Do Indoor Maine Coons Need Flea Collars?

Do Indoor Maine Coons Need Flea Collars?

Indoor Maine Coons have many benefits for the cat.

There is evidence that they live longer, and there are several risks that they are not exposed to.

While cats are known to attract fleas, to what extent are they the preserve of an outdoor Maine Coon.

If you want to put a collar on your indoor cat, it’s worth thinking about whether a flea collar is really a necessity.

Do indoor Maine Coons need flea collars?

If fleas are a concern for you then an indoor Maine Coon will need flea treatment. A collar isn’t the only viable method for keeping fleas and ticks away but being an indoor cat does not mean fleas aren’t a risk to your Maine Coon.

In short, even though you have an indoor Maine Coon, they won’t be immune to the perils of flea infestation.

Fleas don’t respect the house boundaries and are actively seeking ways to find your Maine Coons luxurious long fur to nestle in.

The cleaner, sleeker, and finer groomed the better.

While other dogs and cats can bring fleas back into the house the fact is they may not even need a carrier.

A flea can jump, yes JUMP, 7 inches high and 13 inches forward.

That would certainly be enough to get upstairs, in through a porch, or over a window ledge.

So if you are worried about fleas and ticks on your Maine Coon, then the fact that it is an indoor cat, doesn’t mean you have no duties in this regard.

Fleas bites can spread disease and cause skin irritation left untreated so best be prepared.

Do Indoor Cats Need Flea Treatment?

Personally, I don’t spend too much time worrying about it, but depending upon where you live is a serious consideration.

I live in an apartment, so there are bigger issues than fleas.

A good groom and some simple treatment every now and again seem to work fine.

If you live in more rural areas, with dogs, then it would be more of a consideration.

Additionally, do other people’s pets visit you often that roll around in the backyard.

Fleas can jump from animal to animal so the sleek well groomed indoor Maine Coon would look like a paradise island to a flea.

If fleas aren’t normally a concern, then regular treatment doesn’t seem particularly necessary.

I’d perhaps prefer to be constantly vigilant and deal with fleas and ticks as they arise.

A quick run through with a flea comb will alert you to any upcoming problem.

Remember to thoroughly clean our flea comb though.

In general, it’s probably a good idea to wait for the evidence your Maine Coon has fleas before taking any action.

The flea treatment that kills off fleas isn’t good for your Maine Coon in large quantities either.

That’s why I tend to shy away until I see a problem.

Ways Your Indoor Maine Coon Can Still Get Fleas

Other pets are a primary cause of fleas.

The more animals, including dogs, that are in the house the greater the chance of fleas.

Once one gets them, the fleas can transfer from animal to animal quite easily.

The more pets you have, the greater the chance of having to deal with an infestation.

Fleas have a better chance of getting into the house the more pets sit near windows and doors, even if they are indoor animals.

Adult fleas can live anywhere between 2 to 14 days and a pregnant female can lay 20 to 50 eggs per day.

Once fleas are in, they can proliferate quite quickly.

So where might your Maine Coon pick up fleas?

A Visit To The Vet

Most people associate going to the vet with a vet with serious illness or injury.

However, skin irritation because of fleas is alarmingly high on the list of reasons to visit one.

The vet, as clean as it looks, is a building just teeming with fleas from previous patients.

Flea eggs are tiny, as are fleas and it’s alarmingly easy for your Maine Coon to pick up fleas while going for a check up or vaccinations.

Window Ledges

Most Maine Coons will sit by a window and watch the world go by.

Maybe you even leave it ajar to get some airflow and keep your cat cool.

Well, that gap is where fleas can bounce through.

Keeping a house hermetically sealed is unrealistic and as such fleas can get in.

They’re just waiting for your Maine Coon to pass by to catch a ride.

Human Carriers

Flea season is largely dependent upon where you are in the world as fleas are more active in warmer weather.

Your Maine Coon may be indoors but you are unlikely to be.

When you go out in flea season you can quite easily pick some up and bring them back to your house.

Realistically there’s very little you can do, other than being mindful of the reason your Maine Coon might have fleas is because of you.

Flea Control For Your Maine Coon

Flea control can come in several different types

• shampoos
• collars
• topical solutions
• oral medication
• flea sprays

That would be for the direct application to your Maine Coon.

You can spray areas where fleas may get in as well.

Most people use a collar or oral medication added to the cat’s food,

So, what can you do in the way of prevention? Quite a bit as it happens.

Vacuum – A regular vacuuming of carpets and items that your Maine Coon comes into contact with helps lower flea transmission.

Blankets, cushions, and cat beds can all do with a good vacuum.

Just make sure to throw out the bag so the fleas don’t escape back into the house.

Wash away – Blankets, bedding, and cat beds are all small enough to be put in a washing machine and cleaned with hot water.

This will kill the fleas and clean the apparel to keep fleas off your Maine Coon.,

Hot water above 95°F (35 °C) will kill off fleas.

Particularly Stubborn Fleas

Should you find a bit of a flea infestation, a collar may not be enough.

You may need to take stronger measures.

You should evacuate the house and give all surfaces a spray with a decent flea spray.

Make sure you stay out of the house for a few hours while the flea spray does its work.

Secondly, give all your pets a flea treatment, regardless of whether you see any.

A flea infestation can take a few months to kill off completely.

With thorough cleaning, spraying contact areas, you should get it under control.

With all that, perhaps that small flea collar on your cat doesn’t seem like such a bad idea now.

Conclusion

If you have an indoor Maine Coon, flea prevention is still important.

An indoor Maine Coon is NOT immune to getting them, especially during the warmer months.

Fleas can be a problem in the summer months even if your cat doesn’t get outdoors.

A collar might not be enough for some stubborn infestations.

Your Maine Coon will need a flea collar if you are worried by fleas.

You may need to take stronger measures and do what it takes to kill off all fleas inside and outside the house.

You may also want to consider using one of these collars or other products as a precautionary measure against re-infestation.