Last Updated: 02/06/2025
Cat Flea, Tick and Worming Guide
Find the best flea, tick, and worm protection for your cat with expert vet recommendations!
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 16 minutes - medium read
The vast array of pet parasite prevention products available can be overwhelming for Australian cat owners. With so many options to choose from, it's natural to feel confused about which products are relevant and effective in our local environment.
This guide will help you navigate the world of cat parasite prevention, providing insights into the most common parasites in Australia, the appropriate prevention methods for indoor cats, and the factors to consider when selecting the safest and most effective product for your feline friend.
Key parasites of cats in Australia
What coverage does your cat need?
The parasites your cat is likely to encounter can vary depending on your location and your cat's lifestyle.
All cats, including those kept exclusively indoors, should be covered for fleas, heartworm and intestinal worms.
Indoor cats
Indoor-only cats are unlikely to be exposed ticks and some intestinal worms. However, it's still possible for your indoor cat to be exposed to fleas if you have dogs or neighbouring wildlife. It's also possible that exposure to worm eggs can occur from dirt on your shoes or clothes. Heartworm is a risk for every indoor cat because it is transmitted via mosquitoes, which can easily access your home.
Paralysis ticks
Paralysis ticks tend to only live along the eastern coastline of Australia, particularly in NSW and QLD, however some cases may occur as far south as Melbourne. Ticks are also seasonal, which means they may not pose as much of a risk from April to August - however this changes year by year.
For cats along the east coast at risk of paralysis ticks, we recommend using isoxazoline-based products such as Revolution Plus, Nexgard Spectra for Cats or Bravecto Plus.
Tapeworm
The two most common tapeworms of cats in Australia are the flea tapeworm and Spirometra tapeworm. While they are both unlikely to cause significant illness in your cat or other family members, they can cause some gastrointestinal irritation and you may notice your cat passing segments of tapeworm in their faeces.
Flea tapeworms are spread when cats ingest infected fleas during grooming sessions. Their segments look similar to cucumber seeds.
Spirometra tapeworm segments are larger and have a central 'zipper-like' marking down the centre. Cats pick up these tapeworms when they hunt and eat small creatures such as geckos, frogs and fish. Additional care should be taken to controlling these parasites in households containing small children, elderly or immunosuppressed people as they are more vulnerable to illness caused by Spirometra.
Best flea, tick and worming treatments for cats
While there are lots of great options for keeping your cat protected from fleas, ticks and worms, to make things simple we've put together a few different options for full coverage. Remember that your cat's needs may vary depending on their location, lifestyle, age and health status, so it's best to check with your vet if you are unsure.
The all in one monthly spot on
Most cat owners would agree that topical spot on treatments are the easiest option when it comes to treating your cat for fleas, ticks and worms. Nexgard Spectra for cats covers fleas, ticks, heartworm, intestinal worms, lungworms, and mites in one monthly treatment.
Nexgard Spectra for cats
Pros
- All in one coverage: fleas, ticks, heartworm, intestinal worms, lungworms and mites.
- Also treats some tapeworms (Flea tapeworm and Taenia taeniaeformis).
- Topical treatment, no tablets or chews required.
Cons
- Must be used monthly
Great coverage with quarterly treatments
If applying a top spot to your cat every month sounds like a challenge, Bravecto Plus can cut the number of doses from 12 to 6 per year. Each spot on treatment covers fleas and heartworm for 3 months and controls paralysis ticks for 10 weeks.
Bravecto Plus
Pros
- Long lasting: covers fleas, heartworm and paralysis ticks consistently when used every 2 months
- Also controls intestinal worms and ear mites
- Easy topical application
Cons
- Does not cover tapeworm or lungworm
Comprehensive coverage combo
For cats in households with small children, the elderly or immunosuppressed, it's a good idea to be extra cautious when treating and controlling intestinal worms and tapeworms. There's no one product which offers this degree of coverage alongside heartworm, flea and tick control, so a combination approach is required.
There's a few combinations that offer this level of coverage, one we recommend is to give Milbemax tablets monthly for intestinal worms, tapeworms and heartworm plus Bravecto spot on every 3 months to keep ticks and fleas at bay.
Milbemax allwormer for cats
Pros
- Comprehensive worm coverage: intestinal worms, tapeworms and heartworms when given monthly
- Small flavoured tablet is easier to administer than other wormers
- Can be used safely in combination with most other parasite control
Cons
- Tablet: may be more difficult to administer than a topical treatment
- Does not cover fleas and ticks
Key points to remember
When choosing flea, tick and worming products for your cat, it is essential to consider the specific needs of your pet and your family to ensure everyone is happy and healthy. Some tips to remember:
- Even indoor cats need regular parasite control
- If you are in a paralysis tick area, keep prevention up year round and tick search your cat daily (especially in the warmer months)
- Make sure the products you choose are appropriate for your cat's weight and age
- Speak to your vet, or ask a Pet Circle Vet about their recommendations about the parasites of concern in your area
Further Reading
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats
Common Causes of Itching in Cats
Why Do Some Cats Pee Where They Shouldn't?
