You have treated the cat and the bites carry on. That is because most of a flea problem is not on the animal at all, it is in the carpets and bedding.
Adult fleas on a cat or dog make up only a small share of the total. The rest is eggs, larvae and pupae scattered through the house, and these are what keep the cycle going. Eggs drop off the animal into carpets, bedding and sofas, hatch into larvae that hide deep in the pile, and then spin cocoons. Pupae can sit dormant for weeks or months and hatch when they sense vibration and warmth.
Many homes here are post-war houses with fitted carpets, often with a dog that spends time on the open land at the edge of the area, or a cat that roams the gardens. A flea or two picks up a ride, and within a few weeks the living room carpet is full of eggs. The first you know of it is often itchy ankles when you walk across the room, or a family coming home from a holiday to find the house alive with fleas.
Treat the pets with a veterinary-recommended product, and treat every animal in the house at the same time. Wash pet bedding on a hot cycle, and vacuum carpets, sofas and skirting daily for a couple of weeks, emptying the vacuum outside each time. Vacuuming also triggers pupae to hatch, which is useful because the adults that emerge are then easier to deal with.
If you have been away and returned to a flea-ridden house, the cause is often pupae that hatched when you walked back in. Fleas can seem to arrive overnight, but they have usually been waiting in the carpet for some time.
If the pets are treated, the cleaning is done and fleas are still biting, the carpets and soft furnishings probably need a professional treatment. How long it takes to be rid of them depends on how many rooms are affected and whether the house has been empty or occupied. We will tell you plainly what to expect and what preparation you should do beforehand, such as clearing floors and lifting bedding.
Prevention matters too. Regular worming and flea treatment for the animals, frequent washing of bedding and prompt vacuuming keep numbers low.
We can treat the home, not just the pet, and give you honest advice on what to do afterwards. Free advice comes with every treatment and we arrange visits to suit you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Treating the animal kills the fleas on it, but eggs, larvae and pupae remain in carpets and bedding. They keep hatching for weeks, so the house itself usually needs cleaning and treatment as well.
Yes. Fleas can arrive on visitors, second-hand furniture or from a previous occupant, and dormant pupae can survive in carpets for a long time. They hatch when they sense someone walking nearby.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
