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Why do I see flea dirt but no fleas on my cat? How to treat them?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered
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.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 21st, 2018
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)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 5th, 2017
I'm wondering if you are seeing fleas not mites, as mites are microscopic and can only be seen using a microscope. Fleas would also cause you and your family to have small itchy spots. I can give you a flea treatment program for your cats. 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. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their 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. You may want to see your doctor to see if there are medications to help you with the flea bites.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 4th, 2019
If you, Harley, and the dog are itching, I suspect something like fleas. I can give you a flea treatment program for them, but make sure that Harley gets the cat flea medication and the dog the medication specified for dogs. You cannot put a dog flea treatment on a cat, it could be fatal. 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. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their 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.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful