Why do I see flea dirt but no fleas on my cat? How to treat them?

Question

I see mostly small small fleas on two of my cats, then I go to comb my oldest cat and I only comb out two small tiny fleas I grabbed alot of flea droppings mostly, but kept combing and I wasn't getting anything? I even added diluted vinegar to agitate the fleas and checked everywhere on my cat and still no fleas? I know he has them what could be going on? Is this the time I should tackle my flea problem when there real tiny? Some fleas are midsized, please help? Thank you. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

Fleas hatch from larvae and then still grow to adult size, so you are seeing fleas of different ages. Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons and/or chews Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Simparica, Nexgard Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)

Why do I see flea dirt but no fleas on my cat? How to treat them?

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