jordanb151515 asked 7 years ago
Hello the place I’m living in now is infested with fleas or it becoming a bigger problem. We have many host at this current place but the cat that I own once got out and I believe she got fleas from that encounter. the person who I live with also has a dog who goes in and out which doesn’t help either. So far the house is infested carpet wise and the pets with me currently getting bitten as well. I’m moving into a place 9/10 and was wondering what steps I needed to take to not bring them with me. I made a vet appointment for 8/31 to get the best flea stuff since I’ve tried hanz and didn’t get the best result topical powders, once a month ointment, and collers nothing helped with my cat. Extwination is not an option right now and I really would like to bring my cat with me to move in. I just need some help/advice as it been really affecting me stress wise I don’t want them to travel with me. If I keep my cat away at a cat hotel after I move in for a week will that guarantee no fleas when I move in if she okay after the vet or will the current animals with her still create her a feeding ground for fleas.
Adam Retzer Staff answered 7 years ago
jordanb151515,
If your cat is properly treated with medication from the vet, then you shouldn’t have much to worry about as far as taking fleas with you when you move. However, you may want to be extra-vigilant about washing any items that the cat may have rested on (rugs, pet beds, cat trees, etc), as these items are where flea eggs likely fell and are developing.
The cat hotel probably isn’t necessary if your cat is properly treated.
It may be a good idea to spray an insect growth regulator (IGR) in your new place before you allow the cat in. IGRs mimic natural insect hormones that regulate development. If any flea eggs happen to fall in your new home, they won’t be able to develop. And IGR lasts for 7 months indoors, which is nice for prevention. Look for pyriproxyfen (Nylar) or methoprene (Precor). A good size for indoors is Martin’s IGR.
It’s unlikely that fleas will be on your cardboard boxes, unless an infested cat slept on them and dropped eggs there. The same goes for clothing. Fleas can’t get through sealed plastic containers. Fleas and their eggs shouldn’t stain your carpets or clothing. Perhaps if they were full of blood and smashed then the blood would stain.
Warm regards,
Adam
Also do they travel on cardboard boxes, get through plastic containers with sealed covers, can they live on your clothes, and finally can flea eggs or fleas stain your clothes/carpet