A guide to feline parasiticides

Editors' note: These product descriptions and the quick reference charts are summaries only.* Readers are responsible for reading and becoming familiar with the entire manufacturer's product label or package insert and are encouraged to do so. This product guide contains selected parasiticides intended to be available to pet owners primarily through licensed veterinarians in the United States. This product guide is not intended to be a complete listing of all parasiticides available to veterinarians and to the public.

Acarexx Otic Suspension

Acarexx Otic Suspension (Idexx Pharmaceuticals) contains 0.01% ivermectin to treat adult ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations in cats and kittens 4 weeks of age or older. Efficacy against mite eggs and immature stages has not been proven. The safe use of Acarexx in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats has not been evaluated. The product is applied topically into the external ear canal.

Advantage

Advantage (Bayer Animal Health), a monthly topical, contains 9.1% imidacloprid. It prevents and treats flea infestations in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age and older, killing 98% to 100% of fleas within 12 hours. Larval flea stages in the cat's environment are killed after contact with a treated pet, and Advantage remains effective if an animal gets wet. Consultation with a veterinarian is required before use on medicated, debilitated, aged, pregnant, or nursing animals. It is available in two sizes for cats.

Advantage Multi for Cats

Advantage Multi for Cats (Bayer Animal Health) contains imidacloprid (10%) and moxidectin (1%). This monthly topical prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis. It also kills adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and treats and controls ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations and hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and roundworm (Toxocara cati) infections. Safe use of this product in breeding and pregnant animals has not been established. At the veterinarian's discretion, cats older than 6 months may be tested for existing heartworm infection before Advantage Multi treatment. No adverse reactions were associated with topical application of the product in experimentally heartworm-infected cats. Avoid oral ingestion. Do not use on sick, debilitated, or underweight cats. Do not allow children to contact the administration site for 30 minutes after application. Advantage Multi is available in three sizes for cats and kittens 9 weeks of age and older and that weigh at least 2 lb.

Capstar

Capstar (Novartis Animal Health) tablets contain nitenpyram for oral administration based on body weight. The product can be used in kittens and cats 4 weeks and older and weighing at least 2 lb. It starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of administration and shows 90% effectiveness within six hours in cats. It does not have an effect on fleas in the environment and can be used with other flea products to prevent and control fleas. It is safe for pregnant or nursing queens. Cats may temporarily scratch in response to the fleas dying.

Cestex

Cestex (Pfizer Animal Health) contains epsiprantel. It is a single-dose oral treatment to remove the tapeworms Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis. Cestex should not be used in kittens less than 7 weeks of age. The safety of this product in breeding and pregnant animals has not been determined. It comes in two tablet sizes for cats.

Droncit

Droncit (Bayer Animal Health) contains praziquantel and is available in tablet and injectable forms. It is used to remove the tapeworms Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis in cats. The injectable solution can be given subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Droncit has been tested in breeding and pregnant cats, and no adverse effects were noted. It is not intended for use in kittens less than 6 weeks old.

Drontal

Drontal (Bayer Animal Health) tablets contain praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate. It is used to remove the tapeworms Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis, the hookworms Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and the roundworms Toxocara cati. Do not use in kittens less than 1 month old or weighing less than 1.5 lb. Consultation with a veterinarian is required before use in sick or pregnant animals.

*Sources: Manufacturer product labels or package inserts, manufacturer Web sites, Companion Animal Parasite Council tables (www.capcvet.org), and the Compendium of Veterinary Products Drug Label Database (North American Compendiums) accessed online through the Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org).

Frontline Plus for Cats

Frontline Plus for Cats (Merial) contains 9.8% fipronil and 11.8% (s)-methoprene. It is a monthly topical treatment that kills adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae; all stages of deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), and Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum); and chewing lice. It also prevents all flea stages from developing. Do not use on rabbits. Frontline Plus is waterproof and can be used on cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older, breeding animals, and pregnant and lactating queens.

Frontline Spray

Frontline Spray (Merial) contains 0.29% fipronil to control fleas, ticks, and chewing lice. It should be applied no more frequently than every 30 days to kill adult fleas and all stages of brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), and deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Consultation with a veterinarian is required before use on medicated, debilitated, aged, pregnant, or nursing animals. Do not use on puppies or kittens less than 8 weeks old, and do not use on rabbits.

Frontline Top Spot for Cats

Frontline Top Spot for Cats (Merial) contains 9.7% fipronil to control infestations with fleas, ticks, and chewing lice in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older. Topical monthly application will kill adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae and all stages of brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), and deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). It also prevents all flea stages from developing. Do not use on rabbits. It is waterproof and can be used on breeding, pregnant, and lactating queens.

Heartgard Chewables for Cats

Heartgard Chewables for Cats (Merial) contain ivermectin and can be used in cats 6 weeks of age and older. The monthly treatment eliminates the tissue stage of Dirofilaria immitis, preventing heartworm disease in cats. It also removes and controls adult and immature hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Ancylostoma braziliense). Cats should be tested for heartworms before Heartgard is administered. Cats already infected with adult heartworms can safely be given the product monthly to prevent further infections. This product has a wide safety margin at three times the recommended dose in breeding cats and pregnant queens. It is available in two sizes for cats.

Interceptor Flavor Tabs

Interceptor Flavor Tabs (Novartis Animal Health) contain milbemycin oxime and can be used in kittens 6 weeks and older and weighing 1.5 lb or more. The monthly tablet prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis. It also removes the roundworm Toxocara cati and the hookworm Ancylostoma tubaeforme. Safety in breeding, pregnant, and lactating queens; breeding toms; and heartworm-positive cats has not been established. Cats should be tested for heartworm infection before treatment is started. The product comes in three sizes for cats.

Milbemite OTIC

Milbemite OTIC solution (Novartis Animal Health) contains 0.1% milbemycin oxime solution and is indicated to treat ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations in cats and kittens age 4 weeks and older. It is administered topically into the external ear canal. The safe use of the product in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats has not been evaluated.

Profender

Profender (Bayer Animal Health) contains 1.98% emodepside and 7.94% praziquantel. It is a single-dose topical solution for treating and controlling infections with tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis), roundworms (Toxocara cati), and hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) in kittens and cats that are at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2.2 lb. Children should not come in contact with the application site for 24 hours after application. Pregnant women, or those who may become pregnant, should wear disposable gloves when handling this product. Profender has not been evaluated in breeding cats and pregnant or lactating queens. Use with caution in sick or debilitated cats and cats with heartworm infections. The product comes in three sizes for cats.

Program

Program (Novartis Animal Health) contains lufenuron to control flea infestations by preventing the development of flea eggs; it does not kill adult fleas. Program is offered as a 6-month injectable (subcutaneous), monthly flavored tablets to be given with a meal, or a suspension to be added to a cat's food monthly. The injectable comes in two sizes for cats age 6 weeks and older, the tablets come in two sizes for kittens and cats age 4 weeks and older, and the suspension comes in two sizes for cats age 6 weeks and older. Do not inject intramuscularly. Do not use the injectable in dogs.

ProMeris for Cats

ProMeris for Cats (Fort Dodge Animal Health) contains 18.53% metaflumizone to control fleas (Ctenocephalides species) on cats and kittens 8 weeks and older. ProMeris is a topical product that should be applied no more than once a month and should only be used on cats. Consultation with a veterinarian is required before use on aged, debilitated, medicated, pregnant, or nursing cats. It is available in two sizes for cats.

Revolution

Revolution (Pfizer Animal Health) contains selamectin to be given topically monthly to prevent heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and to kill adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and prevent flea eggs from hatching. It also treats and controls ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations and roundworm (Toxocara cati) and hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) infections in cats. Revolution has been tested safe in breeding males and females, pregnant and lactating females, and kittens 8 weeks of age and older. At the veterinarian's discretion, cats 6 months of age or older may be tested for existing heartworm infection before treatment is started. Cats with existing adult heartworm infections can safely be given Revolution monthly to prevent further infections. Do not use on sick, debilitated, or underweight animals. It is available in two sizes for cats.

Vectra

Vectra (Summit VetPharm) for Cats & Kittens and Vectra for Cats contain dinotefuran and pyriproxyfen to kill adult fleas and control the development of all flea stages for at least one month. Vectra is applied topically and can be used on kittens as young as 8 weeks of age.

Virbac Pyrethrin Dip

Virbac Pyrethrin Dip (Virbac Animal Health) contains pyrethrins (1%), piperonyl butoxide (4%), n-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide (6%), and di-n-propyl isocinchomeronate (4%) to kill and repel fleas, ticks, lice, gnats, mosquitoes, and flies in dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. It should applied no more than once every seven days and should not be used on animals less than 12 weeks of age. Consultation with a veterinarian is required before use on debilitated, aged, medicated, pregnant, or nursing animals. The dip is toxic to fish. The dip must be diluted in warm water per the label directions before application.

The Veterinary Medicine editors thank Jan Grace, RVT, BBA, MSM, for her work in compiling the information for this supplement, as well as Patricia Payne, DVM, PhD, for her assistance.