Not even indoor cats are safe from these bloodsuckers

You may think that as an indoor cat, your pet is completely safe from pests. For some fierce bloodsuckers, the door is no barrier.

The outdoors is home to a rage of pesky pests that pose a threat to our beloved animals. Their sting is painful, and in severe cases the diseases they spread can even lead to death. If your cat doesn’t leave the house, you have every right to think it’s safe. But fleas are clever little creatures, and they can find a way to settle on your cat even when you’re not expecting them. Yes, unfortunately, an indoor cat with fleas is more common than you might think.

Life cycle of the flea

Before we dive into the possibilities of flea infestation, it is important to understand how a flea lives.

The parasite goes through four life stages, which are the following:

1. The female fleas usually lay their eggs on the skin of the host animal. Eggs are not sticky and can be scattered wherever the cat goes.
2. The eggs hatch after 12 days. The larvae then look for a dark and warm place to grow.
3. If they have developed into pupae, they can hide for months waiting for the right moment to emerge.
4. Within hours from leaving their pupal state, the adult fleas start feeding and the females start laying eggs.

So it’s enough for flea eggs to get into our home. The larvae will hide and pupate in the fibres of the carpet, for example, and the hatchling flea will just jump onto the sleeping kitten on the carpet.

How can fleas get into your home?

Fleas can enter your home in several ways. Whatever stage of life they are at, if they manage to get between the four walls, your pet is no longer safe. But how does the parasite get in?

On other pets

One of the most common ways of infesting indoor cats is if there is a dog in the household, which can be used as a means of public transport by fleas. At dog parks and other places where the animal plays with other dogs, fleas can jump over onto it. Unfortunately, there is still a risk of this happening even if you take care to protect your dog properly against fleas. The adult parasites can get into the home and quickly move onto the cat before the flea controlling product can kill them. That’s why it’s recommended that if you have a dog in the house, you protect your cat from bloodsuckers with the best product for it as well.

On guests

Just as fleas can travel on the fur of a dog, they can also travel on the shoes and clothes of guests who come into your home. It’s not that you should never let anyone through the door again, of course. However, it’s a good idea to leave shoes and coats at the door and vacuum thoroughly after guests have left. Especially if the people who come to your house have several pets, dogs or cats.

On second-hand goods

If you are bringing something into your home that has been used before, it is especially important to clean it thoroughly if you don’t know its history. A brush from a friend, which his pet doesn’t like, is a useful gift, but a great travel tool for stray fleas.

After a journey

Even if your cat spends 99.9% of its life between four walls, it will see a vet at least once a year. Although veterinarian offices do their best to keep their little patients as clean as possible, fleas can still hide here and there. For example, an animal rescued from a road and arriving for the first vet visit of its life is likely to be infected with fleas. And the parasites are jumping from one animal to another in the waiting room.

What to do if your indoor cat has fleas?

If you notice symptoms of fleas, the bloodsuckers will have laid a lot of eggs that could have been scattered around the home. It is therefore very important to attack parasites on several fronts.

• Use flea shampoo specifically for cats and a product to further protect the animal.
• Vacuum all carpets daily for a while, but a professional deep clean is best.
• Thoroughly clean all fabrics in the home (bedding, furniture, etc.) where your cat has been.
• In case of a serious infestation, you should seek professional help to eradicate it.

How can you protect your cat?

As you can see, fleas can get into your home undetected. It is important, therefore, that even for pets that are only kept indoors, you ensure continuous protection against pests. This is essential, because a mosquito, for example, can fly into your home at any time and bite your pet, causing heartworm disease.