I can not keep fleas off my inside cat. I have tried everything. She has never been outside. Any ideas?

Answer 1

There are two parts to combating fleas. 1) Treat the fleas on your pet. 2) Treat the fleas in your house.

First let me start by saying DO NOT under any circumstances use over the counter (store bought) flea products on your pet. They do not work well and they cause a high incidence of adverse reactions in pets. How they are still legal is beyond me. I work in a clinic and see WAY too many pets come in with skin reactions or in respiratory or cardiac distress from the store bought flea products.

The safe products that actually work are available by prescription only. Yes, this means they cost a little more, but it is worth it. Some examples are Revolution, Advantage and Frontline, topical applications available at most clinics. If your cat has a bad infestion, ask your vet about Capstar. Capstar is a tablet that starts killing adult fleas almost instantly. Follow up with monthly application of one of the topical products listed above.

Once kitty is being treated, start treating your house. Vacuum everywhere, being sure not to miss those dark areas where fleas like to hide like under your sofa and between seat cushions. Anything that can be washed in the machine, wash! Your bedding, your cat's bed, rugs, blankets, etc. Then either get a professional exterminator in your house, or save some money and purchase a safe spray like Knockout ES (which our clinic uses and recommends). Stay away from bombs as they only settle on TOP of things. They cannot get between cushions and under your chairs!

Once you control this current infestation, it doesn't hurt to keep your kitty on one of the topical flea products listed above. It is much easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of an existing infestation. Indoor kitties can and do get fleas, as you have discovered the hard way.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I can tell you, I've had two flea infestations. Make sure first of all that all the animals in your home are treated and continue treating them monthly to prevent them from coming back since fleas can remain dormant for months (many vets treat them in the office once you take them and have you treat them again in 2 weeks, then monthly). Don't use over the counter stuff: the collars don't work and the sprays can be dangerous since the amount of medication isn't limited. The fleas will naturally die on their own with their source of food cut off. However, fleas can be pests and I would recommend vacuuming daily ALL floors, and using flea spray specifically for floors, Petco has a good one which is kinda pricey ($12 I think?) but it only requires a fine mist, and works great even on furniture. Make sure you give the rooms you spray time to air out before you or your pets return to them. Also, wash any bedding or fabrics that the cat may be exposed to and then isolating it from rooms that may still contain fleas. Good luck!

Answer 3

First; flea dip, pill, or topical medication: I like BioSpot, but whatever you and your vet think best. Take up all the soft furnishings in the bathroom, lock the cat in there, and then storm the house:

- If the cat has a bed of her own, wash it in very hot water. Anything she lays on that can be cleaned and vaccumed, do so, and then treat with spray or powder.

- Thoroughly vaccum the entire house, every carpet, every rug, every curtain. If you can wash it, do so, if not, treat with powder. Also treat any nooks and crannies; floorboards, baseboards, etc. Be sure to throw out the vaccum bag.

- Now you can let the cat out, pet her, and keep treating her with the flea medication for at least two or three months; this way, any flea eggs that survive and hatch (they can lay dormant for six or ten weeks) will be killed when they jump on her.


Good luck! We had fleas a couple of years ago, and with four cats, it was a nightmare. If you are absolutely thorough with the cleaning and diligent with the medication afterwards, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.


You can get flea supplies here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2002+113517

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong w/ walking a cat on a leash. Most of them, however ,don't tolerate it very well. If you want to try it though the best thing to get is a harness and not a collar. Cats can get out of collars pretty easily and if they are the break away collars then as soon as the cat pulls on the leash she will be gone. I would definitely not make her an outside cat b/c of all the dangers to her. She could get attacked by another animal, she could get hit by a car, she could get feline leukemia (felv), feline aids (FIV) or FIP and other things if she isn't vaccinated. Indoor kitties can live into their 20's but the average life span of an outdoor cat is 3-4yrs. It's a lot better and safer for her if you only let her go outside when she is on a leash and you are w/ her. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Try "Bio Spot" for cats. I use Bio Spot for dogs and it works great, smells good. You should treat your home for fleas as well. Shop around for the best products to rid the apt or house from fleas because you likely have many of them in your house. To test for fleas, take a white paper towel and set it on the floor in different areas like on your couch, on the floor, on the carpet. If you have a lot of fleas you will see some jump on the paper towel.
Flea treatments for your home will have to be repeated.

Answer 6

the fleas are probably all in your house now. you need to do a flea bomb, you set it off but you can not be in the house. you have to leave for a few hours, and of course remove your cat as well. give him/her a flea dip and put a flea collar on him/her before returning to your home.

Answer 7

I use frontline on my cat Kalie and it works great! She had fleas just like your loved one does and it killed them and thier eggs and she hasnt had a flea since. After you treat with frontline (about $15 a month depending on your vet) just wait and every flea that is on her/him will die along with the rest of the fleas that jump on. Once a flea comes in contact with frontline they become steril. They cant reproduce after that.

Happy flea killing and Thanksgiving.

Answer 8

it won't be fun but it works ! first go to walmart and bye a flea killing spray for furniture (in pet isle) spray on furniture, carpet, everywhere a flea would be.

second give your cat a bath use dawn dishwashing liquid for soap - this is the hard part make sure its warm water your cat will fight but it will be fine

last go to the vet and buy frontline. put it on your cat and let it do its magic. the fleas will jump on your cat andt they will die instantly it might take a couple weeks just give it time

Answer 9

Sounds like you need to fumigate your whole house!!

Board your cat for a day & have her groomed while the house is being fumigated.

You can have a professional exterminator or you can even buy the cans at stores!

Good luck! Happy Thanksgiving

Answer 10

Pet spray and six-month action carpet/floor powder. Extremely good stuff, but you still have to check her with a flea comb.