Many pet owners in New York City believe their cats are safe from fleas because they live indoors. But the truth is surprising—indoor cats in NYC can still get fleas, and it happens more often than people think. Fleas are tiny, fast, and great at hiding. They can enter apartments in ways most people never expect. Understanding how fleas get inside and what you can do to prevent them can help keep your cat healthy and your home comfortable.
In this blog, we’ll explain the most common reasons indoor cats get fleas in NYC, how to spot an infestation, and the best ways to protect your home. If you’re dealing with fleas already, Positive Pest Management can help you get rid of them quickly and safely.
How Fleas Get Into NYC Apartments
Even if your cat never steps outside, fleas can find many ways into your home. Here are the most common ways indoor cats pick up fleas in New York City:
1. Fleas Travel on People
You can bring fleas into your home without knowing it. Fleas can hop onto your shoes, clothes, or bags when you're outside. They can even latch onto you while you’re visiting a friend, riding the subway, or walking through a building hallway.
Once inside, they jump off and start looking for a warm host—usually your cat.
2. Fleas Spread Through Apartment Buildings
NYC is full of multi-unit housing, and that makes it easy for fleas to travel. Fleas can move through walls, hallways, basements, and shared laundry rooms. If one neighbor has a flea problem, the infestation can spread to other units.
Old building cracks, uncovered vents, and gaps under doors make it even easier for fleas to move around.
3. Other Pets Bring Fleas to the Building
Even if your own cat never goes outside, other pets in your building do. Dogs that go on regular walks can pick up fleas from parks, sidewalks, or even hallways. When they return home, fleas can pop off and spread to nearby units.
So even a “no pet” apartment can still get a flea infestation.
4. Fleas Come From Rodents
NYC has one of the worst rodent problems in the country. Rats and mice can carry fleas into apartment buildings. If rodents are living in the walls, basements, or trash rooms, those fleas may transfer into homes—especially when the rodents die or move around.
This is one reason rodent control is extremely important in preventing flea problems.
5. Used Furniture Can Carry Fleas
Furniture found on the curb or purchased secondhand may look clean, but fleas, eggs, and pupae can hide deep inside cushions, cracks, or fabric folds. Many NYC infestations start this way.
Even clean-looking furniture can carry hundreds of flea eggs.
How to Tell If Your Indoor Cat Has Fleas
Fleas are small, fast, and very good at hiding in fur. But there are signs you can watch for.
1. Scratching and Biting
If your cat is scratching more than usual, especially on the neck, back, or tail, fleas may be the cause.
2. Flea Dirt
Flea dirt looks like tiny black pepper flakes. It’s actually flea droppings. If you see black specks on bedding or your cat’s fur, fleas may be present.
3. Hair Loss or Red Skin
Constant scratching can lead to bald patches, red spots, or scabs.
4. Actual Fleas
Sometimes you can spot fleas jumping on your cat or running through their fur. They move quickly and are reddish-brown.
5. Fleas on Humans
If you’re getting small red bites around your ankles, fleas might be in your home.
Why Fleas Are Hard to Get Rid Of
Fleas multiply fast. A single female can lay up to 50 eggs a day. Eggs fall into carpets, bedding, cracks, and furniture. When they hatch, the new fleas look for a host—usually your cat.
Their life cycle allows them to hide for weeks or even months before becoming active again. This is why DIY flea treatments often fail.
How to Prevent Fleas in Your NYC Apartment
Here are steps to protect your indoor cat and your home:
1. Use a Monthly Flea Preventative
Even indoor cats need flea protection. Your vet can recommend a safe, effective option.
2. Vacuum Regularly
Vacuum carpets, furniture, and pet bedding. Throw away the bag or empty the canister right after.
3. Wash Your Cat’s Bedding Weekly
Hot water kills flea eggs and larvae.
4. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Close entry points where fleas and rodents can come through.
5. Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
Fleas love hiding in piles, fabrics, and dark spaces.
When to Call a Professional
If fleas keep coming back, or if you have a heavy infestation, it’s time to call a pest expert. Fleas can hide deep inside carpets and furniture, making them hard to eliminate completely without help.
Positive Pest Management provides professional flea treatments that target every stage of the flea life cycle. They use methods that are effective, safe for pets, and designed for NYC apartment living. Working with Positive Pest Management can help you remove fleas fast and keep them from coming back.
