Choosing the right flea treatment for your cat depends on more than just picking a product off the shelf — it depends on how your cat lives. Whether your feline companion lounges exclusively indoors or roams freely through the backyard, understanding the difference in flea risk is essential for keeping them comfortable and itch-free year-round.
Why Cats Get Fleas (Even Indoors)
Fleas are opportunistic parasites that don't need an invitation. They can hitch a ride into your home on clothing, shoes, visiting pets, or even through open windows and doors. A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, meaning a small problem can escalate within weeks.
Many cat owners assume their indoor-only pet is safe, but flea eggs and larvae thrive in carpet fibres, bedding, and furniture. In Australia's warm, humid climate — particularly along the east coast and in tropical regions like Queensland — fleas remain active for most of the year.
Indoor vs Outdoor: How Risk Levels Differ
Outdoor cats face the highest flea risk. They encounter fleas in grass, soil, garden beds, and through contact with wildlife or neighbourhood cats. In warmer months from September to April, flea populations surge across most Australian states.
Indoor cats face a lower but far from negligible risk. If you have other pets that go outside, if you've moved into a home where previous pets lived, or if your home has underfloor spaces accessible to wildlife, fleas can find their way in. Multi-pet households are especially vulnerable because just one untreated animal can introduce fleas to the entire home.
The key difference is exposure frequency. Outdoor cats need robust, consistent protection, while indoor cats still benefit from regular preventative treatment — just with a potentially different approach.
Choosing the Right Flea Treatment for Your Cat
When it comes to treating fleas on cats, you'll generally choose between topical spot-on treatments, oral tablets, or long-lasting collars. Each has its advantages depending on your cat's lifestyle.
- Spot-on treatments are applied to the back of the neck and typically provide a month of protection. Many also cover ticks, ear mites, and intestinal worms — making them a popular all-in-one choice. Browse our range of trusted Revolution products for options that offer broad-spectrum coverage.
- Oral treatments work from the inside out and are ideal for cats who dislike topical applications or who are bathed frequently.
- Flea collars offer extended protection over several months and suit owners who prefer a set-and-forget approach.
For outdoor cats, a broad-spectrum product that covers fleas, ticks, and worms is usually the smartest investment. For indoor cats, a flea-specific or combination product still provides essential peace of mind.
Quick tip: Always weigh your cat before purchasing a flea treatment. Products are dosed by weight, and using the wrong size can reduce effectiveness or cause adverse reactions. If your cat is between weight ranges, go with the range that fits their current weight.
Flea Prevention Tips for Indoor Cats
Preventing fleas on an indoor cat goes beyond just applying a monthly treatment. Environmental management plays a huge role in keeping your home flea-free.
Vacuum carpets, rugs, and soft furnishings at least twice a week — this removes flea eggs and larvae before they can develop. Wash your cat's bedding in hot water fortnightly, and don't forget to treat any other pets in the household at the same time.
Even if your cat never steps outside, maintaining a regular flea prevention schedule is the most reliable way to avoid an infestation. Explore our full range of flea, tick, and worm treatments for cats to find a product that suits your indoor setup.
It's also worth checking second-hand furniture, cat trees, or bedding before bringing them into your home. Flea pupae can lie dormant for months and hatch when they detect warmth and vibration from a nearby host.
Why Year-Round Protection Matters in Australia
Unlike colder countries where flea activity drops sharply in winter, Australia's temperate and subtropical climate means fleas can remain active for 10 to 12 months of the year in many regions. In Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and coastal areas, there's rarely a true "off season" for fleas.
Even in cooler areas like Melbourne and Hobart, centrally heated homes create the perfect environment for fleas to thrive indoors during winter. This is why most Australian vets and parasitologists recommend year-round flea treatment for cats, regardless of whether they live indoors or outdoors.
Skipping treatments during the cooler months is one of the most common mistakes cat owners make. A single lapse can allow a dormant flea population to explode, leading to skin irritation, flea allergy dermatitis, and secondary infections in sensitive cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do indoor cats really need flea prevention?
Yes. Indoor cats can pick up fleas from other household pets, visiting animals, or even from eggs carried in on shoes and clothing. A regular preventative treatment is the easiest way to stop a problem before it starts, even if your cat never goes outside.
How often should I apply flea treatment to my cat?
Most topical and oral flea treatments are designed to be given monthly. Some flea collars provide protection for several months at a time. Consistency is key — setting a reminder on your phone each month helps ensure you never miss a dose.
Can I use the same flea product on my cat and dog?
No. Some ingredients found in dog flea treatments, such as certain pyrethroids, are highly toxic to cats and can be fatal. Always use a product specifically formulated for cats, and keep treated dogs away from cats until the product has dried completely.
Keeping your cat protected from fleas doesn't have to be complicated — it just needs to be consistent. Browse our cat flea, tick, and worm range to find the right product for your indoor or outdoor companion, and have a chat with your vet if you're unsure which option best suits your cat's needs.