I recently got rid of our 2 cats who were flea-ridden, about 5 weeks ago but we are still having problems with fleas left in the house. I am also 6 months pregnant, so chemicals are out of the question. How can fleas survive without a food source for over a month? I would like this problem resolved before our baby comes. Any advice?
2006-12-14 07:39:12 · 26 answers · asked by rep 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
We have vacuumed the whole house twice now, but we have a hepa filter vacuum that is bagless and you just dump it out. Could the fleas be living in the filter and inside the vacuum?
Also, we have NOT noticed any flea bites on ourselves. What are they surviving on?
2006-12-14 08:27:50 · update #1
They can hibernate until an appropriate food source is available. the best thing to do is to wash any and all bedding the cats slept on in as hot of water as possible. While those are washing, vacuum all rooms in the house where the cats were at, paying special attention to areas under furniture. After you have finished vacuuming the whole house, remove the bag and dispose of it immediately. You may have to do this more than once. Fleas have a life span of 90 days and you will continue to see some activity as they hatch if they find food. This is the best course of action without using chemicals. Best of luck...
2006-12-14 08:10:09 · answer #1 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. The motion tricks them into thinking a food source is nearby, so they come out and you just suck 'em up. Fleas can survive for months, up to a year without food. You may have to get professional help or use chemicals, and although it might require you to leave the house for a few days, it will be the quickest solution. Good luck with the fleas AND the new baby :)
2006-12-14 15:49:21 · answer #2 · answered by az270890 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortuantely, flea eggs are very resilient; short of chemicals, the best thing that you can do is vacuum repeatedly, and be SURE to toss the vacuum bag in the trash after you vacuum. Wash anything washable in hot water.
At the moment, it would be (relatively) easy for you to leave the house for a day or two and have the place flea-bombed; after the baby comes, it won't be so easy. If I were in your situation, I'd go to a hotel for a day or two, let the spray do its job, and come back to a flea-free home.
2006-12-14 15:49:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Borax. Sprinkle it on your carpet and leave it there for a day or two and then vacuum it up. It dries out the fluids in the flea and they die. I had a flea problem a couple of years ago and tried this, I scuffed the borax into the carpet with my feet and left it there for a few days. Then, vacuumed it up, and no fleas left! Fleas can live in the vacuum and they can live quite a while without food.
2006-12-14 16:40:02 · answer #4 · answered by gretchen g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Raid flea bombs work really well. good luck....scratch , scratch...lol....they really are good. when you use the bombs you have to stay out of the house for several hours. since you're pregnant I would suggest setting them off and spending the night with friends or family. After the time is up and it's safe to go back in, have someone go and open up all of the windows and doors before you return home. Since the poison will be on the floors you need to wear slippers or shoes for awhile. If you have baby stuff I would take that out of the house before setting the bombs off. You should be fine if you do it like this. There isn't any other way to get rid of the little pests , so ya really don't have much of a choice. And you certainly don't wanna bring a baby home if your home is infested with fleas.....they will eat that baby alive. So ....Good luck ..and congrats on the new wee one... GBU I hope I have helped. anndee
2006-12-14 16:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by anndee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a place to go leave and put a bug bomb in your house. HAve you hubby clean up after it kills everything. My friend had this problem and the bug bomb worked good. After it kills everything there are dead fleas everywhere that will need vaccuming. Also you will need to open windows and air the house out, before moving back in.
Also you could try ADAMS flea killer. They make a powder to sprinkle on the carpets and vaccume up. This also kills fleas, but might not work as well as a bug bomb.
The bug bomb you could get at like lowes or home depot. The Adams you can get at petsmart or walmart.
2006-12-14 15:59:42 · answer #6 · answered by chetzel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll have to treat the cats, the house and if applicable, your yard all at the same time. Wash the cats in an insecticidal shampoo. Fog the house with foggers that contain an agent that sterilizes the eggs. Vacuum frequently and discard the vacuum bags immediately. Treat your yard with an insecticide. I also had a lot of luck dusting my cats with diatomacious earth. It is absolutely important that you treat every area the cats come into contact with at the same time or they WILL come back.
2006-12-14 15:46:46 · answer #7 · answered by rawk_chawk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can use tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and/or leaves and branches. you can use RID carpet and floor flea powder...just make sure you're out of the house for the day. have someone else sprinkle it around, vacuum it up, and change the vacuum cleaner bag. if you have hard wood floors and fleas have bred in them, you'll prob need to go the route of the RID flea powder on the floor. best of luck with this.
2006-12-14 15:47:06 · answer #8 · answered by pirate00girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bug bomb the place and stay away for at least 8 hours. I had to do that after one of my ex's friends brought his stupid flea ridden hound into my house. That's the only way.
2006-12-14 15:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a fleas bomber. After you set it, you have to leave your place for about 6 to 8 hours. Vaccuming afterwards helps too.
Krazy Libra
2006-12-14 15:41:21 · answer #10 · answered by krazy_libra_from_ac 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋