I think I have fleas

[AnItchyCircus]

Long story short, I have had insect bites a few times over the last few weeks. I thought it was strange but didn't think further of it.

The other day I noticed what was most definitely a flea on my hand! And this morning another on my leg.

What is strange is that I've had house pets (dogs and cats mainly) all my life and never had any issues with fleas ever, they were always treated monthly with the best prescription product - just to set the scene I've always been diligent.

Now my last cat died 4 months ago, no visiting pets. So why now? And what can I do as there are no animals to treat?

If fleas get off the animals they will lay eggs in the carpets or even floorboards, once they hatch they're looking for a meal- unfortunately Op since you have no animals anymore they will make a beeline to you! You can get sprays for the carpets to kill the fleas and daily vaccuming will help too.

I'm sorry your cat died Op

Get some strong flea spray. I think there's one called Virbac. The eggs are in your furnishings, they mature into fleas after a combination of vacuuming (vibration)and (warmth) if you've put heating on?
They like vibration, and this means to them that a host could be passing by.
So they'll jump and sometimes on to you.

The spray will help break the cycle.

Hth

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/virbac-indorex-defence-flea-spray-500ml

You may need to treat a few times because of the flea life cycle. Good luck!

Yes I think you are right, it has started since putting the heating on.

Are there any options that don't include spraying smelly chemicals everywhere? I don't want to risk sketchy home remedies but equally would rather my home doesn't smell like the nit nurse

When I had cats I used Acclaim and Indorex household flea spray aswell as stronghold spot on, fleas are notoriously hardy little insects, they spend the first half of their development as larvae in carpets etc and only find a host when adults, its important to understand the life cycle and treat all the house, as there are no longer cats any emerging adults will find a new source of food (you) treat you whole house epecially carpets.

Food grade diatemetous earth is also an option.

Informed. After a couple of hours it doesn't smell at all.

This happened to us about 4 months after the cat died too. It's weird isn't it! Indorex solved it for us.

We had fleas in our old house. Turns out they were living in our very small suburban garden and had migrated into the house.

It was horrible, the kids were constantly getting bitten badly. Indorex solved it for us as well but it was quite the endeavor to get rid of them all.

Not what you asked, but if you want to see if you have fleas, put a tub of water with a light shining on it on the floor when it’s dark. Leave it in the room for a few hours. Fleas will be attracted to the light, and you’ll see them in the water.

sadly able to verify this worked.

Yeah, Indorex is your friend here. We had a persistent issue on and off for about two years . My DD was particularly susceptible and was covered in bites. We eventually got it under control but it was an absolute pain. Also figured out the v expensive vet prescription flea stuff just wasn't working in our cat and switched to a difference brand when a new young vet at the practice advised it, though I appreciate that's not an issue for you.

OP i had similar - had a cat but she was always treated regularly and had never had fleas. Upstairs neighbour had an indoor cat but the two cats never met. That neighbour and cat moved out, new neighbours moved in with no pets and welcomed my (overly friendly and nosy) cat into their flat and suddenly we all had a flea problem. It turned out the old cat's upstairs bedroom must have had flea eggs sitting around dormant in the carpet and they were just waiting for a warm new host to bring them to life - 2 months later. We both Indorexed and vaccumed thoroughly and it worked first time.

We had a flea problem over the summer. We used Indorex spray. I didn’t like it much but the smell isn’t that strong. We also bought several flea traps (the sort with a light and fly paper) to catch the mature fleas. And we hoovered A LOT!! Round the edges of the rooms, to try to pick up the larvae.

it didn’t take long to get rid of them.

Thanks all - looks like it is an indorex and vacuum job then

Our car got fleas for the first time recently (apparently Advocate no longer works 🙄) and I got on top of it with daily hoovering and washing all the soft furnishings.

I had a bad experience using indorex so I avoid using it if at all possible.

Frontline & droncil etc that you can just buy don't work.

Only thing that works on our cats is bravecto. Indorex spray is a must

Try taking vitamin B if you're getting bitten fleas don't like it!

Indorex and sorry about your 🐈

Cut up a flea collar and put some in your hoover to kill any survivors in the hoover.

Indorex. First of all, vacuum EVERY room and use the delightfully-named crevice tool to clean along the edges of skirting. Don't neglect rooms with hard floors, or stairs. When you've vacuumed, spray and close the door - the smell wears off fairly quickly, by the time you've finished the last room it'll have gone. When you've finished vacuuming, change the bag or empty and wash out if you've got a bagless one. I'd also wash any blankets, cushions or soft furnishings that your cat might have used, and vacuum chairs and sofas too.

Do the trick with an electric tea light and a dish of water described above, to see how many fleas you catch.

Repeat the spraying and vacuuming, including emptying the bag, at least every 48 hours, until you have a couple of days with no fleas being caught. It's a pain but you will have an incredibly clean house by the end of it. I think it took me a week of almost daily spraying and vacuuming to get rid of them. Bloody cats.

Indorex and don't vacuum for a couple days