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AIBU?

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Original poster

To sleep in the garden tonight?

41 replies

GrampieRabbit · 13/08/2017 18:56

Was just stroking my cats yesterday and saw a few fleas. Obviously panicked, and ordered a shit load of flea stuff from amazon, comes tomorrow. They're kittens, and haven't been out yet, but one escaped when I opened the door for literally five seconds - I guess she caught them then Sad

Woke up this morning and they're fucking everywhere. Spent all day trying to keep the cats off the sofa etc and DDs been really full on and was so looking forward to going to bed away from all the little critters.

Just walked into my room (doors been closed, cats are never allowed in there) and my room is bloody infested. There was FIVE on my foot in 30 seconds. They're on my bed. It's fucking rank. I literally don't know how I'm going to sleep in there.

Obvs worried about DD but not seen any bites on her or her itching, so that's good but she's only 2 so doesn't have the psychological ick like I do.

Also feel bad for the little kittens, they must be really uncomfortable. Looking forward to getting their medicine tomorrow for them. Tried to bathe them with baby shampoo as I read that that can help - that was traumatic for all involved.

Googled and some people say it takes weeks to get rid of them! Weeks!! Wtf!! I feel sick. I'm just in the bath with DD (the only place we're safe) and I never want to get out Sad

AIBU to sleep in the garden tonight? Seriously tempted to.

OP posts:
bungleZippy12 · 13/08/2017 18:58

You need Indorex flea spray. At least I think that's what it's called. Under a tenner from amazon and will solve the problem!

IdentifiesAsASloth · 13/08/2017 18:59

I'm really shocked they managed to catch so many fleas in such a short space of time! I've had cats all my life and never had it happen that quick. Are you sure they didn't have them before yesterday?

Hoover all the carpets and tbh anything that can be hoovered and then go to town with the spray.

Veterinari · 13/08/2017 19:00

Unless your kitten spent the 5 seconds it escaped rubbing itself against another Cat it prob didn't catch them then - have the kittens been deepened/fleas since leaving their mother? They often catch fleas when tiny and fleas can also infect them with worm eggs so treat them pronto!

Original poster
GrampieRabbit · 13/08/2017 19:03

I've bought that spray, and some tablets with really good reviews. And then they'll be straight to the vet to get treated when they're clear. They haven't been yet, I have a vet app next week as well as neutering and vaccinations etc. Lost my job just after I got them so couldn't afford to do it any sooner Sad

But what do I do tonight? Tempted to run to my mums with DD until this stuff comes tomorrow Confused

I only spotted them yesterday, and spend quite a lot of time stroking them and stuff so would have thought I'd have noticed? But I guess I never really looked.

OP posts:
M5tothesouthwest · 13/08/2017 19:03

Kittens should be de-flead regularly from a few weeks old. They probably already had fleas / eggs when you got them.

M5tothesouthwest · 13/08/2017 19:05

And ask your vet about 'healthy pet club'. It's £10.99/month and includes all vaccinations / worming / flea treatments etc. as well as a microchip and discounted neutering. Many vets practices offer the scheme.

Floofborksnootandboop · 13/08/2017 19:06

But what do I do tonight?
Nothing, just get on with what you'd normally do. They aren't going to hurt you and you can deal with them in the morning when the files stuff comes. DO NOT go to your mums, chances are you've got the fleas on your clothes and you'll just be carrying them over to hers.

Crunchymum · 13/08/2017 19:10

How old are they? How long have you had them? Were they given / sold as deflead and dewormed?

CheshireChat · 13/08/2017 19:11

Some people just attract fleas and mosquitoes so it seems you smell tastier than your DD.

Sadly enough, we're fairly sure it was DP who infested our cat rather than the other way around!

Are they old enough for advantage or frontline?

AlmostAJillSandwich · 13/08/2017 19:11

If it didnt have thrm previously, then surely it got them from in tbe garden, so dont sleep out there. Ckean blanket/sheet and sleep in the bath it is!

Laiste · 13/08/2017 19:13

If the cats are allowed in all the rooms the fleas likely wont bite you and DD much - they can't reproduce living on human blood so won't bite humans if there's a proper host around - ie cat.

Secondly when your kittens are treated be sure to let them roam the house. Once treated they will be walking flea poison (when bitten) so they need access to every room to 'get' all the fleas as they hatch over the next few weeks.

It's an easy mistake to make to realise your cat has fleas, treat it, and then keep it out of the bedrooms ect. thinking you're helping to control the infestation. The opposite is true - you need those treated cats allowed everywhere!

I read that a good way to help get rid of the eggs which like nooks and crannies in carpet edges/staircases ect is to liberally sprinkle salt there. Along the back behind sofas ect. Lots of fine salt like you get cheaply in the bags in supermarkets. Leave it 24 hours at least before hoovering next. The effect of the salt is to dry out the eggs and lavae. It's not poisonous for DD too.

Original poster
GrampieRabbit · 13/08/2017 19:13

They're just over 3 months, had them since 8 weeks. As I said, I would have taken them straight away but lost my job unexpectedly. But have saved and will take them next week, will definitely ask about that scheme.

Baths a brilliant idea!

OP posts:
NotTheDuchessOfCambridge · 13/08/2017 19:17

Use the flea bombs, set them off, pop a note on your door (in case a neighbour thinks your house is on fire) and go out for the day. Hoover. Spray. Hoover. Repeat until gone. Don't forget behind sofas and under beds.

haba · 13/08/2017 19:18

Watch the Perseids meteor shower whilst you're out there!

Original poster
GrampieRabbit · 13/08/2017 19:18

Cross post Laiste!! That's why they're so keen in my room, because the cats aren't in there! Fml I'm gonna have to let them loose in there, but when they used to sleep in my room one jumped on my face with her claws out from the top of my headboard and scratched my eyeball - had to go to the eye hospital Confused

Really fun being a pet owner, isn't it?! Lucky they're cute..

OP posts:
loubar101 · 13/08/2017 19:19

5 fleas jumped on your leg within seconds of putting your foot down? that bad of infestation would take weeks to occur, so they've obviously had them a lot longer than yesterday. Sometimes it's hard to notice them, particularly if your cat is black or had thick fur. Although I regularly treat mine, I generally go over them with a flea comb every couple of weeks or so as the treatment isn't always effective.

You need to treat your house with flea powder and flea bombs. Wash all sofa covers/cat beds/blankets/your own bedding etc. Hoover everyday. Ensuring your getting in all the corners, cracks, under the bed etc. It's a lot of stress and work, but does need to be repeated every few days for a few weeks as eggs will continue hatching etc.

loubar101 · 13/08/2017 19:21

Might also be worth making a flea trap in the bedroom. Shallow dish of water and dish soap, fleas will accidentally hop into it and be unable to get out. Is also a good indicator to how bad the infestation is

Callamia · 13/08/2017 19:23

I moved into a house that had fleas - the previous owner had cats, and carpets were clearly hiding the little monsters. It felt gross, but we dealt with it by repeated treatments for the next month or so. You need to make sure you're getting them over the life cycle - so you'll need to re-apply treatment to your home.

Laiste · 13/08/2017 19:28

Yes, i second the life cycle bit. Re-treat and re-treat over the next few months. Even once you feel they're gone. An egg can lay dormant for ... can't remember ... but it's bloody ages. Months IIRC!

It's worse in summer when it's warm. However, when the heating comes on again in a few weeks it might trigger another hatching so stay on the ball OP. Good luck.

queenofthebucket · 13/08/2017 19:31

i think they may have come with fleas I'm afraid.
You can buy a spray called Acclaim and it kills the eggs in the skirting board cracks its quite toxic though.
good luck

sparklewater · 13/08/2017 19:32

Another vote for flea bombs. Strip and (hot) wash the bedding then bomb the whole house. Do the same a week later with top-up sprays anywhere the cats hang out.

I had a horrible infestion once - I bomb everything the second I see one now.

MaudesMum · 13/08/2017 19:37

Indorex flea spray rocks! Spray every room that they've ever been in (floors, rugs and also soft furnishings), and it will kill fleas that have moved off your kittens and are establishing lives elsewhere. The benefit of taking your kittens to the vet is that they will prescribe you Advantage which is currently the best way of getting rid of fleas and it is not available online. And, I'd agree, your kittens probably arrived with fleas rather than picking them up. It's horrible but is treatable. I got a bit lax about treating my cat a few years ago and Indorex and Advantage sorted it out. A warm and wet summer like this is probably not helping...

NancyJoan · 13/08/2017 19:40

The Indorex spray stuff is amazing, and the vet can prescribe tablets that will kill the live ones on the cats in an hour or two. You can actually see the fleas falling off them

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/08/2017 19:41

Indorex!!

I wouldn't give kitties tablets you bought off the internet tbh. Make sure none of flea stuff is Bob Martin's.

Original poster
GrampieRabbit · 13/08/2017 19:42

Thanks for all advice, so I feed them the tablets, spray the spray etc. Obviously hoover every day everywhere then repeat in a week?

We've got out the bath and I've smothered us in orange body cream. Currently weighing up the option of sleeping in DDs toddler bed with her. But I'm pretty chunky and 5 ft 10Blush

OP posts:
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