How to get rid of fleas on cats and soothe fleabites

The cornerstone of treating flea infestations is regular, long-term use of a vet-recommended flea-control product on all mammalian pets in the household, including cats. These products must be used correctly, on time, and for at least three consecutive months to eliminate an infestation. Veterinary guidance is especially important when choosing flea control for cats because many over-the-counter options are not effective or safe for use on cats. Other methods of flea control, such as natural remedies, flea baths, and treating the home, can help get rid of a few adult fleas and flea eggs but do not eliminate the infestation. If you are struggling with fleas on your cat, read on to learn:

• How vets diagnose cat fleas
• Signs of fleas in cats and the home
• How to treat a cat with fleas
• How an online vet can help you get rid of your cat’s fleas

Flea infestations commonly lead to flea allergy dermatitis in cats, with symptoms such as severe itch, hair loss, and skin infections.. More importantly, fleas can carry diseases and parasites that are dangerous for both cats and people, so infestations are best dealt with quickly and safely.

Cat fleas are small, wingless, parasitic insects that infest mammals and feed on blood. In spite of their name, cat fleas are the most common external parasite of both dogs and cats in North America. Adult fleas do not fly, and even though they can jump long distances, they tend to stay on one animal host unless they’re forced to leave. Fleas breed rapidly and quickly contaminate the host’s environment with eggs, larvae, and pupae. When new adult fleas emerge from their cocoons they must find a new host, so the next animal to walk through that environment is likely to pick up fleas. Cats usually get fleas in one of two ways: either a new pet with fleas is brought into the home, or the cat picks them up from a contaminated environment.

Fleas are usually diagnosed when a vet (or owner) sees an adult flea or flea droppings (flea dirt) on a cat’s skin. A flea infestation may also be suspected if a cat presents with symptoms of flea allergies or has tapeworms, even if no adult fleas are seen. Cats are careful and thorough groomers, so evidence of fleas may be minimal in a physical exam. A vet may recommend a therapeutic trial of flea medication for cats with itchiness or hair loss if fleas are suspected because infestations are so common. If symptoms go away, the cat has likely been exposed to fleas. Outdoor cats are more at risk for flea infestations due to increased exposure, but indoor-only cats can also catch fleas.

A cat that is not allergic to fleas may have no symptoms at all, even if they are severely infested. Fleas and flea dirt may be seen on the skin and in the fur. Adult fleas look like small, fast-moving dark specks crawling between the hair along the surface of the skin. Flea dirt is digested blood that fleas leave behind and can look like dirt or pepper on the skin. When flea dirt is smeared on a moistened paper towel, it has a reddish brown color.

Many cats are allergic to fleas and develop flea allergy dermatitis, a skin disease caused by an allergic response to flea saliva. Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis in cats include:

• Itchy skin
• Hair loss
• Rash or inflamed skin
• Open sores or damaged skin

It only takes a single fleabite to trigger flea-allergy symptoms. A cat with fleas may also have tapeworms in their stool. Tapeworms can be contracted when a cat ingests a flea carrying tapeworm eggs while they groom.

If a cat has fleas, the home does as well. There may be signs of a flea infestation in the home, such as:

• Visible flea larvae and dirt on the carpet, furniture, bedding, and soft toys
• Small red bug bites on humans’ feet, ankles, and calves

If a home has signs of fleas, you can be sure that cats and other mammalian pets who are not on flea prevention have fleas as well.

If a cat has fleas, successful treatment often involves a combination of the following:

• Vet-recommended flea control for the cat
• Cleaning the home
• Yard maintenance

Attacking a flea infestation from all angles can help get it under control more quickly. However, even under the best circumstances, it takes at least three months to eliminate an existing flea population.

Vet-recommended feline flea control

Vet-recommended flea-control products for cats are the cornerstone of treating a flea infestation. These are the same products used on a regular, long-term basis to prevent fleas on pets. Without treating the cat itself, a flea infestation will be impossible to eradicate, and new fleas will continue to move onto the cat from the environment.

There are various types of flea prevention for cats: topical or spot-on treatments, oral medications, and flea collars. All types must be given on time and exactly as directed to all household pets for at least three consecutive months to eliminate an infestation. The best flea treatment for your cat is one that is both safe and effective. Product choice may also vary based on:

• The cat’s lifestyle
• The cat’s tolerance to medication
• If there are small children in the house
• Owner preference

Oral flea medications are often a first-line option for eliminating a flea infestation. Flea pills available by prescription are among the safest and most effective flea-control products used for both treating and preventing fleas. If you’re able to give your cat a monthly pill, a prescription may be the best choice for you.

There are also several topical flea products, but it can be difficult to choose a safe and effective one without veterinary guidance. While some over-the-counter topical products are safe for cats, many are not — even if they are labeled for use on cats. Cats are very sensitive to pesticides and can even be harmed when they come into contact with a dog treated with certain types of flea-control products. Always talk to a veterinarian to choose a safe and effective flea product for your cat and other animals in the home.

No flea-control product kills all stages of the flea life cycle. Adult female fleas lay hundreds of eggs that hatch into larvae in the environment. Mature larvae feed and grow in the carpet, bedding, or other protected areas where the eggs fell off the cat until they spin a cocoon and become pupae. Eventually an adult flea emerges, ready to find a host. Flea eggs and pupae are very hardy and resistant to flea products. As a result, treatment must be repeated for a minimum of three consecutive months to target adult fleas as they emerge. Fleas reproduce very rapidly, so it only takes one male and one female flea to reinfest pets and the home.

Clean and treat the home

If a cat has fleas, the home has fleas, too. While treating the home may not be necessary if all household pets are being treated with a fast-acting flea product, efforts to remove fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupae from carpet, upholstery, and bedding where the cat spends time may help eliminate the infestation more quickly. You can help get rid of fleas in the home by:

• Vacuuming carpet, rugs, upholstered furniture, and curtains
• Frequently washing bedding, cat beds, and soft toys with hot soapy water
• Cleaning with steam to help kill fleas
• Using a vet-approved environmental pesticide (premise spray) to treat the home

After vacuuming, empty the vacuum cleaner outdoors to help prevent fleas from escaping back inside. If using a premise spray, be sure to choose one with an insect growth regulator (IGR) and read and follow the instructions. Products like flea bombs are only minimally effective because they only rain down and do not reach protected areas like under furniture, where flea larvae are likely to live.

Yard management

If cats go outdoors, decreasing flea habitat in the yard or barn may help eliminate an infestation more quickly:

• Clean up leaf litter
• Cut back grass and brush
• Block access to areas where fleas may hide, such as under the deck or home
• Put up fences to prevent wildlife from entering the yard
• Spread cedar chips in the garden — fleas don’t like the smell
• Use pet-safe yard treatments

If considering a yard treatment, talk to a professional to ensure it is safe for pets and people. Some geographical areas have restrictions on yard pesticide use. Yard treatments and management are supplemental to flea treatment and ongoing flea prevention, and are not sufficient on their own.

What about bathing and grooming?

Bathing with flea shampoos and grooming with flea combs may remove a small number of adult fleas from your cat, but they do nothing to eliminate an infestation. Adult fleas make up only a tiny percentage of the entire flea population in an infestation, so killing a few of them doesn’t accomplish anything significant. New adult fleas will jump onto the cat as soon as they reenter the environment. Bathing may also reduce the effectiveness of some topical flea-control products. In addition, flea shampoos and dips are generally not recommended since there are safer and more effective alternatives.

“Medicated baths can sometimes help soothe skin irritation from fleabites,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on Vetster. “However, if a cat is suffering from skin symptoms from fleas, they likely have flea allergy dermatitis, a skin infection, or both that require veterinary attention. Veterinarians can offer effective prescription flea treatment, anti-itch medications, and treatment for secondary skin infections.”

It isn’t necessary to bathe a cat if they have fleas, and many cats are not tolerant of baths. For kittens younger than eight weeks of age or other cats who cannot be given flea-control treatments, baths with mild soap and using a flea comb may be the only option to remove fleas. Always talk to a veterinarian about the safest and most effective treatment option for your cat.

Fleas can affect the health and well-being of humans and pets. Flea preventatives are used to treat and prevent flea infestations. Preventing fleas in cats helps prevent the spread of flea-borne illnesses and discomfort from bites to pets and pet owners. A flea infestation quickly contaminates the environment and infests all pets in a shared space. Pets that go outdoors can bring fleas into the home, where an infestation can quickly spread.

Flea-borne illnesses such as plague and cat scratch fever can be dangerous if contracted by cats or people. In addition, young or small kittens can develop life-threatening anemia from blood loss if they are heavily infested. Keeping all adult, healthy animals in the home on flea prevention helps protect any pets that cannot use flea preventatives. Year-round flea prevention is recommended for all cats, including those not going outside, and for use during the winter months.

Treating fleas is difficult. In order to eliminate an infestation it is necessary to:

• Use the right products
• Use them correctly
• Treat all pets
• Repeat treatment on time
• Keep it up for at least three consecutive months

It is common to waste time and money on products that don’t work, either because they aren’t effective or aren’t being used correctly. Talking to a veterinarian can help you make sure you’re avoiding common mistakes and taking the appropriate steps to eliminate a flea infestation as quickly as possible. An online vet can help you navigate over-the-counter options and choose a safe and effective flea-control product for your cat, and may be able to offer prescription products.* If you need help choosing a safe flea-prevention product for your cat or are struggling to control a flea infestation, Vetster offers 24/7 online virtual care appointments from the comfort of your home.

• Online vets can prescribe medications or therapeutic diets for your pet if your state or province permits a VCPR to be established remotely. Please note that vets are not obligated to write a prescription — this is done at their sole discretion. Controlled substances cannot be prescribed via telemedicine under any circumstances.

How do I get rid of fleas on a cat?

Regular, long-term use of a safe and effective vet-recommended flea-control product is the best way to get rid of cat fleas. All pets in the household must be treated, and it takes at least three months to eliminate the infestation. Other methods of treatment such as cleaning the home or treating the yard may also help eliminate the infestation more quickly. Natural remedies, flea shampoos, and flea combs are not fully effective and will not eradicate a flea infestation.

Do I need to treat my house if my cat has fleas?

Treating your house is not always necessary if all pets in the household are kept on a correctly administered, vet-recommended flea-control product for at least three consecutive months. Some of these products remain active after being shed with skin cells and kill larvae in the carpet, just like a premise spray. Others kill adults so quickly they don’t have time to breed. Treating the house by vacuuming, doing laundry, and using a premise spray with an IGR may help you eliminate an infestation even more quickly, however.

Should I be worried if my cat has fleas?

Don’t despair if you find fleas on your cat. If the cat is not on flea prevention, talk to a veterinarian about a safe recommendation. If your cat has fleas and is on flea prevention, ensure that the product is being used properly and all pets in the home are being treated for fleas. A flea infestation takes at least three months to fully die out, so be patient and continue to use a vet-recommended flea treatment as directed.