Bri1449 asked 7 years ago
In early October we found out that our indoor/outdoor cat had contracted fleas, as well as the dog. After visiting the vet for both animals we got house treatment and 3 months worth of flea treatments. The next one is due the 15th of January.
The cat had more then I want to think about, and the area I’m in has a flea problem due to the amount of squirrels we have.
It’s below freezing here, both animals have been religiously treated and I sprayed the house repeatedly for about a month. So, why did a flea just jump on me? I’m fed up and I feel disgusting! What am I doing wrong? I’ve scrubbed the carpets with salt and carpet cleaned them. Sprayed the house 4 times in the span of a month. Bagged what I could, washed what I couldn’t…
Please help me
Adam Retzer Staff answered 7 years ago
Bri1449,
It sounds like your infestation is coming to an end. You are likely seeing the last fleas emerging from their cocoons. After treatment began, no more eggs should have been laid. The last eggs took 17-26 days to mature. However, once they reach adulthood, fleas can stay inside their cocoons and enter into a quiescent (dormant-like) state for up to 5 months. Most don’t, but some do. These are the fleas you are probably seeing emerge now.
The cocooned pre-emerged adults will rapidly wake up and emerge upon detecting heat and pressure. When treated pets rest on the cocoons, it will help cause the fleas to emerge. Also, vacuuming is a good way to simulate the host cues to force emergence.
It sounds like you had a severe infestation, as you mentioned about the population on the cat. And for every adult flea, there are around 100 immature stages unseen in the environment. Since your infestation was moderate to severe, and you are still seeing a few fleas emerge, it may be a good idea to continue the pet treatments for a couple more months. If these last fleas find an untreated pet, it could start the infestation over again.
As a side note, squirrels don’t carry flea species that infest dogs and cats. Rodent fleas are specific to rodents. However, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and feral cats and dogs are common wild hosts that spread cat fleas (C. felis) around neighborhoods.
In summary, it sounds like things are going well, despite still seeing a couple fleas here and there. Continue the vacuuming and monthly pet treatments. None of the fleas should be able to survive longer than 6 months from when treatment began (1 month to mature from eggs, 5 months as quiescent cocooned adults).
Warm regards,
Adam
Meee
replied 7 years ago We have a similar issue. We have 3 months treatment under the belt. 2 days before the 4th dose, I’ve found 4 fleas on our cat. I hadn’t seen any for about 6 weeks. When I first spotted them on him there were a terrible amount. Probably found about 100 dead ones in 4 days. He’s an indoor cat but we somehow got them anyway.
Are we likely coming to the end of it? Are these just cocoons that have been woken up buy our cat getting into a nook or cranny in the house that he hasn’t been in a while?
I feel like I’m losing it as I have Lyme disease and have issues with bugs. For obvious reasons as a tick ruined my life. I love my cat more than anything and want him to be comfortable and healthy too. But I feel disheartened that I saw none for 6 weeks and now 4 again out of nowhere. I am applying Advantage II correctly and on time. And vacuuming. Washed everything numerous times and threw loads of fabric and a couch out.
Is it safe to continue the Advantage II for 6 months to be sure?
This is my own personal hell right now and it feels like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
I would appreciate any advice or comments please.
Thank you.
Adam RetzerI am sorry to hear about your flea troubles (and Lyme disease issue). It sounds like you had a fairly severe flea infestation if you found 100 dead fleas in 4 days. It can take severe infestations longer to resolve. However, no stage should be able to survive longer than 6 months once treatment begins.
It sounds like your infestation should be over soon, as you’ve taken all the correct procedures. I can’t be certain, but I’d guess the fleas you are seeing are the last cocooned adults that are now emerging. However, they shouldn’t be able to lay eggs if your cat is properly treated, so there shouldn’t be a new generation of fleas. As a result, you should be dealing with the remnants of the final generation.
It is safe to continue the Advantage II treatments for 6 months. In fact, some pet owners keeps their animals on flea drops for the entire flea season, or year-round as a prevention method. You can actually buy packages of 6 doses at a time (and check out generic Advantage II for Cats to save some money).
