5 Ways Indoor Cats Can Get Fleas—and How To Prevent Them 

There are numerous probably pesky parasites roaming about that pose a risk to our beloved pets, from mites and ticks to roundworms and heartworms. But when a cat would not step a toe bean exterior, can indoor cats get fleas, too? They positive can, says Brian Evans, DVM at Dutch.

“I’ve seen indoor-only cats who stay on the fortieth flooring of a excessive rise in New York Metropolis get fleas,” Evans says. How can indoor cats get fleas? A number of methods. Listed here are the most typical methods indoor cats get fleas and what to do should you spot an uninvited houseguest.

So, this is the dangerous information: fleas aren’t specific concerning the species or issues they hitch a journey and feed on. They’ve 4 life levels that go like this:

• Feminine fleas sometimes lay their eggs on a bunch’s pores and skin. As a result of they do not stick, they roll off into the host’s setting. In keeping with Cornell University, a flea can lay as much as 40 eggs per day.
• It takes the eggs about twelve days to hatch. Then, the hatched larvae discover someplace darkish and heat to construct a cocoon and develop—corresponding to carpet fibers.
• Within the cocoon, larvae develop into pupae. Till they sense a bunch close by, they will keep safely tucked away within the cocoon. Typically this may take months, unphased by pesticides, winter climate, or drought situations.
• Inside hours of rising, the grownup flea could have consumed their host and females will start to put extra eggs.

Fleas can hop on over to your cat or dwelling throughout any of those life levels. Here is how:

In keeping with Evans, a flea hitching a journey on one other pet, like your canine, is the most typical means indoor cats get fleas. If you happen to assume your cat is secure from fleas as a result of your canine is on flea preventatives, Evans says that is not the case. “Even then, some fleas can leap from the canine to your cat earlier than they’ve been killed by the flea medication in your canine. So, whereas it’s good that your canine is on flea medication, your cat might nonetheless be in danger.”

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Asking friends to depart their footwear on the door can assist cease the unfold of dangerous hitchhikers like flea eggs and larvae. If another person was in an setting with fleas, they will fortunately catch a journey on clothes or different belongings.

There are quite a lot of completely different species of fleas, together with canine fleas, cat fleas, and rat fleas. Regardless of their names, none of those fleas are choosy eaters and so they’ll leap from species to species to feed.

These annoying little bloodsuckers can tuck away within the bristles of a pet brush or within the new sweater you discovered on the thrift retailer. Earlier than bringing secondhand objects in or swapping pet provides, examine them for flea grime then sanitize, sanitize, sanitize.

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Your cat could be a cheerful home cat, however we’ll guess that she ventures out of the home yearly or extra to see the vet, journey with you, or keep at a boarding facility. Anytime your cat leaves the home or ventures to an space the place different pets have been, she will be able to decide up fleas.

You possibly can inform your indoor cat has fleas in the event that they itch, are dropping fur, or should you’ve noticed flea grime. “By the point you will have observed that your pet has fleas, the fleas have already laid eggs in your home and there shall be extra fleas on the way in which,” Evans says. That is why he recommends not only one spot-on flea therapy on your cat, however month-to-month remedies for all pets in your house. If you happen to’re coping with an lively flea infestation, these steps can assist do away with them:

• Use a flea shampoo: There are shampoos formulated for lively flea infestations (relatively than prevention). In case your cat is keen to be bathed, comply with the shampoo’s instructions—sometimes letting the suds decide on the pores and skin for a number of minutes—earlier than washing away these pesky parasites. Simply make sure you test the components first. Keep away from flea shampoo containing permethrins (contained in some flea merchandise) as they’re poisonous to cats.
• Spot-on flea remedies
• Every day vacuuming and carpet cleansing to take away fleas and larvae from the carpet fibers
• Deep cleansing of bedding, pet beds, and different materials

For extreme instances of flea infestation, it is best to name the professionals for extermination. Remember to speak to your vet for his or her suggestions on ridding your cat of fleas; they could recommend an oral treatment or extra remedies.

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Lastly, some excellent news: fleas and ticks might be prevented by merely making use of month-to-month remedies. Actually, Evans suggests a full spectrum spot-on therapy that additionally protects in opposition to heartworms. Sure, even indoor cats can get heartworm illness as heartworms are carried by mosquitoes (which might simply make their means into the home). 

“Sadly, I have never seen any holistic or DIY flea preventatives which are efficient,” Evans provides. As a result of fleas carry illnesses and different parasites (just like the micro organism accountable for cat scratch fever and tapeworms if a flea is ingested), you undoubtedly need to be sure your indoor or out of doors cat is roofed—even within the winter months.