How can a cat that has never been outside get fleas?

Question

I got her when she was a kitten, never been outside, and have had her for 2 months, again, never been outside, so how can she have gotten the little blighters? Also, I've used spot on and am going to get her a flea collar, but I'm just baffled!

Answer 1

She probably had them when you got her but you didn't notice. That happened to me with a dog. There is no other way she could have got them other than from her siblings as a baby

Answer 2

Fleas don't stay put, so don't be surprised, the eggs could even have been dormant in your house. Or you could have brought them in on your shoes after walking on some grass! Also flea bites transmit tapeworm, so you need to get her wormed.
And I'm not a fan of flea collars, they can cause allergies and very often don't work. Check the skin and hair under the collar every day; if it seems red or irritated or her hair falls out then get rid.
You're much better off using a flea and worm treatment from the vet; theres a new one that you just drop on the back of her neck.
And remember if fleas can get in she can also catch cat flu so will still need her jabs even though she's an indoor cat.

Answer 3

Please don't listen to those people advocating extreme solutions like applying Borax to the floor, etc. Fleas can be an extremely difficult situation of course, but technology has improved drastically in terms of giving us ways to deal with them. As mentioned by others, flea collars are worthless. Chances are high that some fleas hitchiked on somebody's clothes when they came into your home. The best bet to get rid of them is to give your cat a good flea bath, go to your vet and get some Advantage or Frontline and apply the recommended dosage over a period of time. Even a few doses may very well take care of your problem. It took care of my indoor kitten's flea problem (she was a stray) quickly and easily. We've been flea-free for ten years now, and still have backup doses in case there is ever a problem again.

Answer 4

the exact same thing happened to me a few years ago. i had two long-haired house cats, and they caught fleas without ever setting a paw outside the house ! i'm afraid to say that either u, or anyone else who lives in the same house as u, will have probably brought in a flea on your clothing. it's easily done. all u have to do is go near an animal who has fleas. (even walking past one on the street - fleas are really good jumpers) i ended up having to take my cats to the vets, as one of them had an allergic reaction to the flea bites. the vet reccommended that flea repellant that you put on the back of their necks - i think it's the stuff u have used - Spot On ? and also to get some strong flea killing spray to do all of your carpets, curtains, and soft furnishings to prevent re-infection. best way is to spray everything that the fleas could have laid eggs in. the spray i got was really strong stuff from the vets, and had to be used in a ventilated room, so u will need to isololate your cats in one room whilst u do the rest of the house, and then do that room later after the fumes have cleared. it's a nasty, smelly job, but it got rid of the fleas & i had no more problems with them. i'd also reccommend using a good vacuum cleaner - i have a dyson, they have brilliant suction, although it's pretty gross when u look into the see-through front and see the fleas crawling around ! yuck ! good luck - hope u manage to get rid of the little blighters !

Answer 5

Adult fleas, Flea eggs and larvae can stick to your clothes or shoes and you bring them into your house as you walk in. Vibrations in the house make the eggs hatch. Larvae can stay in wood and carpet eating tiny organic dust particles. Develops into flea and flea will always find your cat. So even though your cat has never been outdoors, there is still the possibility of him getting the odd flea now and again when you or a visitor brings them into your house.
Oh, Please don't get over-the counter spot on anti flea meds like Hartz - there have been too many reports that these medications can be toxic to susceptible cats. Some even died. Buy Advantage from the vet's. This is what I used for my cats and it really really works 100%. Forget the flea collar too - those simply do not work.

Answer 6

There is a remote possiblity that fleas have entered your house and have laid eggs. If she had been born in a litter of other kitties, she could have contracted fleas/eggs from the mother or siblings.

The first thing we need to do is get the fleas off the kitty. Bathe her in a good flea-killing shampoo. The next thing to do is rid the fleas from your home. Where there are fleas, there are eggs, and thus more fleas coming!

Take 20 Mule Team borax or the equivilent, and spread it across your carpet. Leave the borax in your carpet for approximately one week. After that week, vaccum your carpet. The borax will not only kill your fleas, but also the eggs. If there is a grassy area leading to your house, it might be a good idea to spray that grass with either Diazinon or Malathion. ( sic...spelling? ) It should destroy any fleas.

Best of luck!

Answer 7

You can bring in flea eggs on your shoes. Don't use Spot On - it's a waste of time and money. Frontline is the only neck spot flea treatment that really works - you can get it from your vet. It is more expensive but it's much better.

Please please please don't get a flea collar. Firstly, they are useless - nearly all fleas are immune to the chemicals they use on these. Second of all, the hard plastic ones are extremely dangerous to cats. They can get their legs trapped through them and strangle themselves or it can rub so hard on them they end up with terrible infected wounds. Believe me - I saw three cats who had this happen to them at the rescue centre when I chose my kitties.

If you do get a collar, make sure it has a plastic clasp (like the ones you see on rucksacks) which will snap under pressure to ensure your cat is never strangled.

But seriously, Spot On won't work - ask your vet if you're in any doubt. He'll tell you Frontline is the only way to go.

Answer 8

Fleas can come in the house on the soles of shoes, on the coats of other animals that may come into the house and even if a gust of wind blows them in. They're tricky little things and I used spot on for the first time last year (I have a 13 year old tom - who I also got as a cute 6 week old kitten, he's now a grumpy old man) and was delighted. It worked perfectly, immediately with no tantrums.

Answer 9

NO FLEA COLLAR!! All they do is stop the fleas from getting to your cats head. They eat away at the skin on their necks. I have seen cats with a scab all the way around from those, cats with bald scars from the chemical burns that have healed. Use tea tree oil shampoo. It makes the fur slippery and it is hard for the fleas to old on
Vacuum and wash EVERYTHING. Vacuum at least once a day for the next few weeks.
Brush your cat with a flea comb (same as a lice comb) and fleas you pull out you have to crush. Just squish it on you fingernail to make sure it doesnt end up back on your cat. You will know it i dead if it pops.

She either had them when you got her, some one came into your house with some on them from their pets, or you tracked one in your self.

Answer 10

Those who answered that you, yourself, brought them into your house are correct. They jump on your shoes and pant legs when you walk around outside.

Forget the flea collar...that won't get rid of them...they (and their eggs) are now in your carpet and on your bedding and your cat's bed.

Do this:
Go to your local Pet Shop (like a PetCo).
Buy Cat Flea Shampoo and Zodiac Flea Spray for the carpet and your environment.

Spray your carpets and bedding where your cat sleeps and lays down, with the Zodiac.
Give your cat a Flea Shampoo bath.

A couple of hours after you sprayed your carpets, do a good vacuum to pick up the dead and dying fleas.

Spray again in seven days.

Fleas will be gone.

Answer 11

Yeah, flea collars are worthless. The new medicine, Revolution, is supposed to be what to get for your cats. But I think your cat has to be at leasts 6 months old or more for Revolution, or any other monthly flea medication.