Review highlights efficacy of selamectin-sarolaner combo in cats
Bottom line
Version 1
A newly published review in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports pulls together the efficacy evidence behind the topical selamectin-plus-sarolaner combination marketed as Stronghold Plus in the EU and Revolution Plus in other markets. The review describes the monthly spot-on as a broad-spectrum feline parasiticide that combines two actives with different mechanisms, delivering at least 6.0 mg/kg selamectin and 1.0 mg/kg sarolaner for control of fleas, ticks, ear mites, gastrointestinal nematodes, and heartworm prevention in cats. Regulatory materials from the EMA and U.S. labeling show the product has been authorized for years, but the review helps consolidate the clinical and experimental evidence base around how the combination performs across parasite categories. (sciencedirect.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the value of the paper is less about a new approval and more about a practical synthesis of where this combination fits in feline parasite control. The evidence summarized in the review aligns with prior studies showing strong efficacy against fleas, ticks, ear mites, hookworms, and roundworms, while also reinforcing the convenience of monthly topical dosing for pet parents who struggle with oral administration. In the U.S., labeling also includes prevention of Dipylidium caninum infection as a result of killing vector fleas, which may matter in parasite-risk discussions and compliance planning. As with other isoxazoline-containing products, clinicians still need to weigh labeled neurologic-event warnings in individual patients. (sciencedirect.com)
What to watch: Expect this review to be used mainly as a reference point for feline parasite protocols, especially as clinics compare topical broad-spectrum options and watch for more real-world data in cats with niche or emerging parasite risks. (sciencedirect.com)
Key facts
- Article type
- Review article
- Journal
- Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports
- Product
- Selamectin-plus-sarolaner topical combination
- Brand names
- Stronghold Plus in Europe, Revolution Plus in other markets
- Use
- Monthly spot-on parasiticide for cats
- Actives
- Selamectin and sarolaner
- Coverage
- Fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal nematodes, and heartworm prevention
- U.S. label
- Cats and kittens 8 weeks and older, weighing at least 2.8 pounds
- U.S. indication
- Prevention of Dipylidium caninum infection by killing vector fleas
Version 2
A new review article is putting fresh attention on an already established feline parasiticide: the selamectin-plus-sarolaner topical combination sold as Stronghold Plus in Europe and Revolution Plus in other markets. Published in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, the paper summarizes efficacy data for the monthly spot-on across a broad parasite spectrum, framing the product as a single-option approach for fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal nematodes, and heartworm prevention in cats. (sciencedirect.com)
The product itself isn’t new. Zoetis announced European Commission approval for Stronghold Plus in 2017, and the EMA’s public assessment materials describe it as a combination of selamectin, a macrocyclic lactone, and sarolaner, an isoxazoline, for monthly topical use in cats. In the U.S., Revolution Plus labeling has positioned the combination as a prescription option for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older, weighing at least 2.8 pounds. (news.zoetis.com)
What the new review adds is a consolidated look at efficacy rather than a new regulatory milestone. According to the paper, the two active ingredients work with different modes of action and together provide broad parasiticidal coverage. U.S. prescribing information says Revolution Plus is indicated for treatment and prevention of flea infestations, treatment and control of several tick species, treatment and control of ear mites, treatment and control of roundworms and hookworms, and prevention of heartworm disease; current U.S. labeling also includes prevention of Dipylidium caninum infection as a direct result of killing vector fleas. (sciencedirect.com)
The supporting evidence base spans multiple earlier studies. One U.S. field study found a single application cleared ear mites from 87.5% of cats by Day 14 and 94.4% by Day 30. Another study reported geometric mean fecal egg count reductions of 99.4% and 99.7% for Ancylostoma tubaeforme on Days 30 and 60, respectively, after treatment with the combination. Additional work has also explored efficacy against induced tick infestations and even prevention of Cytauxzoon felis transmission in an experimental setting, underscoring why the combination has drawn attention in regions where tick exposure is a meaningful feline risk. (sciencedirect.com)
Outside the core label claims, the literature is still expanding. A 2025 report described successful use of the sarolaner-selamectin spot-on in a cat with generalized Demodex cati, and a 2025 publication reported efficacy in naturally occurring Notoedres cati infestations. Those papers don’t change the approved label, but they suggest clinicians and researchers are continuing to test how the combination performs in less routine feline parasitology cases. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Industry-facing materials also stress the administration advantage. The review describes the product as a low-volume monthly spot-on, and a recent survey-based study on cat caregiver preferences examined ease of use and preferences around topical antiparasitics, pointing to the ongoing commercial and clinical importance of administration simplicity in cats. That matters because adherence often determines whether broad-spectrum coverage on paper translates into real protection at home. (sciencedirect.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this review is useful because it compiles the case for a combination product that can simplify feline parasite conversations without oversimplifying risk. In practice, many clinics are balancing indoor-outdoor lifestyle questions, regional tick pressure, heartworm prevention needs, and pet parent preferences around topical versus oral dosing. A product that covers multiple parasite classes in one monthly application may support compliance, but patient selection still matters, especially given FDA class-wide warnings about potential neurologic adverse events with isoxazoline-containing products. (sciencedirect.com)
What to watch: The next step isn’t likely to be a dramatic label shift, but more incremental evidence, including real-world use data, additional work in region-specific parasite threats, and continued competition in the feline broad-spectrum parasiticide market. For practitioners, the practical question will be whether evidence syntheses like this one change protocol design, formulary choices, or how clinics frame parasite prevention plans with pet parents. (sciencedirect.com)