Until recent years, flea collars were known to be the standard choice for most cat owners looking to beat fleas and ticks. As medicines advance, topical treatments and capsules have become more popular, but many still prefer a collar to tackle flea infestations.
We thought we’d put a few to the test and see what we could find out about how they work, and how long for. The best flea collar for cats is the Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for its effective, fast-acting active ingredients and lengthy protection period.
Despite that, there are some very viable alternatives to the Seresto cat collar that do almost as good a job of tackling cat fleas and ticks. While the Seresto flea collar is the most expensive, it is also the most effective and reliable flea collar available today by far.
The 4 Top-Rated Flea Collars for Cats Compared
| Editor's Pick | Name | Protects for |
|---|---|---|
| Best Flea Collar | Seresto 8 Month Flea & Tick Prevention Collar for Cats & Kittens | 8 months |
| Runner Up | Rolf Club 3D Flea Collar for Cats | 6 months |
| Best Budget Flea Collar | Totopet Flea and Tick Collar for Cats | 6 months |
| Best Natural Flea Collar | Beloved Pets Flea and Tick Collar for Cats | 6 months |
You may be surprised to see that each of our picks have different active ingredients. This is partly down to us trying to get a variety in our list, but also because companies often patent their effective flea killing formulas to protect them from imitation.
Different active ingredients will have different effects depending on the cat they’re applied to. Just like us, cats can have negative reactions to certain chemicals and compounds that are present in medicines despite them being harmless to other cats. As always, we strongly recommend you check with your vet and see what advice they have on your cat’s condition and allergies (they can test!).
Here are the best flea collars ranging from most efficient to least, each providing a minimum of six months cover from fleas and ticks.
The Best Flea Collars For Cats (Reviews)
1. Bayer Seresto Flea Collar — Best Overall Flea Collar for Cats
With the Seresto Flea and Tick collar from Bayer, you get unparalleled protection, reliability and peace of mind.
It’s also true (unfortunately) that you get an unparalleled price-tag along with it. I urge you to keep in mind that although this premium cat collar is at the higher end of the pricing scale, it lasts for 8 whole months. Compare that to a topical (spot-on) flea treatment which will set you back at least half as much but only last for 1 month.
There’s no grease, it’s odorless, and even has a strap that your cat will be able to break free from in the case of an emergency. It doesn’t come away lightly, but a panicked cat would have the strength to free themselves if they became trapped because of it.
The active ingredients used (Flumethrin & Imidacloprid), work to paralyze and inhibit growth in both adult fleas and larvae. Seresto’s formula has proven itself as the most effective flea collar for tackling the whole flea life-cycle.
The Seresto collar’s side effects are much the same as with any other collar’s if your cat reacts badly to the active ingredients. As a general rule it’s usually well tolerated by cats that have allergies to other traditional flea and tick solutions, so if your cat has any sensitivities this is definitely the option you should be looking at.
It also repels fleas and ticks before they get a chance to settle, making it much more likely to keep them at bay than a once off topical treatment,
Suitable for cats over 10 weeks in age, this product remains the undisputed champion of the industry.
Check out the glowing reviews this product still receives using the button above.
2. Rolf Club 3D Flea Collar for Cats — Runner Up
The Rolf Club 3D is the next contender for the throne.
It also promises up to 8 months of protection against fleas and ticks, at a much cheaper price than the Seresto collar.
The manufacturer boasts that their fast acting formula kills fleas within 24 hours from when it is fitted.
In our experience it took around 48 hours before we stopped finding living fleas (they were dying off sooner though) on our cat, so we’re satisfied it gets to work quickly and that the active ingredients in this collar do pack a punch.
As for fitting, the locking system is similar to the Seresto collar in that it’s easy to fit and can be removed by the cat’s own strength in emergency situations.
We found it to be completely odorless and there was no greasy feeling to the product at all, which is a great sign that it’s a high quality cat flea collar. Rolf Club also claim it effectively repels mosquitoes as well as fleas and ticks.
It definitely didn’t feel as effective in the long term as the Bayer Seresto collar (nothing ever does), but it still cleared fleas and ticks quickly and for approximately 4 months from fitting.
3. Totopet Pet Flea and Tick Collar for Cats — Best Budget Flea Collar
Totopet’s Flea and Tick collar works, it really does. Not only do we have our own experiences with it, we’ve also spoken to plenty of owners who have used it themselves and can’t sing it’s praises highly enough.
A word of warning though, it’s active ingredient Tetrachlorvinphos is particularly potent. Owners purchasing this collar should be very careful to have their cat’s allergies tested before fitting it. It really isn’t worth the risk without checking beforehand.
We like that it’s small and thin, meaning you can fit it under your cat’s existing collar and they’ll barely notice it.
The active ingredient lasts roughly 6 months and there’s a faint smell to it, but nothing overpowering and definitely not unpleasant.
It’s a collar that’s incredibly capable of getting the job done. We saw no signs of fleas within 24 hours of fitting and didn’t see so much as a tick for the next 5 months.
It also comes with a free finger toothbrush to use with your cat, which is adorable.
4. Beloved Pets Flea and Tick Collar for Cats — Best Natural Flea Collar
Moving on to Beloved Pets’ Flea and Tick collar.
It’s hard to find good resources online surrounding this collar, but the information we could find explains that it works through a formula of natural oils. Citronella being the primary repelling agent.
This natural solution for cats is a good purchase for those who prefer the natural route to dealing with flea infestations. It’s effective, but almost definitely not as effective as the others on this list, though that’s to be expected with natural compounds.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that natural ingredients mean your cat can’t possibly have a negative reaction to the product though, there’s always a possibility.
They do offer a lifetime manufacturers guarantee, which shows they have confidence in their product. If you aren’t satisfied with the quality of the product or the results, you have every right to contact them and request a full refund.
The 8 month protection seems a bit of stretch given the potency of the natural ingredients, so in the long run you might be better off opting for the Seresto if the flea problem is recurring.
How do the flea collars work on cats?
Ticks and fleas are one of the biggest concerns most pet owners will face. These little pests can be the cause of immense discomfort to your pet and in extreme cases can also put you at the risk of acquiring an infection.
Collars are usually the best option for cats that are not already suffering from severe flea infestation.
Although they have been proven to very efficient at preventing fleas and ticks landing on your cat and settling in some cases, they can also help if your cat is already infested. For more severe infestations you should look for other solutions.
If you combine the use of a flea collar for cats with regular brushing and combing using a suitable cat flea comb, you can really lower the chances that fleas get a foothold in your cats fur. Combing should be done once a week at least to ensure you catch and remove adult fleas before they get a chance to lay eggs.
Scientific advancement in recent years has afforded pet owners the pleasure of effective topical treatments and capsules that have gradually led collars to fall from grace. Be as it may, they do still serve a purpose, and this leads us to the question of how exactly they work.
One of the most recent and impressive design improvements in collars is the slow release of their active ingredient. This leads to a long lasting product that can provide benefits for up to 8 months. They’re are created to carry out two important functions which are;
Repelling
They keep pests away emitting a gas that is repellent to pests and other insects. The mechanism behind how each does this can vary, in some cases it soaks into the fat layer of your cat’s skin to spread throughout the coat, in others it might only protect the local area effectively.
Treating
A special kind of medication is used in some collars. The medication seeps into the cats fat layer and is effectively spread around the cats body by its natural skin oils. This doesn’t pose a threat to your cat’s health providing they do not react negatively to the compounds used.
When looking to purchase the best collar for your cat, you need to be aware that some focus specifically on one job, while others do both jobs of repelling and treating.
Carefully inspect the packaging to ascertain the purpose of a particular collar. This may save you some money in the long run, and definitely save you from disappointment.
Are cat flea collars safe?
Many cat owners have expressed their concerns on the safety of flea collars. Some of these concerns have been validated over time and appropriate remedies have been found, others remain a concern with even some of the latest collars for cats.
Collar Tightness
Quite a few cat owners are reluctant to use any collars because of the risk of strangulation. This is no different with those designed to kill fleas, but most of the market leaders have safety mechanisms embedded in the product.
Apart from harsh compounds irritating your cat, the typical lack of elasticity in a collar can cause your cat to become stuck and in the worst cases, choke.
The concern around this happening led to collars being manufactured with “breakaway straps”. These safe collars fit snugly and have the same flea combating abilities, but will break free if the cat forcefully pulls against it, freeing themselves from whatever they were stuck on.
Allergic Reactions
The cat also stands a risk of suffering many allergic reactions because of the toxic chemicals being released by the collar. Some cats are known to develop some kind of irritation around the neck where the collar is situated; this condition is commonly referred to as flea collar dermatitis.
These side effects may range from loss of fur to reddening of the skin and in rare and extreme cases, even death. It is vital that you have your cat spot tested for allergies with your vet before proceeding.
If your cat is usually in regular contact with your children and other pets, you should take extra precautions. Most active ingredients used in the manufacturing of flea treatment products are harmless to humans, but it’s important you read up on exactly what chemical compounds are used.
Contact with the toxins contained in the collar may cause you, or your loved ones irritation. This is also a concern with topical flea treatments, that are usually more potent.
What makes a good flea collar for cats?
Having highlighted the difficulties that are often associated with them, you should always err on the side of caution. The best way to do so is to aim to purchase from a reliable brand names.
This gives you the least risk of seeing side effects and putting your cat’s health in jeopardy. Respected brands will always have tested for effectiveness and side effects before marketing their product.
When deciding what the best option is for your cat, you should plan a visit your vet. The vet will be able to carry out tests to ascertain which chemicals may be harmful to your cat.
Armed with this knowledge you’ll be able to make a much more informed decision on which flea collar to use and how to get the most out of it.
A good collar should be comfortable around your cat’s neck. It should not be put on too tightly or too loosely. In both instances it may lead to accidents which could cause injury to your feline friend.
Always remember that collars are not natural for cats and so they may initially try to get rid of them if they aren’t used to being equipped with one.
For financial and convenience reasons, it should be built to last from both a material and an active ingredient standpoint. Many compounds claim to last as long as 8 months but become less effective much sooner.
Did you find this article helpful?