How Indoor Cats Get Fleas (And What You Can Do About It)
Fleas are the worst.
Pets living in warmer climates with temperatures ranging between 70 to 85 degrees are more susceptible to getting fleas because they thrive in the heat. Fleas often take refuge in carpets, cracks in flooring and underneath furniture where it’s cool and shaded, allowing them to survive and multiply indoors. For San Francisco residents, summer truly kicks in around September, making the late “summer” the ideal time to start preparing your home and protecting your pets.
Flea Facts You Should Know
- Most Common Species: The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, often feeds on cats, dogs, and humans.
- No Wings, Just Leaps: Fleas do not fly. Instead, they jump from one place to another. Some can leap up to 8 inches vertically – 150 times their own height.
- Why It Matters: Even if your cat never sets paw outside, they can still get fleas. Let’s explore how that happens.
How Do Indoor Cats Get Fleas?
Even the most pampered, strictly indoor cat is at risk of fleas. Here’s how:
- Other Pets Bring Fleas Inside
The most common way indoor cats get fleas is by other household animals who go outside, get exposed to fleas, and then bring the fleas back into the house.This happens mostly on the family dog that picks fleas up in the park, brings them home and eventually the flea ends up feasting on the cat that never leaves the house. Even dogs that are on flea/tick control bring fleas home because a lot of flea prevention products don’t repel fleas, they kill them.
Best Prevention Tip: Keep all pets in the home on regular flea control treatments—topical or oral.
- You Might Be the Culprit
A very popular way for your kitty to pick fleas up is from YOU! Fleas are incredible hitchhikers and love to jump on your clothes, into your household, and eventually find their way onto sweet Fluffy. Fleas are incredible athletes; their long jumping abilities let them find their way to your cat’s nice warm body.
- Rodents Can Introduce Fleas
Rodents can also bring fleas and their eggs into your home. Once those eggs hatch, the fleas jump onto your unsuspecting indoor cat.
Flea Myth: Do Fleas Jump From Cat to Cat?
Interestingly, fleas do not jump from cat to cat. Once a flea lands on a cat, it stays there for the remainder of its life. Fleas reproduce quickly, and that’s where the real trouble begins.
The Flea Life Cycle: Why It’s So Hard to Eliminate Fleas
Understanding the flea life cycle is key to fighting an infestation:
- Feeding & Egg Laying: Once a female flea hops on a cat, she begins feeding and lays up to 50 eggs a day within 24 hours.
- Egg Shedding: As the cat moves around, it sheds flea eggs—often in places like your bed, furniture, and rugs.
- Larvae Stage: In about a week, eggs hatch into larvae, which burrow into dark, humid areas like carpets and cracks in hardwood floors.
- Pupae Stage: After 5–12 days, the larvae spin cocoons and become pupae.
- Emergence: Within 1–3 weeks, new fleas emerge, ready to jump onto another passing pet.
Full Flea Life Cycle Duration: 3 to 6 weeks.
The Dangers Fleas Pose to Cats and Humans
Fleas aren’t just annoying – they can be dangerous.
- Bartonella: Fleas can carry and transmit a bacterium called Bartonella that can cause health issues in cats, dogs, and people.
- Tapeworms: Fleas can carry a type of parasyte, a tapeworm called Dipylidium Caninum that can suck nutrients from the pet’s intestine and cause anal itching (which is why your cat might scoot on the floor).
- Skin Irritation: At a minimum, flea bites cause discomfort, scratching, and potential skin infections.
How to Treat a Flea Infestation
If fleas invade your home, act fast and thoroughly:
Step 1: Treat Your Pets
- Use flea shampoo and a flea comb to remove adult fleas and eggs.
- Follow up with a vet-recommended monthly flea preventative – topical or oral.
Step 2: Treat the Home Environment
- Vacuum regularly, especially where your cat sleeps. Dispose of vacuum bags immediately.
- Consider using:
- Borate powders (last up to a year in carpets)
- Diatomaceous earth (reapply every few months on furniture and bedding)
- For serious infestations, a professional exterminator may be needed. Be prepared to evacuate the house temporarily.
Why Cat Safari Takes Flea Prevention Seriously
At Cat Safari, we are committed to keeping fleas out of our facility. Our preventive measures include:
- White cat condos that make it easier to spot flea dirt.
- Frequent vacuuming and disinfecting multiple times throughout the day.
- Year-round vigilance, as San Francisco’s mild climate allows fleas to thrive any time of year.
If you have any questions about your cat, flea related or not, feel free to reach out to our Cat Care Team at 415-567-0700.