Can indoor pets get fleas?

Post sponsored by Mirum. Opinions are 100% my own.

Can indoor pets get fleas?  Yes.

We have a cat and a dog, but one common misconception is that because our pets are kept indoors, they can’t get fleas.  It’s not true.  Indoor pets can get fleas.  In fact, not only can they get fleas, but those fleas can make them very sick.

My parents just adopted two kittens… adorable gray kittens.   They started to notice that for as much as the kittens were eating, they weren’t gaining weight.  After a visit to the vet, they found out that the kittens had a tapeworm.

The worst part is HOW they got the tapeworm: from a flea.   When they were at the shelter, they were either bitten by a flea or ate a flea that had a tapeworm.

“In pets with flea infestations, the larval fleas hatching in the area consume organic debris, flea dirt (digested bloodshed by adult fleas–it looks like pepper) and any tapeworm eggs.  The tapeworm egg proceeds to develop inside the flea and by the time the flea is an adult, the tapeworm can infect mammals.  When a cat or a dog swallows the infected flea, something that is very easy to do during regular grooming, the cat or dog becomes the new host.  The flea body is digested, the tapeworm is released and it finds a spot to attach and continues the lifecycle.”  ~ Boston Street Vet

After several treatments at the vet, they no longer have Tapeworm.   Thankfully.

Getting fleas and/or ticks is more common than we think.  The vet suggested using a flea and tick treatment AND prevention, so now the cats are protected by PetArmor Plus, found at Walmart.

After hearing about this, I stopped at Walmart and picked up my own box of PetArmor Plus for our cat and for our dog.  There’s a great Walmart-specific ibotta offer going on right now, too, so it worked out: $3 off PetArmor Plus for Dogs or Cats, 3ct. (Valid March – September).

I brought it home and put the correct dosage (of their own medication) on them.
NOTE: BE SURE to choose dog products for dogs and cat products for cats. These products are different formulations based on the species and weight of your pet and SHOULD NEVER be used interchangeably.  Don’t forget to consider your pet’s age. ONLY use PetArmor Plus for Dogs on dogs or puppies over 4 pounds and over 8 weeks of age; and ONLY use PetArmor Plus for Cats on cats or kittens over 1.5 lbs. and over 8 weeks of age.

Applying correctly starts with purchasing the correct product. Before purchasing, weigh your pet. Don’t guess! It is important to know the exact weight of your pet.  Read the entire label carefully before using any product on your pet. For more information, please call 1-888-908-8425.

We have always had our dog on flea prevention, but I am not always on top of the timing.  I will let time lapse, but this time, I wrote it on my calendar.

Fleas and ticks can be present year round, even in colder climates, and can lay dormant for several months before hatching, it’s recommended to treat your pet each month throughout the entire year.  Used as directed, PetArmor Plus can stop infestations and help prevent reinfestation.  It is a fast-acting, waterproof formula that helps break the flea life cycle by killing flea eggs and larvae for up to 12 weeks.  It also kills ticks that may transmit Lyme disease.

So, yes, even indoor pets can get fleas.. but that would never stop me from getting a pet.  The solution is simple: treat & prevent with PetArmor Plus.