Types of parasite preventives for young cats
First, we’ll review the different types of parasite prevention for cats and how they affect the parasites without harming your pet.Topical medications
Spot-on topical parasite preventives, such as Revolution® PLUS or Bravecto® PLUS, are placed directly on a cat’s skin. Check the administration instructions before giving the medication to your cat, but most of these are placed on the skin between the shoulder blades after parting the fur. Some topical parasite preventives are specific to fleas and ticks while others work against heartworms and gastrointestinal parasites. Most topical preventives are applied monthly, but a few options last longer.Oral medications
Some parasite preventives, such as Interceptor® or Credelio® CAT, are given by mouth. Like the topical medications, some oral parasite preventives are specific to fleas and ticks while others work against heartworms and gastrointestinal parasites. Most of these are administered monthly.Collars
Collars like Seresto® can provide effective flea and tick prevention for up to 8 months. These collars consistently release their parasite-killing ingredients over time. The duration these collars are effective for is shortened if a cat regularly bathes or gets rained on. The collar size may need to be adjusted over the 8 months for young, growing cats.
The parasiticides are either absorbed into a cat’s bloodstream or deposit chemicals into glands on a cat’s skin. These medications usually target specific neurologic channels in the parasites that are not found in a cat, causing neurologic dysfunction (paralysis or seizures) and death of the parasites without affecting the cat. Some parasiticides, like lufenuron, affect the parasite’s ability to mature and go through its life cycle. Eggs are prevented from hatching, for example.
Risks of parasite preventives for young cats
While pet parasite prevention undergoes rigorous safety testing before going on the market, reactions can still occur. This is true of nearly any medication. The risks that come with pet parasites include:Dermatitis and hair loss
Some cats will develop inflammation and alopecia where a topical was applied. If a cat has food allergies, some oral medications may trigger these allergies and cause skin inflammation.Gastrointestinal upset
Some pets may develop vomiting and/or diarrhea after taking preventive medication, especially oral medications.Hypersensitivity or allergic reaction
Rarely, a cat is allergic to an ingredient contained in the preventive. Signs to watch for include hives, swelling, difficulty breathing and collapse (anaphylaxis).Seizures and other neurologic signs
Drugs in the isoxazoline class, such as fluralaner and sarolaner, rarely cause seizures, tremors and other signs of nervous dysfunction. However, it’s not recommended to give drugs from this class of parasiticides to cats who have a history of seizures or neurological disease. Some cats who develop neurological signs after administration will have no prior history of neurological disease but may have a genetic predisposition to this reaction.Treatment failures
Some pets may still develop parasitic infestations while taking preventives. This can occur if the parasites have developed resistance to the medication or if there was an error in administration, such as the cat getting a bath within a few hours of administration, or if the wrong dosage was given.
Keep in mind that some preventives intended for dogs, specifically those containing permethrin, are toxic to cats. Permethrin can cause tremors, seizure and death in cats.
What to do if you suspect your young cat or kitten is having a reaction
If you suspect that your cat is having a non-emergent reaction to a parasite preventive, contact your VCA care team as soon as possible. If your cat is developing neurological signs like seizures, is collapsing or has signs of anaphylaxis (hives, swelling, respiratory difficulty, collapse) seek emergency veterinary attention. Adverse events that require emergency attention are very rare in cats that are given the appropriate medications at the right dosing. Access free 24/7 Live Chat,* where our licensed veterinary professionals are always ready to answer your questions.
Your VCA care team is happy to help you select vet-recommended parasite preventives that are safe and effective.
Find veterinarian-approved flea and tick preventives.
*Live Chat with a licensed veterinary professional is free for VCA clients through the myVCA™ mobile app, available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
