Looking after cats with fleas? Advice please.

[redcherrie]

My cousin said she needed someone to home her cats while she goes away for ten days skiing. I said I would, as my children would love the experience and thought it would help her out also.

On Monday she announced they had ear mites and said she’d pop to the vets for drops.

Today I went over to meet the cats, and she casually said one has fleas but both have had tablets. Nothing about her home being de flea’d etc.

I haven’t had animals before with fleas so not sure what this meant. I thought as they’d had treatment they’d no longer have fleas. But my husband is now saying we are absolutely not having them in our home especially as they haven’t de flea’d their house; potentially re infesting the cats.

I really don’t want to stitch my cousin up as she leaves Friday at 4:30pm, but equally I do not want two cats in our home who potentially still have fleas.

What to do? AIBU to say we don’t want them now? Or will they be de flea’d and it’ll be fine?

You can buy a spray to treat the house (available to buy at any vets over the counter.) They're not cheap but highly effective. You hoover each room, then spray round all the edges of the room, then open a window and leave the room for the specified time. The spray leaves an invisible film which kills the fleas which naturally migrate to the edges of the room. It's effective for about 6 months. Whatever treatment she's purchased for the cat won't be effective on it's own, she needs to treat the house as well; and so will you if the cat comes to stay! My dogs have picked up cat fleas over the years but I've never been bitten.

@AcquadiP Try reading the OP's replies before commenting! 🙄

Try being a nicer person instead of making snarky remarks.

This is really useful advice! Thank you