Should an indoor only cat be treated for fleas? Does Vitamin B prevent fleas?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – Do you recommend treating strictly indoor cats for fleas and ticks? I have heard that a little vitamin B sprinkled on the cat's food will prevent fleas. Is this true.

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Sister Jo Ann Knight

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking if indoor only cats need to be treated for fleas and ticks. Also – you want to know if Vitamin B helps with fleas.

Indoor only cats have a risk of fleas but much less than outdoor cats. I have an indoor cat in my practice that got fleas – not sure how. Flea eggs are sticky and they may have stuck on the owner's shoes and they bought them in. Soon, one flea egg can hatch and that flea can produce thousands of fleas in a short time. So…for indoor cats – it is up to the owner. I think there is benefit in treating indoor cats for fleas to prevent them.

As far as ticks – I don't think that it is necessary to treat indoor-only cats for ticks.

Vitamin B – I personally don't think it works to prevent fleas.

An article that might be helpful to you is Flea Control and Prevention in Cats.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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