Fleas!!!!

[Cherryann]

Hi, I’ve been looking after my ex’s cat at my house while he’s been in hospital & have just discovered it has fleas! Aargh! (I discovered this when I found a bite on my own leg, great.)

On investigation I found cat had not been treated for fleas since April (!) which I suspect was why they needed me to take it rather than a cattery. I am such a mug!

Anyway I’m taking cat to vet tomorrow for flea treatment but am worrying about the house, in particular how to clean sofa, cushions, carpets & mattresses all of which I now assume are harbouring fleas.

Is the best thing a steam cleaner? Or a dust mite vacuum cleaner specifically for mattresses (which I think is dry)? Or maybe a spot carpet cleaner (which I think is wet but no steam)? Or something else entirely?

And any recommended cleaning appliances?

Any advice on de-fleaing the home would be hugely appreciated- there is such a huge range & I have no idea what is best.
(I’m hoping to avoid chemical sprays like Frontline Homecare.)

You’ll need Indorex. As well as a decent spot on for the cat.

Agree, follow indorex instructions and don't waste your money on anything else.

Indorex for house, flea treatment for the cat.

I treat my dog and cat and both treatments failed last year (frontline). Moved onto different vet prescribed treatments and went through about six cans of spray. Also got rid of some soft furnishings.

vacuum regularly as the indorex wont kill the cocoons - the vibrations from the hoover will prompt the cocoons to open and then the spray will kill them off.

I also could see where the cocoons were so I’d hoover morning and teatime and then get on my knees and picked up any I could see before bed. They look like little squished balls of white fluff - quite small.

Just keep doing it repeatedly and I promise it will get better in a few weeks. Took me about six weeks until I found they’d gone.

I also boule washed soft furnishings I was keeping and the pet beds, and I did that every three days. And popped them in a hot hot hot tumble dry setting. Then resprayed.

Mine was quite drastic - picked up from a dog sitter, but were in both cat and dog.

I read that the fleas on pet account for a small % and the majority are in carpets (get in the skirting board gaps too).

A flea comb also helps but make sure you crack the little buggers between your nails before they jump away.

Thanks all that is so helpful.