4 Best Oral Flea Treatments for Cats – 2024 Reviews and Top Picks

Cats are susceptible to contracting fleas during the summer and spring months. This makes it important to choose a suitable flea treatment for your cat. It’s no surprise because fleas are unwanted by your cat. These pests burrow in your cat’s fur and feed off their blood. Fleas will cause itching and dermatitis allergies.

We have reviewed some of the best oral flea treatments on the market so that you can easily determine which oral flea treatment is right for your cat and their situation.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 4 Best Oral Flea Treatments for Cats

1. Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment for Cats – Best Overall

The best overall oral flea treatment for cats is from Capstar. This is a fast-acting flea treatment that begins killing fleas 30 minutes after being consumed by your cat. It is safe for cats and kittens that are over a month of age. It helps to tackle flea infestations quickly and the dead fleas will begin to fall off of your cat as this treatment starts to act. You do not need a veterinarian prescription to administrate this oral treatment to your cat and doses can be given as often as once a day. The active ingredient seen in this flea treatment is 11.4 mg of Nitenpyram.

Once your cat swallows the tablet, the active ingredient (Nitenpyram) enters your cat’s bloodstream, and the fleas will then ingest it when they bite your cat. This insecticide attacks the flea’s nervous system which causes paralysis and death. It will cause your cat to scratch itself more often. This is not a side effect of the insecticide but rather a reaction to the fleas who are being killed. This reaction will not last very long and will ease when the fleas have fallen off your cats’ body.

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2.  Flea Away Natural Flea & Tick Supplement – Best Value

The best product for the value of money is the Flea Away natural supplement. This is a 2 pack of 100 chewable tablets. This vitamin complex flea treatment has been made to FDA human standards as a safe barrier for ticks, fleas, and mosquitos. No pesticides are used in the formula and there are no toxic chemicals and residue which makes it a great natural prevention and treatment for fleas in cats. This product is safe for nursing cats and her litters because of its non-toxicity.

An additional benefit to this natural flea treatment is that the vitamins also help to promote healthier skin, reduce shedding, enhance the coat’s shine, while supporting cats’ joints. The flavor is liver which will entice your cat to eat it. It will take between 20 to 30 days for your cat to build up an appropriate level to fight off the fleas. It is safe for daily use and can be fed continuously. It is slow acting so it will take longer to work than other oral flea treatments.

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3. CAPACTION Fast-Acting Oral Cat Flea Treatment – Premium Choice

Capaction is an oral flea tablet that starts to work within 30 minutes of administration. It is safe for adult cats or kittens above the age of 4 weeks old. This product contains Nitenpyram as an active ingredient that paralyzes and eventually kills fleas that are biting your cat. It helps to reduce the mess and rubbing associated with topical flea treatments and this product does not require a veterinarian prescription.

This oral treatment is also safe for nursing and pregnant cats since Nitenpyram is only deadly to pests and not animals. You only need to administrate 6 doses for this flea treatment to effectively work. A bonus is that this product can stop fleas that cause allergy dermatitis, thus reducing itching and shedding in cats.

It is more affordable than other types of Nitenpyram flea treatments, which may be convenient if you’re on a tight budget.

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4. Natural Pet Products Flea Free Food Supplement

This is a liquid-based flea supplement for dogs and cats. It can be used to treat and prevent flea infestations. The main active ingredient is allicin which is produced from dried garlic. Garlic has a great potential to holistically control fleas in cats. Garlic contains enzymes and nutrients that drastically reduce the toxicity of fleas and discourages fleas from wanting to bite or remain on your cat. It helps to prevent fleas from biting and laying eggs on your cat in the form of a convenient oral liquid that can be added to your cat’s water or food. It is safe to feed your cat daily and the dosage will take a few weeks to accumulate into your cat’s digestive system before you see the results. It’s cheaper than tablet treatments, however not many cats will like the strong taste of this flea treatment liquid.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Oral Flea Treatments for Cats

What Oral Flea Treatment Is Right For Your Cat?

Nitenpyram

This is found in tablet flea treatments and is an active ingredient that enters your cat’s bloodstream within a few minutes. The fleas will then bite the cat and ingest traces of this insecticide. After a while, the fleas will become paralyzed and starve to death. Your cat will then have a natural reaction to scratch the dead fleas from their fur. After this flea treatment has been used, the environment should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dead fleas.

A downside to this active ingredient is that it cannot kill flea eggs.

Allicin (Dried Garlic)

Allicin is released from dried garlic. It has great anti-parasitic properties and has been praised as a holistic treatment for flea infestations in both cats and dogs. It does not work as fast as other insecticide flea treatments, but it has an excellent ability to control, kill, and prevent fleas from taking a liking to your cat.

Niacin

This is a Vitamin B derivative that naturally repels fleas. It enters the digestive system through oral administration. After a few weeks, enough levels of Niacin will be in your cat’s body to repel and prevent fleas from being attracted to your cat.

Thiamine

Thiamine is a form of Vitamin B1. If your cat consumes ample amounts of this vitamin, it will be able to ward off fleas. This greatly lowers their risk of being bitten by fleas as they hate the smell of Thiamine and the smell being produced from your cat’s pores will repel them.

What Should You Consider Before Purchasing an Oral Flea Treatment for Cats?

Types of Oral Flea Treatments for Cats

There are two main types of oral flea treatments for cats. Mainly a tablet in a chewable formula, or a liquid supplement that can be added to your cat’s water or food.

Tablet Form

This is the most common type of flea treatment for cats because it is readily available and fast-acting. Flea tablets typically take between 30 to 60 minutes to work, and the dose will last for a week. Some cats may struggle to swallow or chew the tablet and a food bribe will need to be used to get your cat to consume the tablet.

If your cat spits out the tablet, you may want to look into trying the next best oral flea treatment for your cat, which is a liquid supplement.

Liquid Form

This is generally a slow-acting flea treatment that gets added to your cat’s food or water every day. This treatment will not work if it is not used correctly as it can take up to a month for the active ingredients to start working. Liquid flea treatments can be used to eradicate mild flea infestations on cats or as a preventative measure during flea breeding season.

Since it can be added to your cat’s water, you have to make sure that they are drinking enough water and not avoiding it because of the added medication. Liquid flea treatments can be hidden within the gravy or juice in wet cat food, which will easily enter your cat’s digestive system to start working.

Conclusion

Two of our top picks for an excellent oral flea treatment for cats is the best overall product, the Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment for Cats, and the premium choice which is the CAPACTION Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment for Cats. Both of these products are fast-acting and Nitenpyram is the main active ingredient. These products have proven to be the most effective against mild to severe flea infestations to keep your cat comfortable and flea-free in a few days.

Read Also: 

• 9 Best Cat Weight Gain Supplements
• 10 Best Flea Drops for Cats

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Featured Photo Credit: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock