Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Looking after cats with fleas? Advice please.

54 replies

redcherrie · 02/04/2025 20:34

My cousin said she needed someone to home her cats while she goes away for ten days skiing. I said I would, as my children would love the experience and thought it would help her out also.

On Monday she announced they had ear mites and said she’d pop to the vets for drops.

Today I went over to meet the cats, and she casually said one has fleas but both have had tablets. Nothing about her home being de flea’d etc.

I haven’t had animals before with fleas so not sure what this meant. I thought as they’d had treatment they’d no longer have fleas. But my husband is now saying we are absolutely not having them in our home especially as they haven’t de flea’d their house; potentially re infesting the cats.

I really don’t want to stitch my cousin up as she leaves Friday at 4:30pm, but equally I do not want two cats in our home who potentially still have fleas.

What to do? AIBU to say we don’t want them now? Or will they be de flea’d and it’ll be fine?

OP posts:
BlondeMummyto1 · 02/04/2025 20:47

She should have booked them into a cattery.

I wouldn’t have them in my house either and I wouldn’t feel bad about her needing to make other arrangements.

hby9628 · 02/04/2025 20:43

If she lives near by can you not just pop round and feed them. That’s what we do when we are away…ask a neighbour to keep an eye on them. As long as they are fed they are petty happy as they can use the cat flap to venture out.
I would agree with your husband to be honest it wouldn’t be ideal bringing them to yours.

Original poster
redcherrie · 02/04/2025 20:43

This is what I have just read. I don’t really want any fleas in our home at all. She seems very casual about the whole thing. They have no hoover at their house currently as they have recently moved. (They have a robot one but obviously they aren’t great) so this makes me wonder if the cats will be re infested before they come to ours.

Looking after cats with fleas? Advice please.
OP posts:
FortyElephants · 02/04/2025 20:39

If she's treated the cats then the fleas should die. However they won't all be dead before they come to your house and some will probably migrate off the cats and onto your carpets. They won't live long without an animal to feed on so you're unlikely to get an infestation but honestly I can't believe anyone would expect someone to take a flea affected cat into their home! What is she thinking!