rchrist1194 asked 7 years ago
Hello,
I have done lots of searches about fleas and treatments for a kitten, I am pretty sure it’s been answered in several posts but my brain hurts from it all!
Long story so I apologize now! ? So, about 2 weeks ago my kitten was at the vet, I asked about him scratching a bit more than normal 2 days prior and she located some flea dirt. With that discovery she said bathe him then after he completely dries apply revolution as well as vacuum a bunch. She didn’t think it was a lot to call a bad infestation being I’ve not seen any actual fleas and not a lot of flea dirt. So I did as she said. Barely any flea dirt from his bath, didn’t notice any fleas fall off him either, mostly had him on white counter and white paper towels. I’ve since that day and treatment of him been vacuuming (disposing of canister junk outside and in trash after each time) and combing him constantly. I primarily have hardwood, linoleum, and tile in a very old house but a couple area rugs and a couple soft furniture pieces. All of which I vacuumed daily to every other. I had an Ecosmart home pest spray and doused everything then a few days later tried Wondercide and doused everything because it was specific to fleas. I’ve washed the primary bedding he sleeps on and the rest is wood and plastic. There is a fish, guinea pig, and hamster here as well so pet safe is my goal because I don’t have anywhere they could all retreat for a couple hours. Checked my guinea pig and he seems clean and is housed in a different room that the kitten only had access to occasionally. He has never had access to the hamster which is also in a different room. Continuing on, I read about that steam cleaning could help if temperature was hot enough, so I tried that the other day as my cleaner reaches 170 the manual says. Waited to vacuum the following evening and sprayed the whole house as well with more Ecosmart (this time it was a flea kind) and the Wondercide in the primary room the kitten is in. Also, sprayed hallway outside my apartment and outside some with Wondercide as I don’t have a big yard. I have total I think located now maybe 20 dead and/or alive, no flea dirt, never seen any eggs and I continue to vacuum and comb him as much and frequently as possible. Since the other night I’ve kept my kitten in the one room, which he doesn’t totally seem to mind. I might add neither my roommate or I seem to see any actual fleas throughout the apartment and none seem to jump from the couple carpets we do have that the kitten has had some access to in the past almost 2 months I’ve had him.
Now my questions, I’ve read that this whole life cycle can take 8 weeks or so, is this true for all types of infestations? Does finding new fleas mostly on the kitten even after his treatment, steaming, vacuuming, and spraying just mean I’ve been waking the cocoons? Will all my cleaning keep any new fleas found from reproducing or living long with the kitten being on treatment (which I’ll be continuing him on regardless of him being indoors)? In other words, have I interrupted their life cycle and just need to wait the time out of about 8 weeks? Lastly, is there other pet friendly spray products you might recommend if I need to spray again. I’m thinking the fleas are in the room the kitten is usually in since I got him, so it’ll have to be options I can apply and do with him around and possibly unsupervised. really think that’s all I have for questions! Any advice and information will be greatly appreciated! Sorry again for the long story and billion questions!
Adam Retzer Staff answered 7 years ago
Hello rchrist1194,
It definitely sounds like a mild infestation. Still, it’ll take around 8 weeks for all the fleas to be eradicated. There may be not many fleas, but they still have to complete their life cycle, emerge, and die before the infestation ends. If even a few survive and are able to find an untreated host, they could cause re-infestation.
Finding new fleas on your kitten means the immature stages in the environment are maturing and emerging. The quiescent cocoon stage probably isn’t noticeable yet as it’s only been two weeks. But after around 3-4 weeks of proper treatment, all the stages should be mature. So, beyond this point, the fleas that emerge will likely be pre-emerged adults that are waking up.
Your cat being treated with Revolution should keep the infestation controlled. Any new fleas the kitten acquires should die before they have a chance to lay eggs. The sanitation procedures you’ve taken will help eradicate the immature stages faster. Still, it will probably take around 8 weeks before you are completely in the clear. The vacuuming is helpful to force the cocooned adults to emerge, because otherwise some may stay in dormant-like state for up to 5 months.
If you’re trying to stay away from chemicals, then I don’t have any suggestions for sprays. You probably don’t need to spray anyway. The vacuuming should be sufficient at this point for environmental control, along with the Revolution pet treatments. If the infestation was more severe I’d suggest applying an insect growth regulator, such as Martin’s IGR.
Hope this helps!
Adam
