I agree with you about the topical stuff. We were over-run by fleas in Hawaii. Used EVERY brand of that topical stuff that is on the market and NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING worked. I finally had to borax the backyard. Thank God it was only an 8x8 area and also all the carpets in the house...ok, the entire house since it was all carpet but the kitchen and bathrooms. I then, had to take kitties to groomers for baths. Took almost a year to get fleas under control doing it that way.
Will have to look into the pills to see if they make them for cats since we are headed back to the states in about a month and half.
As for getting pup to take pills? No clue....I've always done it the hard way, open their mouths, insert pill and hope they swallow.