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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To rehome kittens because of fleas and new baby?

94 replies

Roonster87 · 23/10/2016 16:53

Our 2 kittens are 6 months old and I took them to be neutered in the week and to my surprise was told they have fleas (they're indoor pets).

Bought the vet recommend Advocate treatment and spent yesterday and today hoovering the house within an inch of its life, and hot washing what we can...but looking online it looks like fleas are a bastard to get rid of, and I'm getting worked up about it.

Not sure whether I'm just being extra sensitive and worrying over nothing because I'm pregnant and I've had the little flea bastards on my clothes today and got me itching like mad. But, AIBU to consider getting my kittens rehomed due to our new baby coming in the next 4 months?

I know fleas aren't going to be a problem forever, I just don't know how persistent the flea buggers are going to be to get rid of and not sure how much of an extra stress it will be once baby is here. I love my kitties but can't bare the thought of fleas biting my new baby.

AIBU? Not sure whether my concerns are justified, or if I need have a word with myself and chill the fuck out. Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Roonster87 · 23/10/2016 17:45

Thanks Liiinoo and others for the recent comments and recommendations. I was surprised by the amount of stick I got, but that's MN for you. I do love my kittens. But as I've said, I did treat them, and I probably was a bit niave thinking it would never be an issue because they're indoor cats. Will hope the vets Advocate treatment and other sprays eliminate the problem.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 23/10/2016 17:51

Don't get rid of the cats, you will make the problem worse

If you use an effective monthly treatment on the cats each time a flea jumps on them (and they do prefer cats to humans) it will be zapped. Walking Killer kitties !

No cats = the fleas will bite you and the cycle will be almost impossible to halt

ryderandthepups · 23/10/2016 17:55

Can't work out why some people bother getting pets. Yes you are being unreasonable.

Meadows76 · 23/10/2016 17:55

Roonster87 the reason you got so much stick is because you omitted to mention in the OP that you had been treating them (albeit with something people rate as shit) and mentioned they were indoor cats which brought me, posssobly others, to conclude you had not treated them. My replies to you would have been entirely different had you given full facts in the OP

pinkunicornsarefluffy · 23/10/2016 17:59

I have got fleas currently, or rather my cat has Grin and they bite me and I come up in big welts and itch for hours, so can understand your pain, however as others have said, if you get rid of the cats then you will find it even harder to get rid of the fleas. The fleas need a host to jump on, so as said, give the cat a really good flea treatment, I have used Broadline and Advocate, and hopefully the problem will go. I also use Indorex spray and Bob Martin carpet powder.

SootyShearwater · 23/10/2016 18:00

I was surprised by the amount of stick I got, but that's MN for you. I do love my kittens.

No, it's not just MN for you, actually Hmm. It's because you have acquired these kittens, obviously without thinking it through properly and informing yourself, and now at the first hint of any problems, you are looking for validation to rehome them. Your child will face far greater threats in life than these fleas which, with appropriate treatments, you should be able to manage very effectively. You really do need to think very carefully whether you are cut out to be a pet owner and, if not, make proper arrangements for these kittens, i.e. contact a reputable rescue such as Cats Protection, to rehome them.

AnyFucker · 23/10/2016 18:02

Folks can stop giving the op a rough time now. She has explained she did use something and if not a seasoned cat owner would not have known it was an ineffective treatment. Front line is aggressively marketed...how is one to know ?

I made the same mistake once and paid the price of an infested house. We live and learn, fgs

AnyFucker · 23/10/2016 18:05

I also remember very well the sheer frustration of not understanding why all the hard work seemed to be a waste of time. Fleas love me and at times I would cry with upwards of 20 bites on my legs keeping me awake at night with the infernal itching and burning.

It's a fucking nightmare when you are in the middle of it

basketofironing · 23/10/2016 18:06

I've skimmed down the thread so apologies if it's been suggested already but Stronghold is really good at breaking the cycle.
iirc the treatment kills off the fleas on the cat but also sheds off with the cats dead skin, which the flea larvae eat, and kills them too.

We had two indoor cats and a horrible infestation a few years ago. Regularly salting the carpets to dry the eggs out also worked. And hoovering every other day.

AnyFucker · 23/10/2016 18:06

Op, I sorted it. But made some mistakes along the way.

Keep your kittens. Your baby will be fine and so will you.

HermioneJeanGranger · 23/10/2016 18:14

Ah, I sympathise!

I previously had two indoor cats (one with a flea allergy) when we got a flea infestation. It was horrible! Allergy cat ended up with scabs and bleeding from the bites, other cat wasn't remotely fussed. We cleaned everything, sprayed all the soft furnishings and flea bombed the house - it sorted it and we never had another problem.

Current kitten has been treated since we got her, luckily we've not spotted one so far but these things happen - it's just part of being a pet owner! You can do everything possible wrt to flea/worming, but sometimes it just happens!

Hope you get it sorted before little one comes along.

BennyTheBall · 23/10/2016 18:19

We were demented with fleas here a while back.

Treated the dog regularly with Frontline and Indore on the carpet but the little fuckers would be back in no time.

Desperate, we bought the flea stuff they sell in Pets at Home. For about a year now we haven't had any.

Wolfiefan · 23/10/2016 18:21

Why vets still sell frontline is beyond me OP. We have had cats for nearly 20 years and never had a flea problem.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/10/2016 18:28

We use Advocate on our cat and (touching wood) he's never had fleas. I think we've been lucky as we used to use Frontline as I didn't know it was crap. Stick with whatever the vet recommends and you should be fine.

Whatever you do, do not buy Bob Martin or any other over the counter crap.

Any chance of a picture of the flea ridden monsters?!

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/10/2016 18:37

If you want to rehome them merely because of fleas, then no - you don't love them.
It is not their fault they have fleas. Why punish them?
Fleas are a pain but can be dealt with plus colder weather is coming which should make it easier flea wise.
Said this before on here but my last job was the RSPCA and my area couldn't cope with unwanted pets who were given up for ridiculous , trivial , easily treatable reasons like this . It meant less help/resources for the serious cases such as injured wildlife and cruelty cases.

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/10/2016 18:38

Advocate for my pets is the only thing that works for sure. Frontline does nothing and I agree with PinkSparkly.. avoid Bob Martin at all costs

PoppyBirdOnAWire · 23/10/2016 18:39

Yet another OP who should not have pets. Pathetic.

wonderingsoul · 23/10/2016 18:41

pink iv used bob narly and its sorted everything with in two weeks.

Front line is the main one but i think because it is the main one fleas have become amune to it.. just like head lice. Iv had no problem with cheap ones ethier.

You can also get a special lamp that acts and attracts fleas to it... giving it another host that will kill them instantly. Its about 20 quid but worth it if you got a big problem.

Its also the eggs that make it hard because they can take days to hatch even if youv got rid of the fleas if one fucker hatchs you start all over again. Which is why i think the poweder is awesome cos it the only thing that kills the eggs too.

Op you have had a hard time.. you over reacyed with wanting ti get rid if them but insuspect that was out sheer frustration.
Fleas are nasty fuckers.

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/10/2016 18:43

Please make sure you try hard to find them a good, loving and most of all, RESPONSIBLE home. If you take them to a charity please leave a decent donation.. charities shouldn't be there to bail out people's 'mistakes' because they found a pet / pets inconvenient.. they are stretched enough.. I speak from experience . If you worked somewhere where daily animals were given up because 'he has fleas' 'she craps everywhere' 'he's too aloof' 'he doesn't like my dog' 'she doesn't fit in with my lifestyle' 'I'm trying for a baby' (One of the classics was re a kitten.. 'he's too wilful'… :( ) etc etc and other ridiculous reasons that a bit of time and care could probably sort out.. whilst saw the desperate cases struggling.. perhaps would think different.

Sparrowlegs248 · 23/10/2016 18:48

Yabu. Treat the cats monthly as recommended. Get a cannister of....... Can't remember what it's called but it's a big aerosol to do your carpets with, from the vets. Hoover, then spray everywhere. Then repeat after a week, then again after another week. Don't hoover after spraying, but before to lift the pile. Go round the edges thoroughly. Job done.

StStrattersOfMN · 23/10/2016 18:52

Indorex, Notta.

bertsdinner · 23/10/2016 18:54

Stronghold is good, and is a dual wormer/flea treatment. You get it at the Vet's. Doesn't apparantly protect against tape worm but with indoor cats I think you should be ok there anyway.

SoupDragon · 23/10/2016 19:05

Yet another OP who should not have pets. Pathetic.

Yet another poster, amongst many, who should RTFT. Pathetic.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 23/10/2016 19:11

Advocate works fine on my two cats, i put it on them every 4-6 weeks and never see a flea now.

Would be ridiculously harsh to rehome them because of fleas!!

NameChange30 · 23/10/2016 19:12

willywinkola
"Aren't your kittens too young to be neutered/spayed just yet?"
Cats can be neutered from 4 months of age and should be neutered as soon as possible after they reach that age.

OP, we alternate between Stronghold (from the vet) and Advocate (which we buy online).

Just keep treating the cats, use Indorex for your house, and the bastard fleas will be gone before the baby arrives.