How to treat fleas on your cat (and get them out of your home)

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Fleas are the most common parasite in cats, including indoor cats. They hitch a ride in on people, other pets and visitors. The good news is that they're very treatable. The catch is that the adult fleas you see on your cat are only about 5% of the problem. The rest are eggs, larvae and pupae in your carpets, bedding and couch, so you need to treat your cat and your home.

Signs your cat has fleas

• Scratching, especially around the neck and the base of the tail
• Over-grooming, or thin and bald patches on the belly and back legs
• Small scabs along the back (often called miliary dermatitis)
• "Flea dirt": tiny black specks in the fur. Put a few on a damp white paper towel. If they smudge reddish-brown, that's digested blood and you've found fleas.
• Tapeworm segments that look like grains of rice near your cat's bottom or in their bedding. Cats catch tapeworm by swallowing fleas while grooming.
• Itchy red bites on people's ankles

Run a fine-toothed flea comb (see flea combs) through the fur over a white sheet or towel, paying attention to the neck, back and base of the tail. It's the quickest way to confirm fleas, and it's a good way to check that treatment is working.

Step 1: treat every pet in the house

Use a licensed flea treatment made for cats, at the dose on the label for your cat's weight. The most effective options are:

Prescription products from your vet usually work better than older over-the-counter ones, because fleas in many areas have become resistant to some older ingredients. If you've used a product correctly and still see live fleas after a few weeks, ask your vet about switching.

Treat every cat and dog in the house at the same time, or the fleas simply move to the untreated animal. Weigh your cat before buying a product, since doses are set by weight band.

Step 2: treat your home

Most of the flea population lives in your home, not on the cat.

1. Vacuum daily for two weeks: carpets, rugs, couches, under furniture and along baseboards. The vibration also makes pupae hatch, so the treatment can kill them. Empty the vacuum into an outdoor trash can each time.
2. Wash bedding (the cat's, and anywhere it sleeps, including your bed) on a hot cycle, 140°F (60°C) if the fabric allows, and dry on high heat.
3. Use a household flea spray containing an insect growth regulator (such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen), which stops eggs and larvae developing (see household flea sprays). Check the label says it's for use in homes with cats. Keep cats and fish out of the room until it's dry, and follow the label.
4. Don't forget the car and any pet carriers if your cat travels.

Step 3: be patient and keep going

Expect to see some fleas for up to 6 to 8 weeks. That's new fleas hatching from pupae in the home and dying when they jump on your treated cat. It doesn't mean the treatment has failed. Keep treating monthly (or as the product says), and carry on through winter, because central heating keeps fleas breeding all year.

Never use these on a cat

• Dog flea products. Many contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats and can cause tremors, seizures and death, even from close contact with a freshly treated dog. If this happens, call your vet or an emergency clinic right away.
• Essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, peppermint). Cats can't process them properly and they can cause poisoning.
• Garlic, vinegar sprays or "natural" home remedies. They don't work and some are harmful.
• Flea treatments on kittens unless the label says they're safe for that age and weight.
• Flea shampoos as the only treatment. They kill the fleas on your cat that day but give no lasting protection, and most cats hate being bathed.

When to see a vet

• Kittens, elderly cats or very small cats with lots of fleas. Heavy infestations can cause anemia (look for pale gums, weakness or tiredness).
• Sore, broken or infected skin from scratching.
• Your cat seems unwell after a flea treatment: drooling, twitching, wobbliness or hiding. Wash the product off with mild dish soap and warm water, and call your vet.
• You still see live fleas after 8 weeks of correct treatment.
• Your cat is still very itchy once the fleas are gone. Some cats have a flea allergy, where a single bite sets off weeks of itching, and need extra treatment.

If you see rice-like segments, your cat also needs a dewormer that covers tapeworm. Your vet can recommend one.

Common questions

Can indoor cats get fleas?

Yes. Fleas and their eggs come in on clothes, shoes and other pets, and once inside they breed happily in carpet and furniture. Indoor cats in homes with dogs, or in apartment buildings with other pets, are especially likely to pick them up.

Can cat fleas live on humans?

Cat fleas bite people, usually around the ankles, but they can't live and breed on humans. Once your cat and home are treated, the bites stop.

How long does it take to get rid of fleas completely?

Usually 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes up to 3 months in a heavily infested home. That's how long it takes for all the eggs and pupae already in your home to hatch and die.

Should my cat be on flea prevention all year?

Most vets recommend year-round prevention, especially if you have a dog or your cat goes outside. Fleas breed indoors all year in heated homes, and it is far easier to prevent an infestation than to clear one.

Written from published veterinary guidance. How we write our guides.