tanderson asked 6 years ago
Hi There,
I am so happy I stumbled on this site. There is so much great information that so far I have not been able to find anywhere else. I am currently battling fleas and would like your prognosis on what to do next.
This is my situation: I sublet my apartment for 6 months while I was traveling. When I came back my apartment was covered in cat feces and what appeared to be rat feces. After a week of professional cleaning me and my 2 cats moved back in. A week later I saw that there were fleas on both of my cats. They had been with my mom whole time I was away, and neither of them nor my mom had experienced any flea activity in that time (they are indoor cats). I immediately got Advantage and treated both my cats. I also bought Siphotrol and bleached, sprayed, and vacuumed my entire apartment. Not knowing anything about fleas, I sprayed more siphotrol 3 times that week after seeing more flea activity in my apartment . A week after discovering the fleas I called a professional exterminator. He said to call him back for free if I saw anymore fleas after 2 weeks. Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks and I am still seeing a random flea here and there. I know they are still jumping on my cats as I see them occasionally playing with something in the carpets and then itching. My 600 sq foot apartment is 90% carpet. I was ready to call the exterminator back on day 15 if I saw anymore, but after reading your site I see that you say it takes about 8 weeks?
Currently I am vacuuming thoroughly daily, sleeping on my couch and putting my night clothes and bedding at least in the dryer on high hear for 30 mins (if not in the wash) daily. Is this all can do? Does it makes any sense to call the exterminator back if I see any fleas this week? Also, should I just move back into my bed? I’m going a bit flea crazy. Also, while the exterminator was here my neighbour let my cats in her suite and she saw a flea in her bed as she let my cats sleep there! I feel awful! She has no pets and has laminate floors, but I still feel like I should buy her an exterminator. Should I, or is she probably safe as she has no pets?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tiffany
Adam Retzer Staff answered 6 years ago
Tiffany,
Thanks for the compliments on the site. And I apologize for the late response.
It sounds like you’ve taken the correct steps: Monthly pet treatments, IGR spray in the environment, and regular vacuuming. Yes, it will take around 8 weeks (sometimes longer) for the infestation to be eradicated.
You shouldn’t need to launder bedding or clothes daily. Once a week should be sufficient. These items would only be affected if the cats slept on them, as then flea eggs could fall there.
You can also reduce the amount of vacuuming you are doing. You can read an article about it here: How often to vacuum for fleas
Sleeping in your bed again shouldn’t be an issue.
You shouldn’t need to call the exterminator back. They will essentially spray the same insecticides that you are already using in the Siphotrol. And the most important ingredient, the insect growth regulator (methoprene), will remain active for 7 months. However, if their return services are free, it can’t hurt to have them return. Also, maybe have them address the rat issue you suggested might be present. Rats can carry their own species of fleas, and that infestation wouldn’t go away until the rats do. However, this likely isn’t the flea species you are dealing with.
With everything you are doing, there isn’t much more you can do besides wait for all of the immature stages to mature, emerge as adults, and die. Then the infestation will be over, as it should be the last generation.
Your neighbor probably has immature fleas developing in her home if the infested cats were there, because eggs likely fell there. However, without pets, the fleas shouldn’t be able to persist. But she may see fleas here or there as they emerge for around 8 weeks. You may want to tell her to vacuum more regularly, and to launder any items the cats may have rested on.
Hope this helps!
Adam
