You might be surprised—and frustrated—to discover your indoor cat has fleas. After all, how do cats get fleas if they never go outside? It’s a common misconception that indoor cats are completely safe from fleas. Unfortunately, fleas are expert hitchhikers, capable of infiltrating even the cleanest homes. These tiny pests are persistent and opportunistic, finding creative ways to enter your home and latch onto your unsuspecting feline.
Fleas are small, wingless parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Once they find a host, they settle in to feed and reproduce rapidly. But how do cats get fleas in the first place—especially indoor-only cats? To understand how these pets invade your home, it can be helpful to learn about their lifecycle and movements.
The flea lifecycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, dropping them onto your cat or into your home environment. These eggs can also fall off the host and scatter into your carpets, bedding, and upholstery. Within days, they hatch into larvae. These larvae live off eating organic matter before eventually transforming into pupae. After weeks or months, pupae mature into adults.
Adult fleas can jump impressive distances—up to 100 times their body length—allowing them to latch onto animals or even humans. Once they’ve found a host, adult fleas begin feeding almost immediately. As soon as two days after consuming blood from your cat, females can start to lay eggs of their own, continuing the cycle. Because of their rapid reproduction, a minor flea problem can quickly become a significant infestation if not addressed.
Absolutely! Even if your cat never leaves the house, fleas can still find a way in. There are several often-overlooked ways your indoor cat might end up with fleas.
You may unknowingly bring fleas into your home. Fleas can cling to your clothing, shoes, bags, or other items after you’ve spent time outdoors or in a new environment—whether hiking, visiting a friend’s pet or simply walking through a grassy area. By the time you notice itchy bites or see your cat scratching, fleas could already be multiplying.
How to minimize this risk:
Rodents like mice, rats, and squirrels can carry fleas. If these critters make their way inside, they can unknowingly introduce fleas into your home.
How to minimize this risk:
Fleas are tiny and resourceful. They can slip through the smallest openings, including gaps under doors or tears in window screens.
How to minimize this risk:
Used furniture, rugs, or bedding can be an unexpected source of fleas. If these items came from an infested environment, they could carry flea eggs or larvae.
How to minimize this risk:
In multi-unit buildings, fleas can travel between apartments through vents, walls, or shared hallways.
How to minimize this risk:
If you have a dog or other pets that go outside, they can pick up fleas and bring them inside, where the fleas can jump onto your indoor cat.
How to minimize this risk:
Preventing fleas is far easier—and less stressful—than treating an infestation. Taking proactive steps can help protect your indoor cat and home.
Even indoor cats can benefit from ongoing flea prevention. Year-round treatment can safeguard against serious health issues caused by untreated infestations, including skin irritation, allergies, anemia, and even infections like tapeworm. In severe cases, secondary bacterial infections can even require antibiotics for your cat to fully heal.
Topical flea preventatives offer long-lasting protection and are applied directly to the skin, typically between your cat’s shoulder blades. These treatments are absorbed through your cat’s skin and work by disrupting the flea’s nervous system. The most common flea preventatives for cats are topical.
Prescription options include:
Over-the-counter options include:
Oral flea preventatives work systemically, meaning the active ingredient is absorbed into your cat’s bloodstream. Once a flea bites, it ingests the medication and is quickly killed. These preventatives are convenient if you’re looking to avoid topical residue.
Prescription options include:
Over-the-counter options include:
Once introduced to your home, flea eggs and larvae easily hide in carpets and upholstery. Regular vacuuming can help break the flea lifecycle.
Wash your cat’s bedding regularly, including blankets and any soft surfaces they sleep on.
Inspect your home for cracks, gaps, or openings that could allow fleas or wildlife inside.
Preventative treatments can help protect your cat from fleas.
Be cautious when bringing used furniture or fabrics into your home.
Guests who own pets may unknowingly carry fleas into your home.
Fleas are notoriously persistent. If you miss one part of the flea lifecycle, you could find yourself battling a new infestation weeks or even months later.
So, how do cats get fleas multiple times? Here are common ways re-infestations happen:
The good news? Protecting your indoor cat is easy with Mixlab. If your veterinarian doesn’t carry the preventatives you need, we got you. We offer a full range of flea and tick preventatives depending on your cat’s needs. With free, next-day delivery, you can rest easy knowing your cat is protected without the stress of an unexpected infestation. Simply submit your prescription online or contact our team.