Recommended Free Tools
Revolution Plus is a prescription topical solution containing selamectin and sarolaner. Under the US label, it is applied once a month to cats and kittens at least 8 weeks old and at least 2.8 lb. It is labeled for heartworm disease prevention, flea control, specified ticks, ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms, and since a November 2024 FDA supplemental approval it is also labeled to prevent flea-vector Dipylidium caninum (tapeworm) infection. This article explains what the US label says. It cannot determine whether Revolution Plus is right for a particular cat. That decision belongs to your veterinarian, who can weigh your cat’s health history, age, weight, and household circumstances.
What Revolution Plus covers
Revolution Plus is a combination product. Selamectin is a parasiticide that acts against several internal and external parasites, and sarolaner belongs to the isoxazoline class, which is used against fleas and ticks. The label information available for this review (reviewed in October 2026) lists these indications for cats:
- Heartworm disease prevention.
- Flea control: killing adult fleas and treating or preventing flea infestations.
- Specified tick species: treatment and control of black-legged, Gulf Coast, and American dog ticks. This does not mean the product prevents all ticks or all tick-borne disease.
- Ear mites.
- Roundworms and intestinal hookworms, for one month of protection per dose, in eligible cats and kittens.
The 2024 tapeworm indication
FDA’s Recent Animal Drug Approvals listing records a November 13, 2024 supplemental approval (NADA 141-502) for prevention of Dipylidium caninum infection in cats and kittens at least 8 weeks old and at least 2.8 lb. The indication is tied to killing Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea that transmits this tapeworm. Revolution Plus is therefore labeled to prevent that infection as a result of flea control. It is not a general dewormer that clears every tapeworm infection, and older summaries of the product that predate this supplement will not list it.
Which cats the label covers
The labeled population is defined by two minimums:
- Age: at least 8 weeks old.
- Weight: at least 2.8 lb.
Cats below either threshold fall outside the labeled use. The label’s weight bands start at 2.8 lb, and cats above 22 lb are handled differently, as explained in the dosage section below.
#1 Best Overall
- 7-in-One Protection: Revolution Plus is a monthly topical that protects your cat against fleas, ticks, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworm disease. Prevents tapeworms by killing fleas. Approved for cats and kittens eight weeks and older, weighing 2.8 lbs or more. It’s available with a prescription from your veterinarian.
- Vets #1 Choice for Cats¹: Revolution Plus is the most prescribed medicine for feline parasite protection with over 25 years of proven protection*.
- Protection Indoor & Outdoor Cats Need: Parasites are not “outdoor-only.” Any cat or kitten can regularly come in contact with harmful pests. Regardless of your cat’s lifestyle (indoor only, indoor/outdoor, outdoor only), Revolution Plus protects your cat from parasites that follow you home.
- Once a Month Treatment: One application a month protects your cat from the most common parasites.
- Easy-to-Apply: Applying Revolution Plus doesn’t require gloves. It's quick-drying, small-volume and applied topically on the back of your cat’s neck.
How the monthly dose is selected
The Zoetis prescribing information sets the minimum labeled dosage as follows: “The recommended minimum dosage is 2.7 mg selamectin per pound (6 mg/kg) of body weight and 0.45 mg sarolaner per pound (1 mg/kg) of body weight.” The dose is selected by choosing the tube whose weight band matches the cat, applied once monthly. The tube strengths are:
| Cat’s weight | Tube cap | Volume | Contents per tube |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8–5.5 lb | Gold | 0.25 mL | 15 mg selamectin / 2.5 mg sarolaner |
| 5.6–11 lb | Orange | 0.5 mL | 30 mg selamectin / 5 mg sarolaner |
| 11.1–22 lb | Green | 1 mL | 60 mg selamectin / 10 mg sarolaner |
| Over 22 lb | Combination of tubes | Per label | Per label; ask your veterinarian |
Two situations call for extra care. If your cat’s weight sits close to a band boundary, the tube choice should be confirmed against the current package labeling and by your veterinarian rather than by estimate. For cats above 22 lb, the label directs use of an appropriate combination of tubes, and that combination should be set by your veterinarian. Do not calculate a dose from this article, and never use a tube strength chosen for a different cat.
Rank #2
- 7-in-One Protection: Revolution Plus is a monthly topical that protects your cat against fleas, ticks, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworm disease. Prevents tapeworms by killing fleas. Approved for cats and kittens eight weeks and older, weighing 2.8 lbs or more. It’s available with a prescription from your veterinarian.
- Vets #1 Choice for Cats¹: Revolution Plus is the most prescribed medicine for feline parasite protection with over 25 years of proven protection*.
- Protection Indoor & Outdoor Cats Need: Parasites are not “outdoor-only.” Any cat or kitten can regularly come in contact with harmful pests. Regardless of your cat’s lifestyle (indoor only, indoor/outdoor, outdoor only), Revolution Plus protects your cat from parasites that follow you home.
- Once a Month Treatment: One application a month protects your cat from the most common parasites.
- Easy-to-Apply: Applying Revolution Plus doesn’t require gloves. It's quick-drying, small-volume and applied topically on the back of your cat’s neck.
How the product is applied
The manufacturer says a veterinarian or veterinary technician should demonstrate or explain the application technique before the first use. Once that has been shown, the label describes these steps:
- Confirm the cat’s skin is dry and intact, and that the coat is dry. Do not apply to broken skin or to a wet coat.
- Puncture the tube seal as directed on the package.
- Part the hair at the base of the neck, in front of the shoulder blades, until skin is visible.
- Place the tube tip on the skin.
- Empty the entire tube in one spot. Do not massage the product into the skin.
- Keep the application site free of contact for four hours after application, and wash your hands after use.
The label notes that temporary stiff or clumped hair, discoloration, or a powdery residue can occur at the application site. These changes are expected to be temporary and are not described as a safety signal on their own, but a change that looks like a skin reaction (redness, sores, or intense scratching) should be reported to your veterinarian.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- Advantage II Large Cat is a leading brand in cat flea treatment and prevention for large cats over 9 lbs., at least 8 weeks of age
- Vet-recommended, easy-to-apply monthly topical treatment – no hard-to-swallow pills, no prescription needed
- Delivers total flea protection – kills adult fleas, flea larvae and flea eggs through contact
- Same-day effectiveness – kills fleas within 12 hours of application and keeps working for 30 days
- Fragrance-free formula, waterproof after 24 hours of application
Side effects reported after approval
FDA’s 2023 safety-related labeling summary lists the post-approval reports for cats. These include application-site reactions (alopecia, lesions, erythema, and pruritus), lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, generalized pruritus, behavioral disorders such as hiding, hyperactivity, and vocalization, ataxia, muscle tremor, diarrhea, generalized alopecia, and seizure. The list is ordered by reporting frequency in the label, but this is not a rate table. FDA states that not all events are reported, and that frequency and causal relationship cannot reliably be determined from these reports. Their presence does not establish that Revolution Plus caused any given event.
If your cat develops any of these signs after a dose, contact your veterinarian first. FDA’s pet-owner fact sheet on isoxazoline products advises the same step and describes how adverse events can be reported to the agency.
Rank #4
- 7-in-One Protection: Revolution Plus is a monthly topical that protects your cat against fleas, ticks, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworm disease. Prevents tapeworms by killing fleas. Approved for cats and kittens eight weeks and older, weighing 2.8 lbs or more. It’s available with a prescription from your veterinarian.
- Vets #1 Choice for Cats¹: Revolution Plus is the most prescribed medicine for feline parasite protection with over 25 years of proven protection*.
- Protection Indoor & Outdoor Cats Need: Parasites are not “outdoor-only.” Any cat or kitten can regularly come in contact with harmful pests. Regardless of your cat’s lifestyle (indoor only, indoor/outdoor, outdoor only), Revolution Plus protects your cat from parasites that follow you home.
- Once a Month Treatment: One application a month protects your cat from the most common parasites.
- Easy-to-Apply: Applying Revolution Plus doesn’t require gloves. It's quick-drying, small-volume and applied topically on the back of your cat’s neck.
Neurologic and special-group cautions
Neurologic reactions
Sarolaner is an isoxazoline, and the label warns that neurologic adverse reactions, including tremors, ataxia, and seizures, have been reported with isoxazoline products. Some of these reports came from cats with no history of neurologic disorders. The label advises caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders, and such cats should be reviewed by a veterinarian before treatment is considered.
Kittens under 8 weeks, pregnant or lactating cats, and breeding cats
The label states that safe use has not been established for kittens under 8 weeks old, or for breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats. This is a statement that safety has not been established, not a finding that the product is harmful in these groups. If your cat falls into any of these categories, ask your veterinarian whether any product is appropriate.
Best Value
- Advantage II Large Cat is a leading brand in cat flea treatment and prevention for large cats over 9 lbs., at least 8 weeks of age
- Vet-recommended, easy-to-apply monthly topical treatment – no hard-to-swallow pills, no prescription needed
- Delivers total flea protection – kills adult fleas, flea larvae and flea eggs through contact
- Same-day effectiveness – kills fleas within 12 hours of application and keeps working for 30 days
- Fragrance-free formula, waterproof after 24 hours of application
Handling precautions for people
The label states that the product may irritate skin and eyes. The following precautions apply to everyone in the household:
- Wash hands after handling the tube and after application.
- If the product contacts exposed skin, wash it immediately with soap and water.
- Adults, and especially children, should avoid contact with the application site until four hours after application.
- Keep the product and tubes out of reach of children.
Next steps before starting
Because Revolution Plus is a prescription veterinary medicine, the starting point is a veterinary visit. Bring the current package labeling or the cat’s weight to that appointment. Ask your veterinarian to confirm the tube strength, to demonstrate the application technique, and to review any neurologic history, age, pregnancy or breeding status, and other medications your cat takes.
Label information can change. Check the current prescribing information from Zoetis, and the FDA listings for indications, before relying on any detail in this article.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
