Fleas are a bummer, whether it’s a cat or dog. They can make your pet’s life miserable and leave it vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections that can make the situation even worse. It’s also a matter of the quality of life of your pet. Scratching and feeling sick is no way for any animal to live. However, as a cat owner, you know that felines aren’t keen about tolerating a flea spray. You’ll likely have a fight on your hands every time.
That’s where a flea collar steps up to the plate. It makes it easier to take care of your feline best friend with a practical compromise that gets the job done in a stellar fashion. You’ll see it evident in our reviews. However, not all products are created equally. That’s why you need to research them to find the best one for your pet.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
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Best Overall
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Seresto Flea & Tick Cat Collar |
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Best Value
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Hartz Collar for Cats & Kittens |
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Premium Choice
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PetArmor Flea & Tick Cat Collar |
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Zodiac Flea & Tick Cat Collar |
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Adams Flea & Tick Cat Collar |
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The 9 Best Flea Collar for Cats
1. Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Cats – Best Overall
| Life stage: | Kitten over 10 weeks old, adult, senior |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Imidacloprid, flumethrin |
| Duration: | 8 months |
Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Cats came out as the best overall flea collar for cats. Not only did it kill fleas, but it also got rid of the larvae and ticks. The former is what keeps an infestation going, so we were glad to see that this product dealt with this issue, too. That’s because of the two active ingredients that get the job done on both fronts. The downside is that it’s pricey, but not so much if you consider the alternative.
2. Hartz UltraGuard Flea & Tick Collar for Cats – Best Value
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Tetrachlorvinphos, (s)-methoprene |
| Duration: | 7 months |
The Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea & Tick Collar For Cats & Kittens is the best flea collar for cats for the money. It has a pleasant scent that is a welcome surprise, given its purpose. It is affordably priced and offers excellent protection against these pests. It killed them immediately and helped repel the fleas to prevent a reinfestation. The collar is water-resistant, which we liked for indoor-outdoor pets.
3. PetArmor Flea & Tick Cat Collar – Premium Choice
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Tetrachlorvinphos, (s)-methoprene |
| Duration: | 7 months |
The PetArmor Flea & Tick Cat Collar handles these pests effectively with a product that also kills the eggs and larvae. It also acts as a repellent. The ingredients give it its water-resistant and repellent properties. The collar also has a breakaway mechanism, which we appreciate in these products. All these things make it an excellent choice for indoor-outdoor pets.
4. Zodiac Flea & Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Tetrachlorvinphos |
| Duration: | 7 months |
The Zodiac Flea & Tick Collar for Cats is an effective way to repel these pests in pets that aren’t currently infested. The active ingredient does a decent job, but there isn’t anything to kill the eggs and larvae. However, it is water-resistant, making it a good choice for outdoor cats. The breakaway mechanism is top-notch, too. You won’t have to worry about your kitty getting hurt if the collar gets caught on something.
5. Adams Flea & Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Tetrachlorvinphos, (s)-methoprene |
| Duration: | 7 months |
The Adams Flea & Tick Collar for Cats uses a two-pronged approach to kill these pests and prevent a recurrence with an ingredient that inhibits the insects’ growth and egg-laying. While effective, it’s imperative to make sure that small children don’t handle the collar. That’s true of any product that contains these active ingredients. The affordable price and breakaway mechanism make it a decent choice for the money.
6. Rolf Club Flea & Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Fipronil, etofenprox, pyriproxyfen |
| Duration: | 8 months |
Rolf Club Flea & Tick Collar for Cats stands out for its toxin-free formula. That makes it an ideal choice if you have small children who’ll likely come in contact with this product. It also repels mosquitoes, which makes it an even better value. The German-based manufacturer uses three ingredients that together will disrupt the pests’ nervous system and inhibit egg-laying for long-term protection.
7. PATPET Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Citronella oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil |
| Duration: | 6 months |
PATPET Flea and Tick Collar for Cats tackles the pest problem with essential oils versus pesticides that we typically see in these products. It’s worth noting that citronella is registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a repellent—against mosquitoes. The same use without the backing applies to lemongrass. On the other hand, some evidence suggests that clove kills insects and may help with fleas.
8. Fipukin Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Citronella oil, cinnamon oil, garlic oil, lemongrass oil, thyme oil |
| Duration: | 8 months |
The Fipukin Flea and Tick Collar for Cats takes pest prevention to the next levels with five essential oils on the job. Surprisingly, the smell isn’t overwhelming. The product comes as a two-pack with a flea comb that you may or may not find in the package. However, the duration seemed a bit long to us. It’s also a product best used only on indoor cats with a lower risk of exposure.
While this product is safe for pets, it is advised to keep an eye on your cat because essential oils can be toxic to cats.
9. Parenda Flea and Tick Collar for Cats
| Life stage: | Kittens over 12 weeks old, adults, seniors |
| Size: | One size fits all |
| Active ingredients: | Citronella oil |
| Duration: | 8 months |
The Parenda Flea and Tick Collar for Cats is another riff on the essential oil theme using just citronella this time. The design is spot-on and makes it waterproof. We also liked that it was adjustable, something we don’t often see in these products. While it may work well as a repellent, it doesn’t kill fleas or ticks. It’s suitable for indoor pets that may accidentally encounter these pests. However, it’s not the best choice for outdoor cats.
This collar is also based on essential oils, and it contains garlic oil. Garlic can be toxic to cats. Please keep a close eye on your cat and remove the collar if you notice any skin irritation or sign of toxicity.
Citronella essential oil can also be irritating or toxic to cats, so ensure you monitor your cat for any adverse reaction.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Flea Collar for Cats
The most important thing to understand about cat flea products is that you are buying something safe for these animals. Feline and canine products are not the same. Things that you can use on your dog can hurt your cat or even worse. While they share a common ancestor, the two animals diverged about 55 million years ago. Interestingly, felines share 90% of their DNA with humans, whereas it’s 84% with canines.
Flea collars work by redistributing the active ingredient they contain through skin contact. It’s not unlike topical treatments you use once a month. The primary advantage is that they provide a hands-off solution. That’s a good thing, as most cat owners will agree. However, collars vary in their effectiveness. Therefore, the things you should consider when comparing products include:
Life Stage
It almost goes without saying that kittens are more sensitive and delicate than adult cats. That’s why it’s essential to check the life stage for which the product is appropriate. We strongly urge you not to ignore any of the recommendations that the manufacturers provide. Remember that they are doing the necessary testing to make sure they’re safe. As spry as kittens seem, they aren’t invincible. After all, they are still babies.
Along with the life stage, you must pay attention to the pets the flea collar is meant to protect, as we’ve mentioned earlier. We have to agree that it seems a bit odd since cats seem so much closer to their wild side and may strike some as being more resilient. Besides, what other pet supposedly has nine lives? We suspect there’s a good reason for this widespread belief.
Most of the flea collars we reviewed recommended not putting them on kittens under 12 weeks old. Bear in mind that you’ll likely have to replace the product as your pet grows. You can size them as you would a regular collar, with the necessary two-finger space between it and your cat’s neck.
Active Ingredient
Several ingredients are effective for killing fleas and ticks, albeit sometimes in different ways and effectiveness ranges. Imidacloprid negatively affects the nervous system of insects and invertebrates. It isn’t harmful to people, although children may be more sensitive to its effects. Manufacturers often include flumethrin with the previous ingredient. Whereas the former handles fleas, the latter wipes out ticks.
Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is an old-school pesticide that has been around since 1966. It acts on fleas, ticks, and various other pests, hence, its use in agriculture. It’s not soluble in water, which explains why products containing it are also water-resistant. (S)-methoprene is often used with the former. It disrupts insect growth and can help prevent reinfestations from flea eggs and larvae. Other insecticides you may see include:
We also came across several products that used essential oils with varying degrees of effectiveness. Some of the most popular ones were:
Duration
The duration factor comes into play when you consider the length of the life cycle of fleas. The winter knocks them down, which makes products with a limited lifespan all right. If you live someplace where it doesn’t freeze, you must consider flea collars that either last longer or come in multi-packs to cover your pet year-round.
We suggest doing some math to get the best value out of your purchase. These products aren’t cheap in the best of circumstances. However, it’s essential to break down the month-by-month cost to find the best one for your budget. The other thing to consider is that it’s easier to put a collar on your cat versus other solutions. Eventually, your pet will tune out its presence. However, every time you change it is another acclimation period.
Conclusion
After going through our reviews, the Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Cats came out on top as the best of the bunch. It’s effective and handles the pests throughout their life stages. The Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea & Tick Collar was our pick for the most affordable product. It also killed the larvae and offered long-lasting repellency properties.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Inga Gedrovicha, Shutterstock
