To flea, or not to flea?

We have two adult kitties, neither have ever been outside (ages 5 & 15). On their last vet visit, vet said it "looked like" there could be evidence of something he called "flea dirt" (I can just guess what that is) but he wasn't certain, and for us to just keep an eye on them. Well, they've been scratching quite a bit and we gave them each a tube of Revolution, and that didn't seem to have any effect: still scratching. So I'm getting flea collars today (wow have you priced those lately? $45/each for "good" ones). But all that aside, the question is, if somehow fleas or some other flea-like creatures have made it into our home, and now the furnace has kicked on since it's getting colder outside, is there ANY way these critters will just die off? Our two babies DO NOT LIKE LEAVING THE HOUSE, AND HATE THE CAT-CARRIERS and it is a major day-long terror-filled event just to get them to the vet twice a year! So I think "flea-bombing" the house is out of the question, at least unless it's a last-ditch effort, since we all have to leave the house WITH the kitties. I did buy a canister of flea powder and it has so many precautions on it, it scares me to death, and even with that, you can only clean a 3 X 3 area at a time, and I've got a big house with a lot of carpet! Oh, and by the way, we've been noticing a few bites on our legs, just below the knees (I know; sounds bad, doesn't it!) Eeeek! Please help if you have any words of wisdom!

  11 answers
  • Joni Waters Joni Waters on Nov 01, 2017

    I use bravecto for my dogs and they have it for cats too. Its orally ingested and lasts for 3 months (its about $45 also). Your vet can prescribe it and you not have to take them in. It kills the fleas and they won't continue to breed. You will see them disappear in your home. I haven't found any of the external liquids that work for my dogs as they obviously go outside a lot.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Nov 01, 2017

    you will have to use a control inside to get rid of flea eggs.http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-Fleas-Naturally-with-Common-Household-Item/

  • Dfm Dfm on Nov 01, 2017

    Steam clean your carpets.....kill any remaining flea eggs.


  • Dianacirce70 Dianacirce70 on Nov 01, 2017

    The terrible thing about fleas is they can come inside in any manner. I learned this the hard way just recently when my newest family member went to the vet to get fixed. My cats don't go outside, yet they found a single flea on him, and evidence of that "flea dirt" around his ears. I was surprised, to say the least, but the vet tech told me that they come in on clothing, not just pets, and if anyone that has been in my house has a pet with fleas, it could have come in on their clothing. I was told to vacuum thoroughly, dump the vacuum outside, not in the trash indoors, and that they have a spray that is not dangerous to use inside around the pets and family. It does sound like you have a pretty bad issue, if you are noticing bites on yourself. Definitely call the vet to see if they have that spray available, its $22 here at my vet, and treat the cats with one of those topical treatments, they continue to work for up to 30 days and kills eggs and adults.

  • Inetia Inetia on Nov 01, 2017

    If you have fleas outside you can bring them in on your shoes and socks. If it's flea dirt it will turn a dirty red when you bathe them.

  • Dwb22496089 Dwb22496089 on Nov 01, 2017

    Sounds like u have fleas in house. My parents had an infestation one yr so had to bomb house. Flea collars will help cats later but the fleas are in the carpet now.


  • 2dogal 2dogal on Nov 01, 2017

    Yes you have fleas. They lay eggs so whatever you have done, you have to repeat again and again to get rid of them all. Since you are using Revolution as directed, consistently, one of the best thiings to do is to vacuum daily and wash their bedding. If they are on your furniture, cover it with sheets and wash daily. Since you have a large house with lots of carpets, close the doors to most rooms so they can't get in there until you get rid of the fleas.

  • Elaine Elaine on Nov 01, 2017

    You definitely have fleas if you are noticing bites on your legs! If your vacuum has a bag system, make sure you are changing the bags constantly or the fleas you THINK you vacuumed up and eliminated will just come back out again! If you have scatter mats at entrance doors, wash them often in very, very hot water. This will be a real battle and you must be constantly vigilant but you can win this battle!

  • Bonnie Bonnie on Nov 01, 2017

    Borax, sprinkle it on you carpet, let it sit for an hour or two, vacuum and repeat. The borax drys up the fleas.

  • Barbara Baldwin Barbara Baldwin on Nov 01, 2017

    Plus put flea collars in vacuum bags

  • Shortcake Shortcake on Nov 01, 2017

    Hello, We used on our small kitten Adams flea spray, but you want to be careful with them being kittens. We would spray our hands wearing a glove and rub them down on the back, legs, under neck top and bottom and on their bellies. It stinks but it works on them just be careful not to put to much on them. Then we spray where they lay and the carpet as well. The smell will weaken the longer it sets. This is the best thing for kittens and adult cats and dogs. Repeat about every 6 weeks.