How do I get rid of a flea problem?

Question

My friend brought a cat home the other day and we immediately noticed that it had fleas. We bought shampoo and washed the cat twice and left it in the bathroom overnight. The next day, we let the cat into our room (I should mention that we have no carpets in the room or bathroom), only after putting another flea treatment on the back of her neck, but I put the cat back in the bathroom because there were still fleas on her. Later that night we decided we could no longer deal with the problem, so we got rid of the cat.

We bleached our room and washed all our clothes, but I found a flea on my foot this morning. Is it possible that the fleas got on my bed? I can't stand the thought that there are fleas in my room because I know that they can carry serious diseases with them, but I'm not sure if finding this one flea was just a chance occurance or if I should expect more. Any advice would help.

I'd like to thank everyone for their answers. Unfortunately, I was not the one who chose to get the cat, it was a surprise to me, and another note, we are not allowed to keep animals in the building where I am staying with my friend. I bought some spray and hope that this will help, but so far I have not seen any more fleas. We decided to give the cat to the Humane Society where they have the ability to give this cat the treatment it needs and will adopt it to a caring family.

Answer 1

First of all, “best” is not “cheapest” You want to do a thorough job, and in the end it will be less expensive because the fleas will not return.

Fleas spend very little time on the animal. They feed, hop off, and lay eggs. The eggs hatch in about 3 weeks, jump back on and start the whole process again. The eggs can also lay dormant for up to a year. That includes bedding (put *everything* in the washing machine, let soak for a while, then run thru the cycle. Then run through the dryer.

You've already given the cat a couple baths, so if the cat was not clear of fleas, you probably did not let the shampoo sit long enough (at least five minutes - yeah, this is a pain with a cat). A flea shampoo is helpful (I prefer Adams).

The vet can give you Capstar, which will begin killing fleas within half an hour. There are some very good flea prevention products on the market. My favorite is Frontline Plus. This kills fleas and prevents more from hatching. You apply it once a month, and it's far more effective than a flea collar.

In addition, you really need to treat your home with a flea “bomb”. Sounds like they sure got in there quickly enough!
My favorite brand is Zodiac with Precor. Kills the fleas and contains a growth inhibitor to prevent more from hatching. Lasts for 7 months. Then apply a premise spray under any large furniture, such as your couch or bed.

If this is an outdoor cat (hopefully not), you may want to treat around your house as well.

Here are a few sites where you can buy these products:

www.jefferspet.com Jeffers Vet Supplies (Dr. Jeffers & vet techs answer questions, too)
www.petedge.com/ PetEdge
www.drsfostersmith.com Drs. Foster & Smith

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Bleaching the room and washing your clothes is a good start. Since you don't have any carpets, that's one place the fleas CAN'T hide. Try sprinkling some kind of flea-killing powder on your furniture and mattress and letting that work while you wash the bedding too- and ignore this part if you've already done this.

You'll have to vacuum your house every day for about 2 weeks in case any fleas got missed. But you shouldn't have many, since you acted so quickly.

Answer 3

You really need to get some Frontline flea preventer for the cat from the Vet. Not the cheap stuff you get in the store.Go to the vet they also have shots for fleas on the cat .
Fleas can be allover the house and will take time to get rid of .At the store get you some fleapowder for the carpt areas( in the pet isle or the general cleaning supply area)sprinkle allover carpet and let sit for at leasr 15- 30 minutes and then vacuum thourougly off.

Answer 4

I dont know if this will be helpfull or not but I have always heard that you can put regular table salt on your carpets for a few days and then vacumn and reapply for about 10 days. I personally have tried it and it did seem to help! Also, try skin so soft on yourself to avoid them jumping on your legs. I am not trying to be mean... but you got this cat and then gave it away in the same day? Maybe this is a lesson learned? Hope you gave the cat to someone that could/would help the poor thing with its flea infestation.

Answer 5

Check on discover this question gets asked several times a day.Vacuuming daily in addition to other treatments works.A warm light in an outlet over a tray of soapy water will drown any stragglers (the warmth attracts the fleas who jump into the tray)We had a stray dog have puppies under our house and i didn't have the heart to do anything so i put food out for her. to repay me the flea covered mutt infected the area under in and around my house with an army of fleas like i have never seen.

Answer 6

Cats can come with fleas, it is part of deal sometimes. I used Frontline and the fleas were gone. The over the counter did nothing for the fleas. By getting rid of the cat, the fleas lost their favorite source of food and are now they are going after you. Vacuum your bed and put flea collers in your bag so the fleas are lot living in your vacuum. I used flea powder on my bed and that might help. You might need to get professionals to get rid of them.

Answer 7

What I Do Is Spay Feebrez Where My Cat Goes. And I Have It In My Laundry Soap To. I Spray It All Over My Bed. Sheets Mattress Pad. Pillows. In Every Room Once A Day. And It Does The Trick.

Answer 8

I guess you deserve the fleas because of carma, If you really wanted the cat then you should have gotten frontline. I have delt with fleas alot this year because of the weather that we seem to be having. I use flea bombs in the house and frontline plus a cheep flea color and powder by sargents to control the fleas. I feel sory for the cat. Fleas are terrible.And even after shampooing and front line it takes a day or so to kill the fleas.

Answer 9

the cat is gone, they are going to attack you now. You probably need an exterminator. All flea products are not the same. Advantage and Frontline are the best.I think the others only repel the fleas.If you buy your own insectaside, you have to spray everthing in your house, and 3 feet up your walls..good luck.

Answer 10

use a product called REVOLUTION on him once a month, it applies on the back on the neck and stays at skin level so even if he gets wet it will still make effect (prescribed by a vet only), it's THE BEST and not only it protects him against fleas but also against a bunch of other things.

i use it on my cat and it's the best one by far!