How To Get Rid of Fleas on Cats
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Fleas are one of the most common external parasites that affect cats and can be quite pesky.
Knowing how to get rid of fleas on cats can help if your feline friend is affected.
A variety of flea treatments are available for cats, and understanding how each one works can help you choose the most effective option to eliminate fleas from your pet and your home.
Key Takeaways
- Cats of all ages and breeds are susceptible to fleas.
- Cats are often allergic to flea bites, leading to skin inflammation and itchiness.
- Fleas on cats are best killed using a prescription flea prevention medication.
What Are Cat Fleas?
Fleas are tiny (2–3 mm), flat-bodied brown or reddish insects. While the most common flea found on cats is Ctenocephalides felis (the cat flea), more than 2,200 different types of fleas have been identified in the environment and on pets worldwide.
These tiny critters are wingless and survive by feeding on the blood of animals.
Cats of all ages and breeds are susceptible to fleas. This means that year-round flea prevention is important for indoor cats as well as those who are allowed to spend time outdoors. Keeping cats indoors is generally best for their safety and well-being. Consider a catio or leash walks if your cat likes to spend time outdoors.
How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas
Cats are often allergic to flea bites, leading to skin inflammation and itchiness.
Although fleas can cause generalized itchiness, the base of the tail and the back of the neck are most affected. Other signs your cat might have fleas include the presence of fleas and/or flea dirt (flea feces), which looks like black pepper flakes in your cat’s fur, and skin irritation or infection, which is evident by:
How To Get Rid of Fleas on Cats
To get rid of fleas on cats, you’ll need to treat all the pets in your home, including dogs, other cats, and small mammals, such as rabbits or guinea pigs.
When treating cat fleas, you’ll also need to treat your home, including any bedding your pets use, all carpets and rugs, plush toys, and anything else that might harbor flea eggs, as well as your yard.
All flea life stages must be eradicated to prevent reinfestation. Use the following methods to get rid of fleas on cats.
Use a Vet-Recommended Flea Treatment
Using a vet-recommended flea preventive is the most effective treatment for eliminating fleas on cats. Many veterinary-approved products are available, including:
- Topical flea preventives
- Oral flea preventives
- Flea collars
Topical preventives are applied to the skin and kill adult fleas (some might also kill flea eggs and larvae). Typically applied monthly, topical preventives are ideal for cats who don’t easily accept pills or chewable medications. They should not be applied 48 hours before or after a bath.
Some topicals provide broad-spectrum coverage, treating a range of external and internal parasites. NexGard® COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) for Cats, for example, treats fleas and ticks, prevents heartworm disease, and treats and controls hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms.
Available by prescription only, NexGard® COMBO features an easy-to-use applicator. It’s safe for cats at least 8 weeks old and weighing a minimum of 1.8 pounds.
Oral preventives are pills or chewable tablets that kill fleas. Most are given monthly to prevent reinfestation. As with topicals, some provide broad-spectrum coverage against multiple types of parasites.
Cat flea collars kill and repel fleas. These tend to last several months.
Eliminating fleas from your home takes time. All pets in the home must be treated for at least three months for effective management. Always use species-specific products because dog products can be highly toxic to cats.
Also, make sure you’re applying a product intended for use on cats—not a spray or treatment meant for the home, yard, or furniture.
Give Your Cat a Bath
Bathing with flea shampoo or unscented Dawn dish liquid (commonly used on young kittens) can help to get rid of fleas on cats quickly.
Use a flea shampoo that is labeled for cats and recommended for your cat’s particular life stage (adult or kitten).
Active ingredients in medicated cat flea shampoos are designed to kill fleas instantly but won’t prevent reinfestation later.
The best way to prevent reinfestation is to get your cat on a prescription flea preventive like those mentioned above.
Use a Flea Comb
Combing your cat with a fine-toothed flea comb can help remove adult fleas.
If you can bathe your cat, you can use a flea comb after lathering your cat’s fur to help remove fleas and flea dirt.
If your cat is not amenable to bathing, which is common, you can use the flea comb along with one of the flea treatments described above to help eradicate the fleas.
Treat Your Cat’s Environment
Treating your cat’s indoor and outdoor environment is also essential.
Any area where your cat rests or plays can harbor adult fleas, eggs, larvae, or pupae, and proper extermination is necessary.
Thoroughly clean your home, including:
- Hard floors
- Carpets and rugs (including underneath furniture)
- Furniture
- Your bedding
- Toys
- Feeding locations
- Pet bedding
- Litter boxes
Purging the environment of fleas requires scrupulous vacuuming, cat-safe flea sprays for the home, and possibly a professional exterminator.
You can also spray your yard with a pet-safe flea product formulated for the outdoors or have an exterminator treat the yard for you.
If you have a large yard or a persistent flea problem, an exterminator would be the best option to rid your yard of fleas.
When To Call Your Vet About Cat Fleas
If your cat remains itchy or develops a skin rash, or if your efforts to rid your cat of fleas are unsuccessful, a trip to the veterinarian is recommended.
Prescription flea products are much more effective than over-the-counter products to treat and prevent flea infestations.
While treating your cat for fleas, keep a close eye on their appetite, behavior, and overall health.
If they don’t seem like themselves, a veterinary visit is also recommended.
Fleas transmit conditions such as tapeworms and bartonella, and severe infestations can lead to anemia in cats, especially in kittens and seniors.
The following signs of anemia are considered a veterinary emergency:
When in doubt, schedule a visit so your veterinarian can determine the best way to rid your cat and home of fleas.
How To Get Rid of Fleas on Cats FAQs
What kills fleas on cats best?
Fleas on cats are best killed using a prescription flea prevention medication, including topicals, pills, or chewable tablets. Some preventives, such as NexGard® COMBO, provide broad-spectrum protection against not only fleas, but also ticks and internal parasites.
Your veterinarian can help you choose the best flea treatment for your individual cat.
What should I do if my indoor cat has fleas?
If your indoor cat has fleas, then a flea and tick prevention medication should be started as soon as possible. Your cat, and all other small mammal pets in your home, should be treated for at least three months. At the same time, the indoor and outdoor environments should also be fully treated to avoid reinfestation.
Administering year-round flea prevention throughout your cat’s life can help prevent a recurrence.
How do you get rid of flea dirt on cats fast?
To quickly remove flea dirt (flea feces) from a cat, use a flea comb and give your cat a bath with a cat-safe flea shampoo or, in emergencies, unscented Dawn dish soap under veterinary guidance. This won’t prevent reinfestations, though. To provide lasting protection, talk to your vet about a monthly flea preventive.
How do you get rid of cat fleas naturally?
Unfortunately, there are no reliable or effective ways to treat fleas naturally in cats. However, all-natural products can be a great addition to an established prescription flea regimen.
This sponsored article was paid for by NexGard® COMBO.
NexGard® COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) is for topical use only in cats. Safe for use in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 1.8 pounds or more. Use with caution in cats with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are vomiting, application site reactions, and anorexia. If ingested, hypersalivation may occur. Avoid direct contact with application site until visibly dry. For full prescribing information, talk to your vet, or call 888-637-4251.
NexGard® is a registered trademark and NexGard COMBO™ is a trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France, used under license. ©2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved.
