5 Ways Indoor Cats Can Get Fleas

Key Takeaways

Indoor cats can get fleas.
Fleas can reach indoor cats via other pets, people, and rodents, travel, or moving into a new home with an existing infestation.
Not only do fleas cause itching and discomfort, but they can also transmit parasites, such as tapeworms, and cat scratch fever to humans.
The best defense against your cat getting fleas is adequate flea protection given on a regular basis year-round to all pets in the home.

Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?

Indoor cats can, and regularly do, get fleas. Because pet parents may mistakenly think fleas can’t get indoors, they don’t keep their cats on flea protection. Then, all it takes is one flea.

Female fleas can lay up to 50 flea eggs per day, so infestations can quickly get out of control.

If indoor cats start scratching themselves or losing hair, it can be hard to believe that fleas are the cause. But even if you don’t see fleas on your cat, they could still be to blame.

Cats are very good at grooming fleas out of their fur, so they can be hard to find. And some cats—particularly those who are allergic to flea bites—can have intense reactions to just one or two bites.

How Do Indoor Cats Get Fleas?

Indoor cats may seem completely isolated from the outside world, but that is not the case. Fleas have many ways to get inside your home.

1. Other Pets in the House

The most common way for fleas to enter your household is on other pets that come inside from being outdoors. This goes for visiting pets as well who can still pick up fleas and bring them into your home.

Even if a dog is on a monthly flea protection option, the dog can still be a temporary host for live fleas. So, fleas can enter your house on a dog, then jump off the dog and onto your cat.

What you can do:

Keep all cats and dogs in your home on flea protection year-round, whether they’re allowed outside or not. Do not use a flea product meant for dogs on your cat (and vice versa). Instead, use a cat-specific formula, like Credelio CAT, a small chewable tablet that offers monthly flea protection for cats at least 8 weeks old and weighing at least 2 pounds.

Use a flea comb to regularly check your cat and other pets in the household often for fleas and other insects/parasites.
Ensure that all household pets and other pets visiting your home are up to date on their flea protection.

2. Humans in the Home

Fleas can hang onto people and their clothing or shoes—and then ride them right into your home. While fleas do not have wings, they can jump large distances (up to 19 inches), so it’s easy for them to hop onto people.

What you can do:

Clean up after house guests visit—including vacuuming, washing floors, sheets, bathrooms, couches, towels, and upholstery.
If you suspect your cat may have been exposed to a flea-bearing guest, do a quick examination. Fleas usually camp out behind a cat’s head, along the back by the tail base, and on the underbelly.
Even if you don’t see fleas, check for flea dirt, the flea’s fecal matter, which looks like black pepper. If you see flea dirt, it means fleas are infesting your cat and you have fleas in your home.

3. Rodents

Fleas aren’t just attracted to dogs and cats; they also live and feed on many other mammals. If your house has a mouse or rat problem, they may bring fleas in too. Those fleas jump off the rodents, into your home, and onto your cat.

What you can do:

Keep your floors and countertops clean and free of food scraps or crumbs—stray food will attract rodents.
Use humane traps, metal screens over plumbing and ventilation pipes, and tight seals on your screens, windows, and doors to keep rodents from entering your home.

4. Places Your Cat Visits

Cats can pick up fleas from the breeder, shelters/rescues, a vet’s office, a groomer’s, a boarding facility—any place where dogs, cats, and other animals congregate.

What you can do:

Keep your cat on a veterinarian-approved and prescribed flea and tick protection year-round.
Clean and wash cat carriers and any bedding in the carrier.

5. Moving To a New Home

The excitement of moving into a new home may overshadow thoughts about what parasites might already be there. This is particularly true in condominium and apartment complexes.

Homes with carpets and central heating provide perfect conditions for year-round development of fleas.

The highest number of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are in areas where pets spend the most time, such as on beds and furniture.

Even though fleas may be in your house, it’s not likely that they will be visible. The eggs are tiny white specks the size of dust particles, while the larvae, which are somewhat larger, with dark heads and lighter bodies, migrate deep down in carpets, furniture, or cracks in floors, away from the light.

What you can do:

Have a professional cleaning service come in to clean the entire home before you move in.
Use in-home flea treatments, such as Advantage Carpet and Upholstery Spot Spray, if you know the previous homeowner had pets, or consider hiring a professional exterminator.

How To Get Rid of Fleas on Indoor Cats

These days, it's relatively easy to get rid of fleas safely and effectively. Follow these steps to get rid of fleas on your pet and in your home:

Use a Fast-acting Flea Treatment

Flea shampoos kill adult fleas fast, but they won't stop more from showing up. A better option is a veterinarian-recommended flea and tick protection that kills existing fleas and provides ongoing protection.

For example, Credelio CAT starts killing fleas within six hours and continues to protect against fleas for a full month. It also offers monthly treatment and control of black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks) for cats and kittens 6 months or older weighing at least 2 pounds.

Credelio CAT is flavored with vanilla and yeast flavor to please picky cats1, making it easy to administer.

Ensure All Household Pets Are Treated for Fleas

Fleas reproduce rapidly in homes and easily jump between pets. Therefore, every animal in the home needs flea protection year-round.

Use flea treatments labeled specifically for each pet’s species, age, and weight. Consult your veterinarian to choose the safest, most effective option for your individual pets.

Clean Thoroughly

To treat a flea infestation, consistent and thorough cleaning is essential. Because flea eggs hatch in cycles, continue cleaning for several weeks, depending on the severity of the infestation.

Vacuum your carpets, floors, and upholstery twice a day
Dispose of the vacuum bag or canister contents immediately in an outdoor trash bin
Wash bedding regularly to get rid of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae.
If more environmental control is necessary, use an indoor fogger, spray, or, best of all, professional extermination.

Safety tip: Always read and follow product instructions. Some chemicals in parasite treatments can be harmful to cats. Avoid any product that doesn't clearly state it's safe for cats.

How To Prevent Fleas on Indoor Cats

The best defense against your cat getting fleas is adequate flea protection given on a regular basis to all pets in the home.

Many flea and tick protection options, like Credelio CAT, require a prescription from your veterinarian, who can also help you determine the best flea and tick protection for your cat depending on their lifestyle, age, and weight.

Fleas can be a big problem for cats, even for those who stay indoors:

Fleas can cause an allergic reaction in some cats, which worsens the itching and discomfort.
Fleas can especially pose an immediate danger to kittens, as an infestation can cause anemia and even death.
Fleas can transmit parasites, such as tapeworms, and cat scratch fever to humans.

Checking for fleas and taking measures to prevent them are important habits to help ensure the health of your cat and your family.

Cat Fleas FAQs

Do indoor cats need flea treatment?

Yes, indoor cats need flea protection year-round, regardless of the weather or where you live, to protect them from serious health issues, including skin problems, blood diseases, and internal parasites transmitted by fleas, and to keep you and your family safe from illness.

How do I tell if my cat has fleas?

To tell if your cat has fleas, check for the evidence of flea dirt on your cat or where your cat has been lying down. You may also find live fleas hiding behind your cat’s head, along the back by the base of the tail, and on the underbelly. Using a flea comb can help.

It is important to remember that cats are very good at grooming and eating fleas out of their fur, so sometimes fleas can be hard to find.

Do I need to treat my house if my cat has fleas?

Yes, you need to treat your house if your cat has fleas. All stages of the flea life cycle need to be addressed to eliminate an infestation. Vacuuming carpets, floors, rugs, cat beds, anywhere a flea could hide, plus washing all bedding in hot soapy water and drying in the dryer removes eggs and larvae from your home.

Do fleas live in cat litter?

Yes, fleas can live in cat litter, but they prefer to live on the cat and anywhere the cat walks and rests, such as beds, cat beds, carpets, furniture, and even in crevices like baseboards and furniture cushions.

CREDELIO CAT

Indications

Credelio CAT kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations for one month in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 2 pounds or greater. Credelio CAT is also indicated for treatment and control of black-legged tick infestations for one month in cats and kittens 6 months of age and older and weighing 2 pounds or greater.

Important Safety Information

Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class of drugs. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, incoordination 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 and lactating cats. The effectiveness of Credelio CAT against black-legged ticks in kittens less than 6 months of age has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, rapid breathing and vomiting. For complete safety information, please see Credelio CAT product label or ask your veterinarian.

Advantage, Credelio are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-26-0702

References

Toutain C, Seewald T, Jung M. Pharmacokinetics of lotilaner following a single oral or intravenous administration in cats. Parasite Vector. 2018;11:412.