Do you need to worry about protecting your indoor cat from fleas? Here’s why protection is worth it.
The outside world is full of risks, including pests and parasites! It is easy to think that your indoor cat is perfectly safe from outdoor pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, but there are cases where that happens. Can indoor cats get fleas? Why does it matter? How can you prevent it from happening? Learn the answers to these questions and more!
Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?
Yes, indoor cats can get fleas, even though their risk is far lower than outdoor cats’. The only way your cat would be completely risk-free of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes would be if your house was completely sealed off from the outside world 100% of the time. Fleas can come in on your person, your dog, or anything you bring into your house.
Where Do Fleas Like to Live?
Fleas prefer cool, moist, and shaded places. They do not do well in sunny areas or warm areas; instead, they tend to live in the cool but moist shelters found deep in bushes, trees, and other plants with lots of foliage. Aside from these locations, adult fleas of course love to live on your pet, where they can feed off of its blood. That being said, they cannot survive long-term on any potted plants you bring indoors.
Signs a Cat Has Fleas
How do you know if your indoor cat has fleas or not? Your cat might display these symptoms:
- Constant scratching
- Constant grooming
- Lethargy and pale gums (anemia symptoms)
- Skin irritation
- Bald spots
You might notice these things on your cat, too:
- Black specks on the cat’s fur or bedding
- Tiny white dots (flea eggs)
- Tiny black insects leaping on your pet
Can Fleas Bites Make a Cat Sick?
Aside from being a general nuisance, why does it matter if your cat has fleas or not? An obvious reason is the scabbing, itchiness, and discomfort they give your cat. Other reasons are the diseases they can give. Fleas can make a cat sick in the following ways:
- Anemia
- Flea allergy dermatitis
- Tapeworms (fleas can carry tapeworm eggs)
- Bartonellosis (bacterial infection from flea droppings)
Tips for Flea Prevention on Cats
If you live in the Baltimore area in Maryland, Everhart Veterinary Medicine can advise you on different tick and flea prevention medications for cats. Options include injections, spot treatments, shampoos, and oral treatments. If you know your indoor cat has fleas, read on here!
Trust the Care of Your Pet to the Professionals at Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With two Maryland locations in both Baltimore and Pasadena, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131 or 410-793-7670! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!