To tell friends that they have fleas?

[drfostersbra]

They're neighbours and good friends of DH and I but their cats have fleas and every time I go round there, I bring fleas back to our house and am itching all day/night.

Last month we paid £200 getting rid of fleas professionally because one of their cats had come into our house. ( I assume)

They're always buying flea bombs and off the shelf flea things but because their fleas are on their cats and not them they don't realise how chronic it is whereas at our house they bite us because there are no cats to go on.

I have managed to use my baby DD as an excuse to not go round and not invite them round but a) I miss her and b) it's turning into a 'thing'

I just can't bring myself to tell them. Surely it's their business if they want to live in a flea infested home and would seem really rude of me to tell them.

I dread any invite and they're really kind and often invite us for dinner and give us things but I always see the cats on the dining room table itching and on their kitchen side boards and it makes me feel sick.

She must be wondering why I haven't been going round much but I can't bring myself to say.

Should I get DH to do it?

If you're worried about upsetting them then I suggest you get some Frontline/Advocate in and do their cat if it turns up at your door.

Having cats won’t stop you getting bitten in a flea infestation. If it’s as bad as you say they already know.

Queen I really wouldn't do that! Imagine if they'd just done them already, you could overdose and kill a susceptible cat!

Having cats won’t stop you getting bitten in a flea infestation. If it’s as bad as you say they already know

Not necessarily...it depends on if the fleas like them.

We have a cat and anytime he's had fleas it's Ds2 that 'tells' us...because within a day he'll be covered in bites. The rest of us go completely unscathed, the fleas only go for Ds2.

Queen you can't medicate someone elses pet without their knowledge or consent! It could have allergies or already be medicated

op I think you need to tell them honestly as they may not realise how bad it is. Some people never get bitten for some reason so maybe don't notice as much.

Just tell them they need to treat all their cats regularly and the issue would be resolved.
Surely they must know they have a problem if buying flea bombs etc. Where the hell do they think the fleas are coming from?

Yanbu, tell them. All cat and dog owners should know to treat their pets for fleas and worms, all year round.

Most decent flea products actually help clear infestations because as the cat wanders through the house fleas jump on it bite it and then die.

I'd buy some Advantage or Advocate and drop it round their house. Say you got free samples or something. Frontline stops working after a while so they could be using that and not realising they need to change.

So they know their cats have fleas if they're using flea bombs? Shouldn't be too hard to turn a conversation to flea treatments - maybe even tell them you've had a couple of mysterious infestations and you've had to use indorex - which is fab stuff for the house and works for up to twelve months - to get rid. Oh and by the way did they know lots of cat flea treatments are becoming ineffective? They need to have a chat with their vet...

It might be that they've not quite clocked that whatever it is they're using isn't particularly useful!

The only over counter flea treatment I've had any luck with is the bob Martin pills. They only work for 48 hours or something like that but any fleas on the cat are dead pretty much immediately after biting them, it's pretty good if it's used in conjunction with fumigating and before a proper long term prevention treatment.

Good to keep on hand for a Sunday nights when you first spot a hitchhiker and can't get to the shops.

I have a friend like that. All her cats are constantly scratching. But she doesn't seem to care.
I haven't been back to her house after her one cat jumped up on the table while her dc were eating and proceeded to groom his balls. She let him

Sorry pressed to soon. Meant to add I would defiantly say something. If they already buy flea bombs they'll be aware of the problem so just gradually steer the conversation round and drop in some flea treatments you've heard of that are supposed to me great

I think you have to tell them. I housesat for a friend and found a few fleas on her (spare) bed, so steamed it with my steamer/used organic flea spray but then panicked and told her in case she somehow knew what I'd done and thought I was unhinged.

They'd much rather know, I bet, than be unwittingly making you suffer.

Dont treat them yourself. Some cats dont tolerate some flea products. And they also need treating for tapeworm.

Maybe look at it this way - if you tell them, the worst case scenario is that the friendship won't survive. But that seems unlikely if they are nice people and clearly already know fleas are a problem in their house. But if you don't say anything and keep avoiding them, the friendship is going to fizzle out anyway one way or another.