[Michael 61]

Hi -

Question for indoor cat owners - Do you treat your indoor cat with any flea treatments? I have one indoor cat with no dogs. I have vinyl planking floor throughout home, and there is no carpet or area rugs for fleas to hide.

When I adopted my cat earlier this year, during the first vet visit, they recommended I purchase a monthly flea treatment (a few drops behind her head once a month),even though she is an indoor cat. The six month supply has been exhausted, and of course, they are recommending I refill the subscription. It’s a little pricey, and I’m not sure how much of a risk fleas are here to a cat that never goes outdoors or onto the screened lanai.

Looking for comments from other cat owners. Thanks.

[Lovey2]

I have been here 11 years and have never had to treat my cats for fleas. They are also indoor cats but do enjoy sitting on the lanai. That being said, I had a neighbor that had a cat on the lanai and the vet believes she got fleas from a squirrel at the screen. (?) Anyway...I don't get anything for my cats since they are never outside. Shots only when they were babies from the breeder, and once here when I had to take one to a vet that wouldn't treat her without a rabies shot.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Hi -

Question for indoor cat owners - Do you treat your indoor cat with any flea treatments? I have one indoor cat with no dogs. I have vinyl planking floor throughout home, and there is no carpet or area rugs for fleas to hide.

When I adopted my cat earlier this year, during the first vet visit, they recommended I purchase a monthly flea treatment (a few drops behind her head once a month),even though she is an indoor cat. The six month supply has been exhausted, and of course, they are recommending I refill the subscription. It’s a little pricey, and I’m not sure how much of a risk fleas are here to a cat that never goes outdoors or onto the screened lanai.

Looking for comments from other cat owners. Thanks.

You can find out if your cat has fleas by buying one of those "flea combs" (I think that is what they were called) and combing out Fluffy. It is fine-toothed enough to snag some of the fleas, which you can (barely) see on the comb.

Vets use them all the time. I thought that they were just combing the cat to be nice, but I was told that it was a way to check for fleas.

[JGibson]

No and it's a scam that you need a vet visit and a prescription for flea and tick medication.

Also your correct why is it so dam expensive.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

You can get the flea treatment drops at Petco and Petsmart. They're still expensive, something like $30 for a 1-month treatment thing (so $30 for 2 drops).

But you shouldn't be giving them treatment for a problem that doesn't exist. Do a simple test: with the cat in the bathroom, use your flea comb to comb the cat through, and set the fur it collects into the toilet. See if anything in there moves, or turns red after around a minute in the water. If it turns red, it's flea dirt, and there are definitely fleas somewhere on your cat. If it moves, it's probably fleas. That's how you know your cat needs the treatment. Tip: if your cat is long-haired and sheds a lot, be sure to flush often during this, you don't want to clog up the toilet! You can use a bucket instead, and dump the used furry water outside in the gutter.

If you are NOT using treatment for the first time in awhile, definitely do this test.

[asianthree]

Our indoor Himalayan has fur so thick that no flea combs will work.
That said we use over the counter every month, I get from Amazon, or Costco for the best prices.

She loves the lanai and has a tall cat tree to sit on. Has never been outside, she is all 4 declawed, and wears a apple tracker harness when she is on the lanai. 2 months ago, I was spreading her fur, to put on flea applications, there was a tick dead, on her skin. For us it’s worth spending the money.

[Dusty_Star]

My opinion would be no, you probably don't need it, if your cat doesn't have fleas now. I had two indoor cats for 23 years & when I first got them as kittens they arrived with fleas. I treated them with a powder that I got from the Vet (it killed fleas & eggs) & after that initial treatment I never had another problem with fleas. This wasn't here in The Villages, but in my Village there are amazingly few bugs around (there are some but not many). I think it is primarily due to the pesticide use, followed by the lizards & birds which eat bugs. I don't know if you are near swamps & lots of wildlife, each village is undoubtedly different.

[Topspinmo]

IMO living in Florida you will have other insect problems. To small ants, insects coming up through drains, drug in sacks and boxes from shopping. Also if have dog door will get in and around garage door due to not sealed that tight.

You can either pay for treatments or treat yourself. I find that bug bombs kill all breathing insects and controls them for around 4 or more months. If you use bug bombs follow the instructions and don’t over bomb. I also put them in attic when I do the house. Brown recuse wandering spiders don’t seem to be problem in my area down here, but was problem at my previous location.

I’m also lucky that there not many bugs in my area, hardly ever see insects around street lights at night. But they are still in rocks, grass, and landscaping.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

IMO living in Florida you will have other insect problems. To small ants, insects coming up through drains, drug in sacks and boxes from shopping. Also if have dog door will get in and around garage door due to not sealed that tight.

You can either pay for treatments or treat yourself. I find that bug bombs kill all breathing insects and controls them for around 4 or more months. If you use bug bombs follow the instructions and don’t over bomb. I also put them in attic when I do the house. Brown recuse wandering spiders don’t seem to be problem in my area down here, but was problem at my previous location.

I’m also lucky that there not many bugs in my area, hardly ever see insects around street lights at night. But they are still in rocks, grass, and landscaping.

The OP is asking about treating their CAT, not their house. Specifically for fleas, not for ants or other insects. Bug bombs will not do a darned thing for a cat, other than give them a respiratory infection.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The OP is asking about treating their CAT, not their house. Specifically for fleas, not for ants or other insects. Bug bombs will not do a darned thing for a cat, other than give them a respiratory infection.

Don’t flea’s breath air? How do know don’t already have fleas? Most people figure out by reading the instructions not leave cat inside when bug bombing. Most.

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Hi -

Question for indoor cat owners - Do you treat your indoor cat with any flea treatments? I have one indoor cat with no dogs. I have vinyl planking floor throughout home, and there is no carpet or area rugs for fleas to hide.

When I adopted my cat earlier this year, during the first vet visit, they recommended I purchase a monthly flea treatment (a few drops behind her head once a month),even though she is an indoor cat. The six month supply has been exhausted, and of course, they are recommending I refill the subscription. It’s a little pricey, and I’m not sure how much of a risk fleas are here to a cat that never goes outdoors or onto the screened lanai.

Looking for comments from other cat owners. Thanks.

No need. I don’t even give my dog flea treatment year round anymore. I’ve never seen a flea.

[Rande]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Hi -

Question for indoor cat owners - Do you treat your indoor cat with any flea treatments? I have one indoor cat with no dogs. I have vinyl planking floor throughout home, and there is no carpet or area rugs for fleas to hide.

When I adopted my cat earlier this year, during the first vet visit, they recommended I purchase a monthly flea treatment (a few drops behind her head once a month),even though she is an indoor cat. The six month supply has been exhausted, and of course, they are recommending I refill the subscription. It’s a little pricey, and I’m not sure how much of a risk fleas are here to a cat that never goes outdoors or onto the screened lanai.

Looking for comments from other cat owners. Thanks.

My indoor cat is 15 yrs old and has never been treated for fleas nor has she had fleas.

[sharonl7340]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Hi -

Question for indoor cat owners - Do you treat your indoor cat with any flea treatments? I have one indoor cat with no dogs. I have vinyl planking floor throughout home, and there is no carpet or area rugs for fleas to hide.

When I adopted my cat earlier this year, during the first vet visit, they recommended I purchase a monthly flea treatment (a few drops behind her head once a month),even though she is an indoor cat. The six month supply has been exhausted, and of course, they are recommending I refill the subscription. It’s a little pricey, and I’m not sure how much of a risk fleas are here to a cat that never goes outdoors or onto the screened lanai.

Looking for comments from other cat owners. Thanks.

2 cats and been here 5 years. They love the lanai that was enclosed with plexiglass when we bought it. We open the panes frequently for them, but we have never used flea treatments since we've been here nor do they have fleas. Not necessary.

[La lamy]

They do recommend flea treatment for all cats, indoor or outdoor. Here is the most inexpensive one I’ve found for my cat. There’s also a flea and tick version.

[Suzay]

We have an indoor cat and she's treated once a month .she goes I to pool area and she got fleas years ago before I started treatment.
I don't like putting on the back of the neck but it helps .My vet also told me probably from squirrels getting on the screen ,their loaded with fleas and will fall off of them onto screens.!