How to Deal with Persistent Feline Flea Problems

Co-authored by Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD

Last Updated: December 9, 2025 References

Cleaning the Inside of Your Home

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Removing Fleas from Your Yard

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Treating Your Cat

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

To deal with persistent feline flea problems, you need to look no further than your house. To rid the inside of your home of fleas, you will need to vacuum regularly, wash upholstery, and spray your carpets and other soft furnishings with a flea spray. Treat the outside of your home by sweeping up piles leaves and mowing your lawn regularly. Additionally, make sure you are being consistent with your cat's flea medications. If the flea infestation is bad, then you may need to contact a professional pest control service to treat your home, and your vet to treat your cat.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Inside of Your Home

1
Look for flea dirt. Flea dirt resembles small specks of ground black pepper. Look for these specks along your carpet and floor, especially in the areas where your cat rests. If you see the black specks, rub them with a damp, white cloth. If tiny red specks appear on the white cloth, then this is a sure sign that you have a flea problem.^{[1]
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- You can also identify a flea problem by putting on a pair of white socks. Walk around your home shuffling your feet to create warmth. If you see black or brown specks on your socks after doing this, then you can be sure that you have a flea problem.
2
Vacuum regularly. Vacuum the areas where your cat spends most of its time like its bed or the couch. Also, thoroughly vacuum carpets, rugs, couches, and upholstered furniture in your house.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist

Expert Interview} Make sure to vacuum underneath your furniture since fleas thrive in dark environments.
- Vacuum your house every three days to remove organic material that fleas feed on such as dirt and flea feces.
- Remove and throw away the vacuum bag each time you finish vacuuming.
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3
Mop your floors. Since fleas can live in your baseboards, make sure to mop wooden and tile floors regularly. Mop them every 10 to 15 days to keep the flea infestation at bay.^{[3]
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- You can use a household cleaner or detergent of your choice to mop your floors.
4
Wash soft furnishings. Wash removable upholstery, including curtains, per the instructions on the instruction manual. Also wash infested clothing and bedding on a hot cycle in your washing machine.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist

Expert Interview} Use the dryer to dry your clothing and bedding.^{[5]
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- The heat from the dryer will kill any remaining fleas and/or flea larvae.
5
Spray your carpets and upholstery with a flea spray. Before using the spray, make sure the room is well-ventilated, i.e., open the windows and doors. Spray your carpet, rugs, curtains, upholstery, and areas where your cat sleeps like its bed.
- After using the spray, take yourself and your pets outside to let the room air out for 30 minutes to an hour before returning.
- You can also purchase boric acid-based powders to control flea problems. Sprinkle the powder in between the floorboards and on your carpet and rugs. These powders are not harmful to your pets and/or children.
6
Flea bomb your house. You can either hire a professional to flea bomb your house, or you can do it yourself. Before you flea bomb your house, remove your cat's food and water bowls, as well as household plants. You and your pets will also need to leave your house while the flea bomb works.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist

Expert Interview}^{[7]
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- You can purchase flea bombs from your local hardware store or pet store, or online. Make sure to follow the instructions on the canister. You may need to buy more than one flea bomb.
- It may be up to eight hours before it is safe to go back home, so plan a fun day with your cat before flea bombing your house; for example, you could take your cat to the groomer to have it bathed while your house is getting flea bombed.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Fleas from Your Yard

Fleas thrive in warm, humid and dark environments. Therefore, make sure to sweep and bag piles of leaves in and around your front and back yard. Do this once a week, or as often as you need to.
Mow your lawn once a week to keep your grass short. Also, limit your use of mulch. The dark, warm environment mulch provides attracts fleas.
Use wooden boards or wire mesh to block off areas underneath your porch and veranda, as well as any other areas around or under your house where fleas can breed. This way, your cat will not be able to access these areas.
You can schedule a professional to come out and treat your front and back yard with a flea spray. When contacting the professional, however, make sure the sprays they use actually treat fleas and are safe for your cat. If not, then contact a different company.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating Your Cat

1
Apply flea medication consistently. Make sure to give your cat its flea medication on time, as well as the correct dosage per the instructions on the box. Also, choose a high-quality flea treatment for the best results. Only give your cat flea treatments that have been recommended by your vet.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
- To maximize the effectiveness of spot on flea treatments, bring your cat to a professional groomer to have it bathed with a flea shampoo before applying the treatment.
- If the infestation is severe, then try a fast-acting flea medication that contains Nitenpyram. These can be used in conjunction with your cat's flea medication.
2
Wash your cat's bed regularly. Since fleas can burrow down into the foam of your cat's bed, make sure to wash the whole bed, not just the cover.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist

Expert Interview} Wash its bed on a hot cycle and use the dryer to dry it. Wash your pet's bedding once every 10 to 15 days.
- Make sure to wash any plush toys your cat has.
- Use a cat-friendly detergent to wash its bedding and plush toys.
3
Clean your cat's toys. Use hot water and a mild soap to clean your cat's toys. Do not use scented soaps (especially lemon-scented ones), ammonia, and/or deodorants to clean your cat's toys.^{[11]
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- Throw out any toys that cannot be cleaned thoroughly.
4
Consult your veterinarian. If your cat's flea problems persist, or are severe, then you should contact your veterinarian.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist

Expert Interview} Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a high-quality flea treatment and regimen to rid your cat of fleas.
- Your veterinarian may recommend an oral treatment in conjunction with a topical one.
- Ask your veterinarian about fast-acting flea medications that can be used in conjunction with its regular flea medication.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Why is flea treatment not working on my cat?

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist
Dr. Daniel Lioy-Ryan is an Animal Behaviorist and the Co-Founder of Cats in the City. With over a decade of experience, he specializes in understanding animal behavior, safely grooming cats, and working with cats at all life stages. Dr. Lioy-Ryan holds a PhD in Neuroscience from The Oregon Health & Science University.

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD

Animal Behaviorist

Expert Answer

To get rid of all the fleas, you need to treat your cat and your house. After administering medication to the cat, remember to clean your space to get rid of larvae and eggs on beddings and carpets.

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Question

Why does my indoor cat keep getting fleas?

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD
Animal Behaviorist
Dr. Daniel Lioy-Ryan is an Animal Behaviorist and the Co-Founder of Cats in the City. With over a decade of experience, he specializes in understanding animal behavior, safely grooming cats, and working with cats at all life stages. Dr. Lioy-Ryan holds a PhD in Neuroscience from The Oregon Health & Science University.

Daniel Lioy-Ryan, PhD

Animal Behaviorist

Expert Answer

Well, that's just part of life. You should do whatever's in your reach to get rid of fleas and to clean your space, but that may not be enough. If you live in a building, it's probably best to connect with other residents and see if they're also having problems, as you may need to do a general sweep of all the houses to completely avoid fleas.

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Tips

To maximize the effectiveness of sprays and powders, treat the inside of your home every three to four weeks after the first treatment.

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