As a cat owner, it’s difficult to determine when your feline is feeling run down or under the weather. Some animals hide their discomfort or pain, but when fleas invade your home, there’s no mistaking the damage they inflict on your pet. Cats constantly bite and scratch their skin when they’re battling fleas, and you must quickly find a remedy to protect your friend from infections, coat damage, and disease.
Fleas will target any warm-blooded creature in their paths, and humans can suffer along with their pets when a flea infestation is substantial. Flea medications come in many forms, but we would like to show the best oral treatments available right now. We’ve compiled reviews of six products and included a valuable buyer’s guide to help you choose the ideal product.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Comfortis Chewable Cat Tablets
Works in 30 minutes
Kills adult fleas
Suitable for kittens over 14 weeks old
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Best Value
CAPACTION Oral Flea Treatment
Affordable
Fast-acting
Safe for 4-week-old kittens
Check Price
Premium Choice
Credelio Chewable Tablets for Cats
Fast-acting
Kills fleas and ticks
Check Price
Capstar Flea Oral Treatment for Cats
Safe for young kittens
Works fast
Check Price
Flea Away Oral Cat Treatment
Cheapest tablet reviewed
Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitos
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The 5 Best Oral Flea Treatments for Cats
The Comfortis Chewable Tablet for Cats scored our best overall oral treatment for cats. The chewable tablets are formulated for small cats weighing 4.1–6 pounds and dogs weighing 5–10 pounds. If you have an older kitty, Comfortis also makes tablets for larger cats and dogs. Comfortis grabbed the top spot on our list because it effectively eliminates fleas and starts working in 30 minutes. Cats dislike swallowing or chewing tablets, but you can hide it inside a treat or break it in half and add it to wet food. Some cats dislike the taste of the pill, and the only possible side effect of Comfortis is vomiting.
Type: Tablet
Dosage count: 6
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Comfortis is safe for kittens over 14 weeks old, and it includes 6 tablets that cover 6 months of treatment. If your cat isn’t fixed and you’re planning on breeding, check with your veterinarian before administering Comfortis. The effects of the medicine on breeding females and males are unknown, and it’s better to be cautious and check with an expert. Although Comfortis can eliminate fleas on your feline and end its misery, it does not kill the eggs or larvae. Eggs can lay dormant for 6 months before hatching, and you may have to supplement the tablets with a professional flea control treatment to eliminate the invaders.
Pros
Works in 30 minutes
Kills adult fleas
Suitable for kittens over 14 weeks old
Cons
Does not kill flea eggs
Expensive
We awarded CAPACTION Fast Acting Oral Flea Treatment for Cats our best flea treatment for the money award. You can provide instant relief to your scratching feline with CAPACION, and you can give the tablet to your pet with or without food. The tablets eliminate fleas on your cat for 24 hours, but if the pests reappear, the medicine is safe to give as a daily treatment. You can provide the treatment for kittens that are at least 4 weeks old.
Works in 30 minutes
Kills adult fleas
Suitable for kittens over 14 weeks old
- Works in 30 minutes
- Kills adult fleas
- Suitable for kittens over 14 weeks old
Does not kill flea eggs
Expensive
- Does not kill flea eggs
- Expensive
Although you can offer the tablet to your pet without food, the pills are relatively large, and your cat may not even attempt to chew the massive tablet. Your pet is more likely to ingest the medicine when it’s split up and hidden in cat food. CAPACTION works fast, and some customers mentioned that their cats become more animated 45 minutes after receiving the tablets. Hyperactivity is a possible side effect of the drug, but most cats calm down after an hour. Unlike Comfortis, CAPACTION only works for 24 hours, and it does not kill off the eggs or larvae.
Pros
Affordable
Fast-acting
Safe for 4-week-old kittens
Cons
Only lasts for 24 hours
Can cause temporary hyperactivity
3. Credelio Chewable Tablets for Cats – Premium Choice
Credelio Chewable Tablets for Cats is our premium pick for flea treatments, and it can knock out 100% of the adult fleas and 99% of the ticks in your home. It’s safe to treat fleas on kittens at least 8 weeks old, but kittens must be at least 6 months old to treat ticks. Unlike the competitors, Credelio can treat cats that are two pounds and larger. Credelio works quickly, and you’ll soon see dead fleas on your cat and floors.
Affordable
Fast-acting
Safe for 4-week-old kittens
- Affordable
- Fast-acting
- Safe for 4-week-old kittens
Only lasts for 24 hours
Can cause temporary hyperactivity
- Only lasts for 24 hours
- Can cause temporary hyperactivity
Credelio is designed to eliminate fleas for 30 days, but some customers complained that the fleas came back before the 1-month period. Although the tablets are expensive, your cat gets the added benefit of tick protection from Credelio. However, the product had some worrying adverse reactions that may convince you to try another brand. Cats with neurological conditions are vulnerable to the medication and can experience tremors and seizures. Before using Credelio, talk to a veterinarian to ensure it’s safe for your cat.
Pros
Fast-acting
Kills fleas and ticks
Cons
Does not protect as long as advertised
Safety concerns
Expensive
Only a few oral flea treatments are safe for young kittens, but we found that Capstar Flea Oral Treatment for Cats was affordable and safe for kittens at least 4 weeks old. The manufacturer claims that Capstar can eliminate 90% of the adult flea population in 6 hours for cats and 4 hours for dogs. Although it’s cheaper than the monthly tablets, its kill percentage is less impressive, and it cannot eradicate the larvae or eggs.
Fast-acting
Kills fleas and ticks
- Fast-acting
- Kills fleas and ticks
Does not protect as long as advertised
Safety concerns
Expensive
- Does not protect as long as advertised
- Safety concerns
- Expensive
You can give your cat the tablet or hide it in food, but because of the pill’s size, your cat is unlikely to take it unless it’s hidden. Capstar only works for 24 hours, but it’s safe for daily use. However, you can run up a high bill using the treatment if you have several cats. We suggest using a different flea treatment to eliminate the eggs in your home, in addition to treating your animals with tablets.
Pros
Safe for young kittens
Works fast
Cons
Only kills 90% of adult fleas
Does not eliminate eggs
Tablets are too large
Unlike its competitors, Flea Away Flea and Tick Oral Treatment for Dogs and Cats is not a fast-acting solution. You must give your cat a daily tablet for 30 days before the fleas start dying. It’s one of the cheapest options for battling fleas, and it claims to repel mosquitos and ticks. However, some customers had mixed results with the tablets and claimed they were not as effective as other tablets.
Safe for young kittens
Works fast
- Safe for young kittens
- Works fast
Only kills 90% of adult fleas
Does not eliminate eggs
Tablets are too large
- Only kills 90% of adult fleas
- Does not eliminate eggs
- Tablets are too large
Type: Tablet
Dosage count: 100
Flea Away’s approach to battling fleas is much different than other brands. The tablets are composed of a vitamin mixture that hides the scent of carbon dioxide on the cat’s skin and prevents fleas from biting. Although it offers protection to your cat, it does not help decrease the population of pets in your home. If your cat is itching and scratching, it’s best to use a fast-acting tablet to end the animal’s misery.
Pros
Cheapest tablet reviewed
Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitos
Cons
Takes 30 days to work
Does not eliminate pests in the home
Less effective than other brands
- See also: 10 Best Natural Flea Treatments and Repellents for Cats – Reviews & Top Picks in 2022
Buyer’s Guide; Selecting The Best Oral Flea Treatment for Cats
Discontinued Products We Intended to Review
Although we tried to find 10 excellent oral flea treatments to review, we discovered that several brands are now discontinued and unavailable online. There are numerous oral treatments available if you have dogs, but many brands, like Bravecto, only offer topical treatments for cats. Some of the oral treatments that are now discontinued include:
Cheapest tablet reviewed
Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitos
- Cheapest tablet reviewed
- Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitos
Takes 30 days to work
Does not eliminate pests in the home
Less effective than other brands
- Takes 30 days to work
- Does not eliminate pests in the home
- Less effective than other brands
SENTRY Capguard Oral Flea Control Medication
Dog & Cat MD QuickTabs Nitenpyram Flea Pills for Cats
Program Flea Control Green
Capstar 004CG-61011 Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment
In August 2021, the FDA published a list of tablet and topical flea treatments that could cause adverse reactions to cats and dogs with neurological issues. As we mentioned before, our number 3 pick, Credelio, uses a chemical that could potentially cause tremors and seizures in rare cases. Isoxazoline class drugs are used in multiple tablet and topical products, and the FDA claims that they’re generally safe to use on cats and dogs. If your kitty is healthy and free of neurological ailments, it’s less likely to react to an isoxazoline product.
SENTRY Capguard Oral Flea Control Medication
Dog & Cat MD QuickTabs Nitenpyram Flea Pills for Cats
Program Flea Control Green
Capstar 004CG-61011 Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment
- SENTRY Capguard Oral Flea Control Medication
- Dog & Cat MD QuickTabs Nitenpyram Flea Pills for Cats
- Program Flea Control Green
- Capstar 004CG-61011 Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment
What to Look for In Oral Flea Treatments for Cats
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It’s unfortunate that pet product manufacturers make more edible flea treatments for dogs than cats, but the market for dog products is much larger than it is for cats. Flea tablets for canines are more profitable and popular because dogs are more willing to consume or swallow pills than felines. Although you can use a multitude of topical treatments for cats, there are some advantages to using an edible tablet.
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Zero Mess
Unlike sprays and gels, oral treatments do not create a mess when you give them to your feline. You can hide a pill in your furry friend’s food and sit back and wait for the fleas to start dropping. You don’t’ have to hold your cat down or protect your arms from scratching as you do with a topical treatment. Some cats recognize the flea treatment tube and will bolt before you can squeeze it on their necks.
Fast Acting
Although our lowest-ranked pick took 30 days to protect cats from fleas, every other brand worked in less than an hour. Tablets can make your cat flee-free in as little as 30 minutes. Chemical gels can take up to 24 hours before they affect fleas, and most topical applications must be naturally distributed throughout the coat before they’re effective.
Fur-Friendly
Liquid and spray treatments are practical options, but they often prevent you from touching your cat for several hours. The medicine takes a while to work into the animal’s coat, and you must wait until the treatment is absorbed to avoid getting the chemical on your hands. Tablets keep your cat’s coat healthy and shiny while they eradicate pests, and your cat can enjoy your petting and love without waiting for an entire day.
How to Convince Your Cat to Eat a Tablet
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A cat’s independence and finicky nature are not so amusing when you’re trying to help the creature with a flea infestation. Cats often reject pills or tablets, but you can use these techniques to ensure your cat receives the medication.
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Hide It in Food
If you have several cats, be sure to use separate food bowls when you add oral treatments. Cats eating from the same bowl might not consume the correct amount when the tablet is mixed in with the food. If the tablet is too large, you can split it in two and bury it inside the cat’s favorite wet food. Using dry food is not as successful as hiding the product in wet food, and some cats will clean their bowl of dry food and leave the tablet alone.
Hide It in a Pill Pocket
Pill pockets are small treats designed to hold edible medication for your cat. It fools cats into thinking they’re only eating treats, but you may have to cut the pill in half and place the pieces in two pill pockets. Some of the larger tablets are too massive to fit snugly in a standard pill pocket. If you prepare homemade treats for your cat, you can try the same technique.
Use a Pill Popper
A pill popper is a syringe that shoots a pill into a cat’s throat. All you do is load a tablet in the tube and depress the plunger to launch the medication. The cat’s gag reflex will help it swallow the pill after it smacks the back of the throat. Since most cats are opposed to having a syringe stuffed in their mouths, you’ll probably need an assistant to help you secure the anxious kitty.
Can Oral Treatments Eliminate the Flea Population in the House?
Tablets provide instant relief for your cat, but they cannot kill off the fleas hiding in your home. When your kitty moves around the house, fleas nearby your cat will die, but unless you treat your feline like a duster or floor mop (hopefully you do not) and move your cat along every surface in your home, the flea colony will remain and continue to propagate. Flea eggs and larvae can hide in fabric, carpet, crown molding, bedding, and practically any surface inside or outside your home.
Although several commercial pesticides are available, we suggest calling a professional pest control company if the infestation is severe. Commercial products are cheaper than professional treatments, but they’re also less effective and more hazardous to cats and children. Most pest control operations offer pet-safe treatments that do not leave sticky, toxic residue on your furniture and carpets.
In some homes, the infestation may be limited to the interior, but you’ll also need to treat the outside if your pets play outside. If you use pest control technicians to eliminate the fleas inside and around your property and give monthly tablets to your cat, you can eliminate the pests and keep your pets and family safe.
Conclusion
The oral treatments can provide quick relief to your cat from biting fleas. Although the tablets can eliminate adult fleas, they’re not able to destroy eggs or baby fleas. By using tablets and a pet-safe treatment in your home, you can drive away the pests for good. Our top pick of oral treatments is Comfortis. It provides quick relief and monthly protection from adult fleas, and cats are less intimidated by the smaller size of the Comfortis tablets.
Our best value pick is CAPACTION Fast Acting Oral Flea Treatment. It’s an effective and affordable flea deterrent that’s safe to give your cat every day. We sincerely hope our reviews and guide help you choose the correct flea treatment for your feline.
- Next on your reading list: 7 Best Flea Powders for Cats in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Maja Marjanovic, Shutterstock
