Have you ever seen monkeys clean each other for lice? It is so wholesome until they start eating the lice.
Lice are small and wingless insects that crawl and live up to a day or two without a host. Common cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are small crawling insects too, but unlike lice, cat fleas use their powerful back legs to jump up to 18 inches forward or 6 inches high.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
They can also live up to a week or two without a host! Once they find a furry cat (host) they lay their eggs in the cat’s fur, and thus grows the flea infestation.
Cats having fleas is a very common occurrence and most cats will go through this at least once in their lives. Cats can get rid of fleas naturally by cleaning themselves more often than usual. This is a slow process and if the flea infestation is large, it can cause bigger problems later.
The 4 Best Flea Shampoos for Cats
As pet parents it is always better to speed up this process by using the right shampoo. Lucky for you, here is our list of the best flea shampoo for cats.
1. Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo With Precor
Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo is by far the most popular choice among cat owners. It effectively rids your cat of fleas, ticks, flea eggs, flea larvae and lice. It will prevent flea eggs from hatching and clean your cat thoroughly.
It contains soothing aloe, lanolin, coconut extract and oatmeal which is great for cats with sensitive skin. It also contains an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to eliminate and prevent any flea development on your cat and in your home for up to 28 days.
This flea and tick shampoo comes highly recommended from pet owners. They most like the pleasant and fresh scent it leaves behind. Of course, it helps that it’s also friendly on the pocket.
2. Advantage Shampoo Flea and Tick Treatment
Advantage Shampoo Flea and Tick Treatment is a product of Bayer. Bayer is one of the largest multinational pharmaceutical companies in the world. They have an excellent reputation among the medical industry and as such, this product comes highly recommended by vets around the world.
It is a medical-grade product that can effectively kill fleas upon contact and can even help prevent flea dermatitis and Lyme disease. No wonder vets like it so much.
Advantage is an unscented lathering-shampoo, which means it will clean your cat thoroughly and is an excellent choice if your furry friend is sensitive to smells.
3. Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea and Tick Shampoo
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care is another popular flea and tick shampoo. It is highly rated as the best flea shampoo for cats. It is a premium product created with veterinary-grade ingredients.
The shampoo is formulated with pyrethrum, which is a natural insecticide derived from flowers, to kill and control fleas and ticks upon contact.
What is most notable about this product is that it is paraben and soap-free, which means there are no harsh soaps or damaging detergents present. The contents of this shampoo will sooth your cat’s irritated skin, clean it and exfoliate it.
Your cat’s coat will thank you for using this shampoo because it is pH balanced, detergent free and the active ingredient is naturally sourced. It even has naturally derived cleansers that will gently clean your cat and leave a lasting fresh and clean scent.
This product is ideal for cats with sensitive skin. So if your cat is fussy about their skin then this is the flea shampoo for them.
4. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Waterless Bath Foam for Cats
Formulated for cats using natural plant extracts, Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Waterless Bath Foam is a dry shampoo that kills fleas, flea eggs and ticks by contact. As an added advantage, it is also a mosquito repellant.
This product is proudly manufactured in the USA with quality domestic and international ingredients. These ingredients include certified natural oils and plant-based ingredients, such as peppermint oil and eugenol.
The best part about this product is that since it is a dry shampoo, it does not need any water. It comes out the bottle in the form of foam, and you can massage this foam on to your cat’s coat directly. After application there is no need to wash it off, you can simply let it dry.
This shampoo has no added fragrance which leaves your cat with a calm, pleasant smell and a happy coat. This is a hassle-free product that is made with a focus on cats. If your cat has an extreme aversion to water (most cats do), then this is the best flea shampoo for them.
Our Final Thoughts
The shampoos mentioned in this list are all effective at keeping your cat flea-free and it comes down to what your cat prefers. Some cats may have sensitive skin or smell, others may have extreme aversion to water. We have kept this list inclusive for all cat-peeves.
The important thing is to make sure your cat does not have fleas. Pet parents should also take note that many fleas can hide around your house (bedding, carpets, yard, etc.), so it is always best to find the source and treat the problem. On average, fleas spend three quarters of their life outside of the hosts, so it may take up to 30 days to break the cycle of fleas.
When using a flea shampoo for your cat, be sure to read the directions and use accordingly. Most flea shampoos have a limit on how frequently they can be used. If the instructions are unclear or you can not manage to break the cycle of fleas, consult your vet.
We hope our selection of the best flea shampoos for cats was helpful.
