Fleas!

purplemoon

Hi,
Anyone got rid of a bad infestation without chemicals? Last year I found I had fleas in the house (no cat at that stage, either!). I got rid of them by hoovering a lot and spraying tea tree and lavendar (seemed to help) which we've done this year, plus liquid chemicals on the cat's neck, combing and killing, and intermittently trying to feed her garlic.

We know that even if we can relieve the cat they are still in the house. Its not the worstest infestation I've seen- that was one summer when I came back from a fortnights hols, there were so many fleas they were camping under my socks within minutes of getting in bed... It was just my room badly affected (where the our now deseased cat entered at will); I slept elsewhere!

Any advise appreciated. Now off to fill a bowl with hot water to sit on the carpet (tip I found on another thread).

Ken68

Hi Purple....The Royal Household get rid of bugs in carpets and curtains by freezing them.They have a special freezer trailer, saw it on tv.
I have a big old freezer (got it off Freecycle) in the garage which will hold large rugs and so on. Also sheets and pillows etc. .Use it once a year, as a precaution against dust mites and whatever. Cat is treated too but not in the freezer.....not yet.
I suppose even fleas have predators, spiders perhaps.

purplemoon

Don't have a freezer, unfortunately, and no space to put one. Looks a good idea though. I'm thinking of taking up the remaining 'fitted' carpets (dunno what to put down yet though, need to stay warm). Rugs are easier to deal with. I don't know if a spider could catch a flea..? But they are easy to drown- tho only 1 leapt to its death in my bowl of hot water.

Seakay

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=224193&highlight=fleas

Unfortunately this thread seems to conclude that some chemical intervention is necessary if you want to get rid of the blighters for good!

Moggles_2

Originally posted by ken68
I have a big old freezer (got it off Freecycle) in the garage which will hold large rugs and so on. Also sheets and pillows etc. Use it once a year, as a precaution against dust mites and whatever.

What a brilliant solution!

Cats are more susceptible to chemicals than people, but there's a fiendishly clever biological treatment available from your vet. This works by interfering with the development of the fleas' exoskeleton, but is completely harmless to everything else in the environment. You apply just a spot to the back of the animal's neck ie. where it cannot lick.

I don't know if a spider could catch a flea..?

Fleas are pretty weak flyers. I doubt whether they could escape from a spider's web.

Adult fleas don't survive long once separated from the nice, warm body which they inhabit. Unfortunately the fleas' eggs can persist for long periods, so taking up the fitted carpets may be your best option.

freeloader

purplemoon wrote:

Now off to fill a bowl with hot water to sit on the carpet (tip I found on another thread).

how does that work? do they mistake the hot water for a warm blooded animal and then drown? if so... ingenious!

Ken68

Fleas must have a natural predator, same as cats and dogs and birds and cats. What's needed is something to let loose once you gone to bed,to roam the carpets...... a scorpion?? :=))

sali_mali

In Tudor times they used to get rid of fleas by putting a bowl of goat's blood in the room so all the fleas were attracted and then drowned... it's quite gross though so maybe you want to stick to your bowl of water! :rotfl:

skyepark

eww how does a place get flea infestation anyways? house bneing too hot?

ailuro2

animals bring them in, the flea eggs sit in the blankets/carpet etc waiting for warmth to hatch, go to live on the said warm thing, start laying eggs.

The info from our vet suggests 7 eggs a day by an adult 'lady' flea.
Get any fleas you see,and crack them between your back to back thumb nails.
You can get a fine toothed flea comb from most supermarkets now too....remember they run up the hair direction,not down,if you find one and chase it.

I'm wondering if my dd's robicomb would work? The beeping thing that checks for nits and kills them when found?

That would be very green- but doesn't get rid of the eggs problem, but the freezer could sort that one out. Great tip,OP!

purplemoon

I don't know if I have quite enough spiders webs to do the trick. Didn't know fleas flew but I think they are they best jumpers of any animals. I had the thing you put on the cats neck- got from Sainsburys, though. Hope its the same thing. Bit worried cos my son wet combed her after. We do use a regular nit comb as we had a couple already. Works fine for the fleas, though maybe a flea comb would be better for the eegs (had one and I hid it from child and now lost it myself).

Yeah, the idea is they will go for something hot and drown/ burn. I will try again with another shape bowl as others on this site have found it caught loads. I got 1, and haven't ever found a flea in my cup of tea either!
ailuro2- I think there is something about not using those gadgets on animals in the instructions with the one I have.

skyepark- they def peak in summer. We do open windows but couldn't open too wide or would lose the kitten! They can breed in the carpet. We got back from 2 months away and found we had plenty of them last year. There were no warm bodies around for the majority of the time. What were they eating...?

Elsewhere on this site someone mentioned they were getting something called Pest Magic that makes 'pests' want to leave home! Apparently it has been advertised on tv, but without a recommendation I am v sceptical. I pm'd the person but not had a reply. Anyone had any experience? If it persuades slugs not to come in either I may have to get!