we had Cat Pee; now it's fleas

[di]

Much as I loved my cat & was mortified when he got run over this is all reminding me why we never got another!!
Have you bombed yet TS?~or are you still sat in stifling hot house waiting for the blighters to hatch?!
The flea larvae are totally gross~came across a load in Jaspers old secret hiding place~really made me want to be sick!

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, the bomb went off, and smoked out the bedroom for 2 hrs.
I stripped the bed and washed all the bedding. I hung it out - it rained, I brought it in - I took it back out - all afternoon.
I started vacuuming the ground floor carpets ... and the vacuum broke. It's a bagless type; when I emptied the chamber, it was caked in cat & human hair *gag, retch, barf*

Tipped contents into Dalek, washed out all washable parts of vacuum. I might give it another go this evening. Then again, we might start sleeping in the spare room (I hate plastic laminate flooring, but so do fleas!)

[rustylady]

Yuk!! I don't think they can survive without catblood!

Oh yes they can - any blood will do, preferably human ankles as I know from past experience. Moved into a newly converted & decorated bedsit/flat with my 15 year old daughter. No problems. Daughter had similar age friend with several cats (who never visited our flat). However, friend and/or daughter must have been bringing little friends home with them, and I got totally sick of going to the bathroom in the morning and getting my ankles bitten. Did sort the prob eventually - as we had no resident pet and just a few visitors, but if you have a major infestation you need to contact your local council pest control department. Commercial preparations available to the general public are just not strong enough to be effective.

[Two_Sheds]

you need to contact your local council pest control department.

Our council don't "do" insect control. You have to pay a private man.

[Two_Sheds]

Commercial preparations available to the general public are just not strong enough to be effective.

I was a bit sceptical about the strength of the poison, but had to try something
anyway, no new bites today (so far)

[Flummery]

Poor Two Sheds. It really takes the shine off a new home doesn't it? At least it sounds like you are getting to grips with the problem.

[deezyb]

TS - horrible things, fleas! My vet told me that fleas can hide dormant for up to 2 years and things like vaccuming can awaken them! I got the shock of my life when I found that out! Anyway I got NorShield 400 , which is ahousehold flea spray, it worked a treat. Spray it around the edges of the room, leave for an hour - worked for me. Not heard of bombs, what are they?

Good luck, sounds like your winning!

[Hilary B]

we've got rid of the stench of cat pee from our new house*, and now I've realised what all those little bites round my ankles are ... cat fleas.
I naively thought they would move out when the cat did, but apparently they can stay dormant, without feeding, for 4 months.
then when a new source of blood comes by, ie my feet, they get all lively again, start having baby fleas and live happily ever after

I got me some Flea Bombs (pyrethrin) and then it's Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum every single flipping day for ever.

* and we just realised the shower leaks into the computer room below ... the vendors just stuck some new tiles over the damp so we didn't spot it. Grrr.

If the smell comes back, get it checked for dry-rot. That smells JUST like cat-pee!

[Hilary B]

Apparently to hasten the removal of the fleas, I need to encourage all the eggs to hatch - by turning up the heating, or running the vacuum around (the vibration & warmth makes them think it's a snack)

I don't think I could bear to see thousands of them hatching and jumping around
I'm considering just pretending I never saw any to begin with

I wouldn't recommend the 'head in sand' technique. It doesn't stop you getting bitten......(I am guessing you don't actually intend anything of the sort)
They are horrible, but it's ticks which give me the horrors. I've been bitten by ticks 3 times, and always where it is hard to 'get at' the thing myself to remove it. Our dogs occasionally pick up ticks from the bracken where we walk them, so they get a regular dose of Frontline or Advantix in the tick season. That gets rid of fleas as well.

[di]

Oh yes they can - any blood will do, preferably human ankles as I know from past experience. Moved into a newly converted & decorated bedsit/flat with my 15 year old daughter. No problems. Daughter had similar age friend with several cats (who never visited our flat). However, friend and/or daughter must have been bringing little friends home with them, and I got totally sick of going to the bathroom in the morning and getting my ankles bitten. Did sort the prob eventually - as we had no resident pet and just a few visitors, but if you have a major infestation you need to contact your local council pest control department. Commercial preparations available to the general public are just not strong enough to be effective.

They'll feast on your blood & it may be enough to keep them going but sure they will not be able to reproduce without catblood.

[janeyo]

oooh making me feel ill now - and itchy.

good luck with getting rid - nasty horrid little creatures and dare I say it pointless?!

janeyo

[lynda66]

oooh making me feel ill now - and itchy.

good luck with getting rid - nasty horrid little creatures and dare I say it pointless?!

janeyo

but if there wasn't fleas, there wouldn't be cat worms ......... actually good point.

[maytreefrannie]

Two Sheds - we don't have a cat and now I have a very good reason to never have one.

Seriously, I hope you've got it sorted now; it's no joke and bearable only as an anecdote when it's all a long time over.

Best wishes

[terrier]

Ykk! I'm sittin' 'ere wiv' me wellies pulled up 'round me ears. 'Dem jumpy things aint gonna get me

The Cat/Dog Flea

[lynda66]

hope you're wearing a wet suit and full helmet too, cos they jump then wriggle down your ears via the wellies