Click the product name or scroll down. •Revolution Plus •Revolution •Advocate •Comfortis •Bravecto •Advantage •Seresto •Frontline •Milbemax •Profender •Drontal
Are you confused by the all the options to prevent heartworm, fleas and intestinal worms in your cat? Here is our guide to the best options available; you should find all the common, safe and respected treatments found in your vet or pet supplies store. If it isn’t here, please ask!
The chart above gives an overview of each product; protection against the parasites in RED is considered necessary in all cats, however we recommend including heartworm prevention. The risk may be low but the consequences are severe if caught. Read more at Does my cat need heartworm prevention?
You can just choose the treatment with the most ticks but we advise you make a more tailored plan by reading about each product.
This list is in order of our personal recommendations but please consult your vet for advice specific to your cat’s age, health and lifestyle before use. At this quality end of the market, most flea, heartworm and worming programs work out at around the same cost. Prices are available on request.
Remember that there is no need to have tick prevention in the Adelaide region unless you plan on taking your pet to the eastern states.
Warning: NEVER use dog products on cats, especially those from the supermarket. If treating multiple animals, they may groom and lick each other so keep separated until the product is not visible.
1. Products To Prevent Heartworm And Fleas
Systemically absorbed treatments (like tablets, Revolution and Bravecto) are considered more environmentally friendly than topical (spot on) options.
Revolution® Plus
Prevents: Heartworm, Fleas, Ticks, Mites, Lice, Intestinal worms*
Comes as: a vial of liquid applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis (selamectin & sarolaner)
Update 2020: Selapro® and Evicto® are two equivalent products now available
- Kills fleas and flea eggs
- Treats & controls paralysis ticks in affected areas (not SA)
- Also useful in treating kittens infested with ear mites
- Not tested in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats
How To Use Revolution Plus
Only for use in kittens from 8 weeks of age and 1.25kg.
*Active against roundworm and hookworm only. You will still need to use an intestinal worming treatment for tapeworm every 3-6 months.
Revolution®
Prevents: Heartworm, Fleas, Intestinal worms*, some mites
Comes as: a vial of liquid applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis (selamectin)
- A quick-drying, and less messy spot-on treatment
- Kills fleas and flea eggs
- Also useful in treating kittens infested with ear mites
- Our favourite treatment for those wanting to use a combined flea and heartworm preventative
- Safe in very young animals
- No adverse effects when trialled in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats
How To Use Revolution
Revolution can be safely applied to kittens from 6 weeks of age.
*Active against roundworm and hookworm only. You will still need to use an intestinal worming treatment for tapeworm every 3-6 months.
Read here why Revolution is Dr Andrew’s preferred option in Adelaide
Advocate®
Prevents: Heartworm, Fleas, Intestinal worms*, some mites, lungworm
Comes as: a vial of liquid applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis (ivermectin & imidacloprid)
- Rapid flea control
- Also useful in treating kittens infested with ear mites and treating lungworm
How To Use Advocate
Advocate can be used from 9 weeks of age. The solvent may damage clothing and painted surfaces so take care after applying it, and avoid placing it where the animal can lick. Safety in pregnancy has not been established.
*Active against roundworm and hookworm only. You will still need to use an intestinal worming treatment for tapeworm every 3-6 months.
2. Products To Prevent Fleas & Not Heartworm
These products are used together with a heartworm preventative and intestinal worming (see elsewhere). All cats and dogs living together need to be treated to control fleas in a household.
Comfortis®
Prevents: fleas
Comes as: a beef-flavoured tablet given once a month with food (spinosad)
- Highly effective flea control
- No restrictions on bathing, no mess
- Single tablet treats up to 11.2kg
How To Use Comfortis
Comfortis can be used from 14 weeks of age in cats over 1.4kg. Safety in breeding animals not established.
Bravecto®
Prevents: fleas, ticks
Bravecto for cats (fluralaner) comes in 2 forms:
- Bravecto Spot-on given once every 3 months for fleas & ticks only
- Bravecto Plus with added intestinal worm & ear mite control if given every 2 months
- Very long acting flea control
- Also controls paralysis ticks for 3 months (Spot-on) or 10 weeks (Plus)
- Treats cats up to 12.5kg
- The intestinal worm control of Plus does not include tapeworm; for a true spot-on allwormer, you need Profender
How to use Bravecto
Bravecto Spot-on can be used from 11 weeks of age from 1.2kg bodyweight. Bravecto Plus can be used from 9 weeks.
Advantage®
Prevents: fleas
Comes as: a vial of liquid applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis (imidacloprid)
- Fast, effective flea control
- Over 20 years of reliable performance
- Safe in pregnancy and lactation
How to Use Advantage
Advantage can be used from weaning. Animals can be bathed after 48 hours, but if bathing is done frequently, some loss of effect of flea control may occur. The solvent may damage clothing and painted surfaces so take care after applying it, and avoid placing it where the animal can lick.
Seresto®
Prevents: fleas
Comes as: an insecticide-impregnated collar giving up to 8 months protection (imidacloprid & flumethrin)
- Fast, effective flea control
- Economical option for large groups of cats
- May cause irritation where in contact with skin
How to Use Seresto
Seresto can be used from 10 weeks of age. Safety in pregnancy has not been established.
Frontline®
Prevents: fleas
Comes as: a vial of liquid applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis (fipronil)
- Used for tick control every two weeks if travelling to the eastern states
- Water-fast after 48 hours
- Safe in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats
How to Use Frontline
Frontline can be used from 8 weeks of age and should be applied where your cat cannot lick. May take longer than the other listed products to kill fleas.
3. Products To Treat Intestinal Worms
There are many wormers available, and most do a reasonably good job. Look for two or more active ingredients including at least ‘praziquantel’ plus one other. Always worm all the adult cats in a house at the same time.
Learn more here about the three important intestinal worms of cats: roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm.
Worming is necessary every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then every month until 6 months old, then every three months for life.
Milpro®, Milbemax® etc
Prevents: intestinal worms
Comes as: tablet (milbemycin & praziquantel)
- Small tablets easily hidden in food
- Single tablet treats up to 8kg cat
- Highly effective worming
- Can also be used for heartworm control if given monthly
How to Use Milpro
Follow the schedule listed above. Safe in pregnant queens.
Profender® Spot-on
Prevents: intestinal worms, lungworm
Lungworm is present in Adelaide, and causes coughing and respiratory disease in mostly young cats.
Comes as: Spot-on treatment
- Only spot-on treatment able to kill all common intestinal worms
- Also treats lungworm
- No need to give a tablet or risk injury
How to Use Profender
Safe from 8 weeks of age in kittens over 0.5kg. Give at 8 & 12 weeks, then every three months (you will need to give an oral wormer at 6 weeks). Safe in pregnant queens.
Drontal®
Prevents: intestinal worms
Comes as: tablet, drops
- Original brand name all-wormer
- Highly effective worming
How to Use Drontal
Follow the schedule listed above. Like most oral worming for cats, it’s fairly unpleasant tasting and hard to give. Safe in pregnancy.