versed in the subject. Long names abound on ingredient lists, and each shampoo promises to be the greatest option.
We’ve whittled down all of the comparative factors to the most crucial ones to make buying cat flea shampoo easier for you. We’re confident that if you focus on these factors and determine a shampoo that matches your demands in these areas, you’ll be pleased with the cat flea shampoo you’ve chosen.
Effectiveness at Killing Fleas
You might expect the flea shampoo or tick shampoo you purchase to clean your cat’s skin efficiently. However, its primary objective is to eliminate flea and tick infestation currently afflicting your feline friend.
Keeping your cat’s skin clean and healthy is secondary to this primary goal. This naturally implies that the finest flea shampoos are those that repel fleas rather than those that leave your cat’s coat clean and fresh with a long-lasting effect.
Unfortunately, many of the flea treatments also contain harsh chemicals and ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, pyrethrins, lanolin, and permethrin) that might cause your cat’s coat to dry out.
However, many flea treatments contain moisturizers and natural ingredients such as essential oils (peppermint oil, cedar oil, neem oil, and coconut oil) and natural extracts (chrysanthemum flowers, cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, and coconut extract) to condition your pet’s coat and pet’s skin while still killing flea infestation on your young feline. Thus, consult with your vet for advice and search for natural flea shampoos if your cat has sensitive skin.
Nourishment of the Pet’s Skin and Coat
All of the harsh chemicals and components that kill fleas in the flea shampoos for cats can be extremely damaging to your cat’s coat and skin. They can also damage the nervous system. That’s why we believe it’s critical to choose a shampoo with various nutritious components that can help moisturize and repair your pet’s skin and coat. These might make your cat feel clean and fresh instead of dry and flaky.
Coconut conditioners, moisturizing oatmeal, and several essential oils are excellent natural moisturizers found in natural shampoos. These ingredients will keep your cat’s coat healthy rather than dying with fleas.
Ability to Kill Flea Eggs And Flea Larvae
Flea and tick shampoo kills fleas, but it may not eliminate a flea infestation problem. If you want to prevent re-infestation for good, you must first kill the flea eggs and larvae. This necessitates a different set of active ingredients than those that merely kill adult fleas.
Many flea treatments kill fleas but do nothing for the flea eggs and larvae, which means your flea problem will return sooner or later.
Look for cat flea and tick shampoos that will keep re-infestations at bay. These often avoid such events by killing the eggs and larvae. Any reoccurring illness is most likely caused by the return of fleas from another source after the eggs and larvae have died.
Price
Some shampoos may appear significantly more expensive than others, but you must also evaluate how much product is contained in each container. The shampoo for cats comes in sizes ranging from eight ounces to a gallon, with 12 and 16-ounce bottles being the most prevalent.
When comparing the prices of two different cat shampoos, make careful to consider the amount. If they’re priced similarly, but one bottle is eight ounces, and the other is sixteen, the 16-ounce bottle has twice as much product for the same price.
Tips for Using The Flea Shampoo for Cats
- Before using any shampoos for a pest problem, be sure to pay close attention, read, and follow the directions carefully.
- No gloves are needed while using the shampoos during regular bath stages. Gently massage and wash your cat in warm water until they are completely dry. Use your hands to lather the shampoo over your cat (including the legs and ears), being careful to avoid sensitive areas like the head and the area around the eyes to avoid eye irritation.
- To get a better result, flea shampoos typically need to be applied to the cat for three to five minutes at a time. Use warm water to re-rinse the pesticides off your cat, then use a brush, flea comb, or your fingers to remove any dead fleas you find.
Conclusion
Using a flea shampoo for cats on a regular basis can be an excellent way to keep your pet free of parasites as long as you use the right one.
Today’s market provides a wide range of flea shampoos for cats. It is important to notice and consider the following: the cat’s age, symptoms, if the cat is allergic, the likelihood of recurrence of the infestation, the state of the cat’s skin and coat, and risk prevention potential.
When it comes to bathing, choosing an easy-to-use flea shampoo (that doesn’t contain any poison or dangerous ingredients) is important. Because it may be a stressful experience for both the owner and the pet. Waterless shampoo can be an alternative to more typical cat flea shampoos as you don’t need to rinse waterless dry shampoo. A pleasant scent and silky fur might also be a plus.
Remember, before shampooing your pets with any product, pay attention to the information contained on the label carefully, check for your cat’s allergies, and contact your veterinarian.
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FAQs
Can I use dog flea shampoo on a cat?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: It is critical to note that using dog flea shampoos on a cat can result in severe illness. Bathing your cat with a mild flea shampoo or Dawn soap can kill any live fleas on its body.
Do cat flea shampoos work?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: People frequently anticipate the flea shampoos to provide an immediate treatment that will rid your cat’s skin of fleas. Although a premium cat flea shampoo will most likely kill fleas that are present at the time of bathing, it may not provide long-term protection against re-infestation.
How Often Can You Give a Cat a Flea Bath?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: Consider giving a flea bath to a flea-infested cat at least once a month to make sure that the fleas finally diminish and disappear. According to the National Cat Groomers of America, cats should be given a flea bath at least every four to six weeks.
How old does a cat need to be to use flea and tick shampoo?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: Most flea and tick shampoos are safe for kittens older than 8-10 weeks or weighing more than 1.5-2 pounds, but each product is different for different ages. Every flea and tick shampoo is typically not tested on kittens younger or smaller than that. Thus, they may contain doses that are too high for extremely young, tiny kittens.
What flea shampoo do vets recommend for cats?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: Veterinarians recommend mild and medicated flea shampoos for cats (with natural ingredients labeled) because not only do they safely repel fleas, ticks, and other bugs, but they also prevent re infestation and soothe irritated skin.
What shampoo kills cat fleas?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: Bathing your cat with a gentle, traditional shampoo for humans can kill any live fleas on its body. There is no need to regularly use cat flea shampoo or “flea dip” for normal, mild infestation. A mild baby or cat flea shampoo will do the job nicely. Remember that the shampoos alone will not get rid of a flea infestation.
What’s the ideal flea shampoo for cats?
Category: Flea Shampoo for Cats
Ans: The ideal flea shampoo for kitties contains no toxic active ingredients and is completely safe for cats to use. Remember that flea shampoos that are acceptable for dogs or puppies may not be safe for cats, who may consume flea shampoo residue during grooming.