Do indoor cats need flea medicine? This a common question many cat owners have. The very thought of fleas in your home is enough to make you itch, it is a horrible thought, without thinking about the health implications for your cat.
But can indoor cats get fleas? The simple answer is yes.
Do indoor cats need flea medicine? – All you need to know
Firstly, lets get back to basics.
What are cat fleas?
The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Occasionally, rabbit, hedgehog and other fleas may be found on cats but these are much less common.
Fleas are a parasite that has a lifecycle, which includes an egg, larvae, cocoon and finally adult flea. No part of the flea lifecycle lives on your cat – they only jump on to your cat to feed – meaning the majority of the time they are living inside your home (carpets, sofas, beds, etc)
A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day! This is why a flea infestation can very quickly grow out of control.
Click here to get one months’ free flea treatment for your indoor cat with Itch
The health implications of your cat having fleas
- The cat flea can carry the larval stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum and cats become infected by eating (ingesting) fleas during grooming
- Fleas have the potential to transmit other infectious agents between cats
- Adult fleas feed on cat blood; in young kittens, this can cause weakness, anaemia and death
- Fleas are important in the transmission of ‘cat scratch disease’ between cats and to humans. This is an infection with the bacterium Bartonella hensellae and is spread when fleas feed on blood.
- Some dogs and cats develop an allergy to flea bites, which causes them to scratch excessively or develop skin disease
- Cat fleas can cause itchy bites on sensitive humans, typically around the ankles
The above health information is from ISFM Cat Care
So why does my indoor cat need flea control?
Cats can often pick up a flea/s when they are outside and then bring them back into the home – start the flea lifestyle within your home. However, there are other ways fleas can make there way into your home and this is why indoor cats need regular flea treatment.
Other ways fleas can be introduced into your home:
- Another pet – Do you have a dog that goes outside? Your cat can easily pick up fleas from them. Fleas do not stick to one species.
- A new home – Have you recently moved home? Sadly, there may be fleas already in the home waiting to jump straight on to your indoor cat. The cocoon stage of the flea lifecycle can lay dormant for up to 2 years, therefore, even if you can’t see live fleas, it does not mean they are not there.
- Veterinary Visits – While it is less likely it is possible your cat can pick up a stray flea when visiting the Vets for a check-up.
- Window friends – Does your cat love nothing more than laying by the window in the sun? Well sadly, fleas may take this as an opportunity to make new friends. A flea can jump up to 200 times its own body length – meaning a crack in the window is not out of reach.
- You! – You may not want to believe it but you are most likely the reasons your indoor cat gets fleas. As humans, we visit many different places in one day – including other people’s home – meaning we are the perfect vector for bringing a straggler flea back to our own.
Which flea control is best for indoor cats?
The best flea medicine for indoor cats is the same as you would use on an outdoor cat and you should never use dog flea treatment on a cat.
Generally, it is best to avoid many of the flea controls available in the supermarket as often they are not strong enough (this is why they are available on the shelf).
However, if you would like to by an effective low-cost treatment, we recommend trying Itch.
Itch offer a personalised, effective flea treatment delivered to your door to look after your cats (and dogs). On a set date each month, Itch flea medicine will arrive through your letterbox – meaning you will never forget to apply it.
Why use Itch flea control for cat?
What Itch gives your users:
- Never again forget to treat your pet for fleas with a monthly subscription service
- First-month flea treatment free, just £1.99 P&P
- From £6.50 a month after that with free delivery
- Personalised for your pets
- Gold standard products, developed by vets
- Friendly, knowledgeable team on hand seven days a week to answer your questions
- Worming treatment also available
Click here to get one months’ free flea treatment for your indoor cat with Itch
What about cat flea collars?
Personally, I am not the biggest fan. The majority of cat flea control collars are found in supermarkets, for me this means they are not very powerful.
Also, many I have found have buckles as opposed to quick-release – meaning if your cat gets caught somewhere they would be unable to remove the collar for safety. I would only ever recommend a quick-release collar for cats.
The only cat flea collar treatment I would be happy to recommend is Seresto. One Seresto collar provides 7-8 months of flea control and it is also a quick-release. Seresto also protects from ticks – however, this is more relevant for outdoor cats than indoor.