How Do Indoor Cats Get Fleas?
WouterThe best way to get rid of fleas from your indoor cat is to treat the infestation regularly with a topical insecticide. The best choice is Frontline, which you apply to the back of your cat’s neck. It’s absorbed into the skin and kills fleas over a month. The treatment can be repeated if needed. Most veterinarians don’t recommend powders or sprays as they only have minimal effectiveness. The chemicals in these treatments can also harm the health of your cat.
In addition to exposure to fleas from the environment outside, your indoor cat can contract them from other pets and neighbors. Fleas can also be brought into the home by other pets, from used furniture or from moving from one home to another. Fleas can also be transferred to your cat by people who have recently been in a flea-infested area.
Fleas are tiny insects that can easily sneak through insect screens. They like to hide on your cat’s fur and in the carpet. Sometimes, they can hide in your favorite sofa cushion. In the home, fleas can breed very quickly. By the time you notice a flea infestation, they can be difficult to remove.
You can tell if your cat is infested with fleas by checking his skin, coat, and vital signs. The most common symptoms are scratching and red bumps on the ankles and lower legs. If you think he may have fleas, you can examine the area with a white piece of paper. If you see red splotches, it means the fleas have already digested the blood.
