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Indoor cat has fleas after treatment. How to finally get rid of them?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 14 years and 7 months old | 13 lbs

My cat has fleas bad. I don't let him outside. He must have gotten them at the Vet. 1st tried Hartz spot-on. Then tried Catego (Chewey.com) spot-on. Have sprayed home with Bio Spot and then used Orthodo home defense. The spot on treatments used were 30 days apart. Still having flea problems. Cat licking and biting and biting out hair sometimes. How can I get rid of these fleas? Do I have to wait another 30 days for another spot treatment?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 5th, 2019

You have to wait at least two weeks between flea treatments for Rusty. I can give you the flea treatment program I always recommend, and it's very effective. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps!

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 28th, 2019

    Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I personally have found some resistance to Frontline, so I will give a flea treatment program that has always worked for me. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 7th, 2017

    Fleas can be so hard to kill, and I have seen resistance to Frontline. Hartz is also a very poor quality flea treatment. I will give you the flea treatment program I always recommend. First, I would give them Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by fogging the house and using a carpet and upholstery spray. Wash all their bedding in hot and soapy water, and vacuum the carpet and furniture surfaces. You may want to hire an exterminator to flea bomb the house. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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