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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not see a friend whose cat has fleas?

24 replies

salviapages · 21/08/2021 21:40

Supposed to be going out with a group of friends tomorrow, driving to the country, long walk and pub lunch.

One friend has just arrived home from a week away in the UK to find fleas all over her flat (and cat!). Housemate left it all week as he is lazy and just spread some flea treatment around his own bedroom and the living room yesterday, he ran out so stopped there. Her room is covered in fleas.

Everyone coming out tomorrow has pets - 2 have dogs 1 has a new kitten. AIBU to say this friend shouldn't come as she could pass the fleas on to all of us? We'll be sharing cars so in close quarters

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 21/08/2021 21:43

Fleas don’t live on humans, the likelihood of her bringing fleas on a long journey are vanishingly tiny.

XenoBitch · 21/08/2021 21:45

If you don't want to see this friend then just come out with it and tell them. Don't use fleas as an excuse.

Original poster
salviapages · 21/08/2021 21:48

@XenoBitch

If you don't want to see this friend then just come out with it and tell them. Don't use fleas as an excuse.
I do really want to see her, I'm googling around trying to find evidence that it's fine because I want her to come. I don't know why you'd assume I don't want to see my friend
OP posts:
DrManhattan · 21/08/2021 21:48

Urghhh cat fleas. So gross. Don't blame you at all

ComtesseDeSpair · 21/08/2021 21:50

Think how common fleas are, and how many people you’ve sat next to on the bus, train, in a cafe, standing in a queue at close quarters. Have you ever caught fleas? They bite human but don’t live on us.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 21/08/2021 21:51

Are your animals treated?
She might possibly carry one or two fleas on her clothes but it's not very likely. Even if she does, they won't breed if your animals are treated. It would just be an annoyance.

nzeire · 21/08/2021 21:53

No, you’ll be fine. She may carry one into the car, but you’d know soon enough and squash it when it’s on your ankle :)
Gross, but if she bombs the house tonight, treats the cat, no need to disown her

TwoLeftElbows · 21/08/2021 21:53

Cat fleas won't hang about on people when there's a cat about.

Kitten should be treated for fleas anyway

SukiPook · 21/08/2021 21:54

Cat fleas are so annoying, I have 2 cats. It should be ok as you aren't going into her flat. She probably won't carry any fleas out with her. Yes they jump up and bite humans but don't tend to stay on them. I can totally understand your concern, but I think meeting her outside of where she lives should be ok.

Original poster
salviapages · 21/08/2021 21:54

The dogs regularly take some kind of anti flea pill, but the kitten is new and hasn't had anything yet

OP posts:
TrainspottingWelsh · 21/08/2021 21:54

Yabu. Just tell them you don't want them to come. It's rude but still better than a feeble excuse.

Janaih · 21/08/2021 22:01

Just put a collar on her when she turns up.

FelicityBeedle · 21/08/2021 22:23

Dog and cat fleas are different species anyway. The chances of her carrying anything are so tiny, and the chance of that flea or two transferring to you, surviving and finding your pet is even smaller

Greystray · 21/08/2021 22:30

Wear a flea collar on both your ankles, you'll be fine...

thecatneuterer · 21/08/2021 22:34

She won't bring them with her. At least it's extremely unlikely. It's then even more unlikely that one will transfer to you. And even in this extremely unlikely scenario the said flea would then find your pet, and die, as of course your pets are flea treated.

So you are being a bit ridiculous. However she needs to get the kitten to a vet immediately. Our clinic has recently seen some deaths due to fleas, even of adult cats and certainly of a lot of kittens, as well as others that have only survived because of blood transfusions. If the fleas on the kitten are that bad it is life threatening.

TrainspottingWelsh · 21/08/2021 22:36

Ignore the unhelpful comments about flea collars op.

Everyone knows they don't really work. Grab her in a headlock and get some spot on between her shoulder blades.

TwoLeftElbows · 21/08/2021 22:46

@salviapages

The dogs regularly take some kind of anti flea pill, but the kitten is new and hasn't had anything yet
A reputable breeder or rescue centre will do vax, worming and flea treatment before they even let you take them home. If kitten is old enough to leave mum it should have been treated already.
Babdoc · 21/08/2021 22:56

TrainspottingWelsh Grin

DeflatedGinDrinker · 21/08/2021 23:00

My sister was house sitting our brothers home recently and realised his cat had fleas, she managed to take some home with her and later realised her house cat had fleas. Could have only got them from there they must have been on her bedding or clothing she brought back.

musicalfrog · 21/08/2021 23:02

Fuck me, I've heard it all now!

thecatneuterer · 21/08/2021 23:17

@DeflatedGinDrinker

My sister was house sitting our brothers home recently and realised his cat had fleas, she managed to take some home with her and later realised her house cat had fleas. Could have only got them from there they must have been on her bedding or clothing she brought back.
Utter nonsense. Most indoor only cats end up with fleas if not treated. Don't ask me how, but they do. They can come from absolutely anywhere.
newterritory · 21/08/2021 23:27

I can't believe I just read that - I think it's hilarious Smile

HeckyPeck · 22/08/2021 00:06

@thecatneuterer

She won't bring them with her. At least it's extremely unlikely. It's then even more unlikely that one will transfer to you. And even in this extremely unlikely scenario the said flea would then find your pet, and die, as of course your pets are flea treated.

So you are being a bit ridiculous. However she needs to get the kitten to a vet immediately. Our clinic has recently seen some deaths due to fleas, even of adult cats and certainly of a lot of kittens, as well as others that have only survived because of blood transfusions. If the fleas on the kitten are that bad it is life threatening.

All of this
NashvilleQueen · 22/08/2021 07:43

I think you could be catastrophising

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