Credelio® Cat – the first oral flea and tick product for cats

July 28, 2021

Flea and tick protection, redefined

The isoxazoline class of flea and tick products have revolutionized how veterinarians and pet owners protect their pets from these dangerous, troublesome parasites. Since first appearing on the market in 2014, this drug class has stood out from previous flea and tick treatments for its high and persistent speed of kill, new mode of action, and real-world success.

While isoxazolines are available in a variety of formulations for dogs, they have only been approved for cats in the topical application form. Unfortunately, this has left a gap in the number of cats who can benefit from this important new class of parasiticide as many owners (and their cats) struggle with or simply do not like topicals.

Filling a gap in feline protection needs

Credelio Cat (lotilaner) was developed just for this purpose. It offers the benefits of the potent isoxazoline, lotilaner, in a small, easy-to-give, chewable tablet designed specifically for cats:
  • Starts killing fleas fast – within 6 hours after administration and with >98% efficacy achieved by 12 hours
  • Achieves 100% flea kill 24 hours after administration and maintains 100% efficacy 24 hours post-flea infestation for 35 days
  • Kills fleas before they can lay eggs, providing effective flea treatment
  • Kills >97% of Ixodes scapularis ticks, the most common tick infesting cats1, after 72 hours for 31 days
  • In a large-scale, three-month, head-to-head field study of flea-infested cats, Credelio Cat outperformed Frontline® Plus after each monthly dose, achieving efficacy scores of 98.3%, 100%, 100% compared to 61.6%, 75.4%, 84.7% for Frontline Plus2
  • In the same field study, Credelio Cat significantly reduced signs of FAD in flea-infested cats as a direct result of its quick, month-long flea kill2

Palatable for cats. Easy for owners

In the development of Credelio Cat, Elanco took an innovative approach that prioritized cats’ unique eating behaviors and physiology. This included not only making a pill that was very small but one with an appealing smell and flavor to encourage easy acceptance.

Cats have limited taste buds compared to other animals and, as a result, they utilize smell more than any other sense in what they decide to eat.3 In fact, if a cat finds the smell of a treat or food more appealing than another, he will eat it without sampling the other food or treat.

Because of this, Credelio Cat was formulated to include two distinct ingredients – vanilla and yeast – that research has shown cats find appealing.4 Vanilla offers an attractive aroma while yeast helps with flavor and palatability.

In a large field study across the United States, 99.5% of 648 total doses were successfully administered by cat owners with close to half the tablets being voluntary accepted when offered by hand, placed in a food bowl, or mixed with food.2 And thanks to the chewable tablet’s small size and texture, it can easily be placed in the mouth if necessary.

Meeting the needs of more cats and owners

Credelio Cat allows veterinary clinics to meet more of the needs of cats and cat owners by offering another option for flea and tick control. It’s a great option for cats or owners who struggle with topical application or have had bad past experiences.

Indications:

Credelio Cat kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) for one month in cats and in kittens that are 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 2.0 pounds of greater. Credelio Cat is also indicated for the treatment and control of Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) infestations for one month in cats and in kittens that are 6 months of age and older and weighing 2.0 pounds or greater.

Credelio® Cat (lotilaner) Important Safety Information

Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in cats without a history of neurologic disorders. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders. The safety of Credelio Cat has not been established in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats. The effectiveness of Credelio Cat against Ixodes scapularis in kittens less than 6 months of age has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, tachypnea, and vomiting. For full prescribing information see Credelio Cat package insert.

1Little SE, Barrett AW, Nagamori Y, et al. Ticks from cats in the United States: Patterns of infestation and infection with pathogens. Vet Parasitol. 2018;257:15.
2Chappell K, Paarlberg T, Seewald W, et al. A randomized, controlled field study to assess the efficacy and safety of lotilaner flavored chewable tablets (Credelio® CAT) in eliminating fleas in client-owned cats in the USA. Parasite Vector. 2021;14:127.
3Pekel AY, Mülazımoğlu SB, Acar N. Taste preferences and diet palatability in cats. J Appl Anim Res. 2020;48(1):281.
4Toutain C, Seewald W, Jung M. Pharmacokinetics of lotilaner following a single oral or intravenous administration in cats. Parasite Vector. 2018;11:412.

Credelio, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2021 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-21-1993
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