Best Flea Treatment for Kittens and Puppies

Flea & Tick protection for puppies and kittens

Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your home is hugely exciting, but there’s lots to think about! Flea, tick and worm treatment, for example, should be near the top of your to-do list when you bring home a new puppy or kitten. It can feel overwhelming with all the different products available out there, so we’ve put together this handy guide to the best flea treatment for kittens and puppies, as well as the answers to some common questions on the topic. Remember, your vet is your best point of contact if you have any concerns or questions.

Please note that these are not veterinary recommendations; for individual advice on the products that would work best for your pet, consult your vet.

Why Do Kittens and Puppies Need Flea Treatment?

All puppies and kittens need to have regular flea treatment as soon as they are old enough. Even if your kitten is an indoor cat, or your puppy isn’t going for walks yet, they can still get fleas – fleas can find their way into the home via you, other members of your household, or other pets that do go outside. In fact, adult fleas can be picked up from almost anywhere, as they can jump long distances from the environment or other animals.

Aside from causing itching, fleas can also bring with them nasty diseases, transmit tapeworm, and even cause anaemia in severe cases. Just one flea is enough to start an infestation, so using an effective flea treatment right from the get-go as a preventative measure is really important.

If your kitten or puppy already has fleas, check out our blog ‘How to Get Rid of Fleas’ for more advice around dealing with an infestation.

When Should I Start Flea Treatment on My Kitten or Puppy?

Flea treatment can and should be used as a preventative measure – don’t wait until you can see fleas on your pet before treating them. In most cases, flea treatment should start from around 8 weeks old.

You’ll probably bring your new puppy or kitten home to live with you when they are between 8 and 12 weeks old (a responsible breeder won’t separate them from their mother before 8 weeks), so you should start thinking about flea treatments as soon as you bring them home.

Many flea treatments are not suitable for puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old, so always check the packaging (see the end of this article for a handy list of flea treatments for puppies and kittens categorised by age).

However, if your pet has given birth to a litter for example, you might find you need flea treatment for very young puppies or kittens.

Beaphar FIPROtec Flea, Tick & Lice Spray is suitable for puppies and kittens from 2 days old as long as they weigh at least 166g. It kills fleas, ticks and biting lice, offering protection from adult fleas for up to two months on kittens and three months on puppies. Simply spray your puppy or kitten following the recommended dosage for your pet’s weight, ensuring you are in a well ventilated area and avoid the eyes, then allow it to dry.

Always follow the instructions on the product packaging and consult your vet if you’re unsure.

Different Types of Flea Treatment for Kittens and Puppies

There are several different flea treatment options you can choose from. As well as sprays like the one mentioned above, the main flea treatments for dogs and cats include spot-on solutions, flea collars and tablets.

Spot-on Treatments

Spot-on solutions are topical treatments applied to your pet’s skin, usually the back of the neck, and they distribute over your pet’s body. The active ingredients in topical treatment can either kill parasites on contact, or once they have bitten your pet. Some treatments just kill adult fleas, others will kill ticks too, and some will also kill flea larvae and prevent the eggs from hatching. Spot-on solutions usually need to be reapplied around once a month.

Flea Collars

Flea and tick collars work in a similar way, by gradually releasing the active ingredients over a period of several months, distributing them over your pet’s body. They have the benefit of not requiring regular administration – a Seresto collar for example, can protect your puppy or kitten for as long as 7 to 8 months. However, it’s worth remembering that puppies and kittens grow very quickly, so keep an eye out for when they outgrow their collar.

Flea Tablets

Tablets are taken orally, either mixed in with your pet’s food, or disguised within a treat. Capstar is one example – it contains an ingredient called nitenpyram which is toxic to fleas, killing them within 30 minutes of giving the pill to your puppy or kitten over 4 weeks old.

Speak to your vet for advice on which treatment would be best for your pet.

To find out more about how the active ingredients in flea treatments work, read our blog.

Is There a Difference Between Cat and Dog Flea Treatment?

Yes, there is. You should never use a flea treatment intended for dogs on a cat, and vice versa, unless the product explicitly tells you it’s intended for both.

Flea treatment for cats will contain ingredients and doses that could harm your dog, and the same applies the other way around.

The Importance of Age and Weight When Choosing Flea Treatments for Puppies and Kittens

It depends on the product you choose to use, but most flea treatments for kittens and puppies are suitable from around the age of 8 weeks. However, you also need to consider their weight.

Most flea treatments for puppies and dogs are sold in small, medium and large varieties, with the correct dosage for different sizes of dogs. Make sure you regularly weigh your puppy to check which flea treatment is the right one for them – they grow very quickly, so they might need different treatment sooner than you’d think!

The same applies to kittens – always check the minimum weight before administering a flea treatment to your kitten.

Below is a list of flea treatments for kittens and another for puppies, divided into groups according to the ages and weights they are suitable for.

Flea Treatments for Kittens

Flea treatments for kittens over 4 weeks old and weighing more than 1kg:
Capstar Flea Tablets for Cats and Small Dogs

Flea treatments for kittens over 8 weeks old:
Imidaflea Spot-On Solution for Small Cats, Pet Rabbits and Dogs

Flea treatments for kittens over 8 weeks old and weighing more than 1kg:
Fipnil Plus Spot-On Solution for Cats
Fleascreen Combo 50mg/60mg Spot-on Solution for Cats
Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Treatment for Cats
Effipro Spot-On Flea Treatment for Cats

Flea treatments for kittens over 10 weeks old:
Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats

Flea Treatments for Puppies

Flea treatments for puppies over 4 weeks and over 1kg:
Capstar 11.4mg for Cats and Small Dogs

Flea treatments for puppies over 7 weeks:
Canishield Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs

Flea treatments for puppies over 8 weeks:

Imidaflea Spot-On Solution for Cats, Pet Rabbits & Dogs.

Flea treatments for puppies over 8 weeks and weighing over 2kg:
Frontline Tri-Act Flea & Tick Treatment For Dogs
Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs
Frontline Spot On Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs
Fipnil Plus Spot-On Solution for Small Dogs
Effipro Spot-On Flea Treatment for Small Dogs
Fleascreen Combo Spot-on Solution for Small Dogs

Flea treatments for puppies over 7 weeks
Seresto Flea & Tick Control Collar for Dogs

Flea treatments for puppies over 7 weeks and over 1.5kg:
Vectra 3D Spot-On for Extra Small Dogs

Flea treatments for puppies over 10 weeks and over 2kg:
Effipro Duo Spot-On Flea Treatment for Small Dogs

Wrapping Up

Even if your puppy or kitten isn’t getting out and about in the great outdoors yet, regular flea treatment is still really important. Our pets can pick up fleas from almost anywhere, and it only takes one to start an infestation. To help your puppy or kitten avoid the irritation, itchiness and possible diseases that can be transmitted by fleas and ticks, make sure you give them a flea treatment that is suitable for their species, age and weight.

Always speak to your vet if you’re unsure which treatment is best for your puppy or kitten.

Shop flea treatment for your pet at Animed Direct

This blog was checked by Karin Volker

Biography of Animed vet, Karin Volker, MRCVS