Wits end with fleas, please advise!

[FleaHell]

I'm aware this sounds dramatic but I'm sobbing.
I have a cat (13yo). Never really had an issue as such with fleas but always treat preventatively anyway- prescribed stuff not OTC. She had the injection once but it didn't agree with her so I stick with spot on.

A couple of months ago DS was complaining of being itchy. He had some lumps and bumps and the Dr advised it was viral and it'd be fine. Anyway it turns out its flea bites. The cat doesn't scratch but a month ago, most definitely had fleas. I treated the cat, treated the house with indorex and thought that'd be the end of it.

It was just the start! DS got covered in bites, I checked the cat (3w post treatment) and yep, more fleas/flea dirt. Treated again, sprayed the house again and used some of the fogger sprays to be sure. No new bites for a week and I was just sitting on the settee feeling relaxed for the first time in ages. Felt a tickle. Fucking flea. Live, adult flea. I'm back to itching like crazy (they don't seem to bite me but the thought makes me scratch) and feeling like a terrible parent with poor kid being covered in bites. Also (unreasonably) resentful of the cat.

What the hell do I do now? I'm going to try and get the cat in at the vet for an alternative flea treatment, thinking about local pest control to do the house?

Yes Nexgard will sort the little buggers out. We’ve had a cat move in with us and he was riddled when he arrived. It took 3 months with Nexgard and he’s totally clear now.

They can just give you a prescription. In fact that would probably be cheaper.

Go on pets drugs online. Seen if they sell it there. It's so cheap compared to everywhere else and delivery is quite quick too

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZOYDP-Odorless-Non-Toxic-Natural-Catcher/dp/B0CPLLMKLW/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=118160413895&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R7GYoeoEuBa7ePZMFzB2CXsvWutlQHy5oaywIHgkzWMAKUxBeJ20WCQ7W7HXwd58l8w-N4_Uz5Dj89qVnxkSb4RHL2A0lhzgYCuJd4nIzc_XLeSci58Se7RMFTBfEUbpTzBpJUJVmKf7rDYSwisJkAek4-TLcZ3JYddoNum4ykD1gevDt9BxmS-AUSdpHBMeoyVP7sWH54ktZJ91FFsHSA.aZ7lLgrQn4MTEiXKk_7P--LDObvENhdNwS1gKOQGl5w&dib_tag=se&hvadid=498468873266&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9180614&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17919347146999929541&hvtargid=kwd-94895313&hydadcr=16913_1798555&keywords=flea+traps&qid=1712864424&sr=8-7

Steam cleaner! I went mad and did all of my carpets and couch and that got ride of them fuckers!

Oh probably teaching you to suck eggs, but are you emptying the hoover every time and put the stuff outside right away?

The arseholes can also live outside/in the grass so be mindful of that too. Luckily it's been quite cold this winter.

@K0OLA1D absolutely to not wanting to come home,or, more accurately I don't want DS at home to get bitten to shreds. I can't stop thinking about it and how much work I'm going to have to do again and realistically probably a good few times more. And the more I think about it I'm questioning - do I need to wash all our clothes (in the only room cat can't access but still?) what about curtains (high) and inside sofa cushions argh.

I've seen a few people recommend diatomaceous earth but it's just not feasible in my tiny house, the mess would make it literally unliveable in and we haven't got anywhere else to go for a few days.

Yeah straight in the outside bin every time but it'd be an easy one to miss!

I feel bad at how ragey I feel towards the cat 😭 I'm very attached to her but this is unbelievably stressful!

I see VetUK sell nexgard combo (fleas and worms!) so that's definitely an option that could save a traumatic trip to the vets

Edit: presumably vet actually needs to see cat to prescribe 🤦

When you have used Indorex how much have you used?

The vet will sell you one can. The can instructions imply you need one can.

This is absolute bullshit. By the time you have sprayed all the carpets, soft furnishings, skirting boards, curtains and any other nooks and crannies you can think of, you will be lucky for it to be one can per room of the house.

We have rescued a dog.
The rescue vet recommended Bravecto.

If it's too messy for your house, you can always just use it around the edge of rooms/behind furniture/in cracks. You don't need to cover all the floor. It's also handy to put in your vacuum cleaner bag. Another trick is to take any cushions/throws etc amd put in space bags and store elsewhere for a few weeks/months.

Just seen your post, my partner has his own pest control business. When fleas get out of hand it will need a proper treatment as eggs will lay on the carpet so no domestic product will help. Where are you based? Wishing you all the best.

@AnnaMagnani I buy Indorex from pets at home and used 2 cans plus two foggers in 3 rooms (plus a tiny landing/staircase). I reckon I'll need at least another 4 for now!

Thanks @Justwingingit2005 my cat didn't react well to Bravecto but I gather it's pretty potent treatment.

@TheSnakeCharmer that's a great shout actually- use it as well as other stuff rather than instead of. I think I'll need to attack this from several different angles and it could definitely go eg in the corners/edges of rooms and stairs and under the sofa/bed.

Ok so Nexgard, more Indorex, up the vaccing, boil washing stuff again (thank god it's sunny this weekend!) and DE powder in corners etc. And try not to claw my skin off/hair out in the meantime.

Thanks @TheNiftyPearlCat this is my last attempt at sorting it myself then it's a professional job. I'm in Yorkshire.

My cat became immune to advantage and I had to go to the vet and get prescription stuff. I kept her outside or just in one room until the house was clear. You have my sympathy it's very stressful. On the plus side my house has never been that clean before 😅

I'm all for the silver linings @Conniethecatapillar 😅 it's just a bit of a mammoth task in front of me to get there!

I feel rotten shutting cat outside but due to house layout there's nowhere I could keep her contained. I'm half wondering how much damage it would limit anyway - if there are fleas in the house they're there anyway aren't they?!

I wish you all the best I really hope you can resolve it

Hi op
Put on some white / light coloured socks and tuck your leggings inside so you don’t get bitten. Then walk very slowly in tiny steps around the house. The fleas will jump on your feet and you can spot them easily- this will give you an idea of 1) how bad the situation is 2) where the worst areas are that require treating.

after hoovering empty the hoover bag daily

laundry needs to be 60 degrees minimum otherwise they survive

good luck

Thanks all for comments and advice! I'm feeling very very slightly better having seen and spoken to the vet. The cat is ok and she could only see flea dirt. She said she thinks the fleas are somewhere in the house, jumping on cat and, when desperate, poor DC.

I have bought more Indorex and going to try a rigorous routine of vaccing, steaming and spraying. If that's not doing the trick I'll get pest control in!

P S the vet said Advantage is still one of the best on the market and it is working on the cat- it's my house that seems to be the problem! (For pp that was worried Advantage didn't work anymore!)

That is absolutely not true!!!! Your vet obviously doesn't know everything. Our clinic, and many others around us, no longer sell Advantage as it simply no longer works.

Ask for a prescription for Nexgard or go to a different vet. It's not your house that's the problem, it's that you're using an ineffective flea treatment.

And if your cat had an effective treatment then any fleas jumping on her would die.

And there's no point getting in pest control if you're not using an effective treatment on your cat.

Either go back to the vet and be assertive and ask for what you need, or go to a different vet.

And it's difficult to see fleas on cats. If there is flea dirt present it means that fleas are present. Your vet sounds hopeless