Indoor cats can get fleas through several common routes despite not going outside:
- Hitching a ride on humans: Fleas can cling to your clothing, shoes, or anyone visiting your home, then jump onto your cat when close enough
- From other pets: If you have dogs or other pets that go outside, they can bring fleas into the house. Fleas can transfer from one pet to another even without direct contact, by infesting shared areas like beds or carpets
- Fleas entering through small openings: Fleas can jump long distances relative to their size and can get inside through open doors, windows, or cracks in screens and doorways
- Infested environments: Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae can live in carpets, furniture, and bedding inside your home, especially in warm, humid conditions typical of centrally heated houses
Once fleas are inside, they can multiply quickly, as a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day. Even if you don't see fleas on your cat, they may still be present because cats groom themselves well and can hide fleas effectively
. To prevent and control fleas on indoor cats, regular flea prevention treatments are recommended, along with thorough cleaning of your home- vacuuming carpets and furniture, washing pet bedding, and possibly using flea sprays or professional pest control if infestations persist
. In summary, your indoor cat likely got fleas from fleas brought in on people, other pets, or through the environment inside your home where flea eggs or larvae were already present
