Friends cats have fleas and they're not being treated

Cat123456

I need some advice on how I can politely tell my friend I don't wish to go to their house or they come to mine whilst their flea problem is so out of control.

My friends cats have fleas and they told about it a few weeks ago. At this point of telling me 2 of their cats had extensive hair loss due to overgrooming. They aren't currently treating any of their pets nor the household and I'm well aware how fast a flea infestation can take hold as I spent over 6 months battling my own flea problem a few years ago.

I currently have a cat and don't wish my pet to get fleas even though I'm treating monthly with with advantage my concern is the infestation at my friends is realistically out of control at this point as they haven't dealt with it.

I can't address this head on as I know offense will be taken and don't wish to jeopardize the friendship however I don't want to put my house and cat at risk of fleas because they haven't bothered to treat theirs.

Any advice as to how I could approach this with sensitivity whilst also making clear that I'm not comfortable visiting as their infestation is so out of control?

Red-Squirrel_2

Call the RSPCA.

You can't just not look after your animals! They'll visit and give them a push, hopefully.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

'I've developed a flea bite allergy. I've completely cleaned the house and treated the cat, but the doctor says once you develop it, even one bite can cause a huge reaction.'

So they get offended. Big deal. Who really needs to be friends with somebody who can put their animals through that level of discomfort on an ongoing basis?

Cat123456

Haha that's a really good excuse!

It really bothers me, but I feel so powerless. We all know we need to treat these things, but for others I guess it isn't a priority

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Cat123456 wrote: »

Haha that's a really good excuse!

It really bothers me, but I feel so powerless. We all know we need to treat these things, but for others I guess it isn't a priority

When they start getting bitten (which they will - cat fleas won't 'live' on a human, but they're perfectly happy to take a nibble and then, like when I'm given a cup of tea with sugar in it, go 'PAHHHH' and want to clear the horrid taste with something decent), they'll do something about it. Especially if they then develop an allergy themselves - which is perfectly possible - itchy ankles, back of the neck, some small red spots that burn at night....

And maybe if more people are refusing to go round, and are also being vaguely honest about why, they'll realise that it's not just a little inconvenience.

Red-Squirrel_2

Cat123456 wrote: »

Haha that's a really good excuse!

It really bothers me, but I feel so powerless. We all know we need to treat these things, but for others I guess it isn't a priority

They're breaking the law. If the cats have got significant hair loss they are really suffering and the owners have a legal duty to get them the care they need:

Seriously, call the RSPCA!

bspm

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

They're breaking the law. If the cats have got significant hair loss they are really suffering and the owners have a legal duty to get them the care they need:

Seriously, call the RSPCA!

How are they breaking the law??

Red-Squirrel_2

bspm wrote: »

How are they breaking the law??

Animal welfare act.

moneyistooshorttomention

There are occasionally people that one thinks of as friends and asks them once not to do something that will/might "bounce back" and hurt you. Followed by you assume they have listened to you and won't do it again - until they do - and you realise they obviously arent really friends at all (as they clearly dont care about you).

I suspect this is one of those scenarios and that, if you manage to get them to deal with those poor cats, they might well do the same again in the future.

...and yes I do feel sorry for the cats and, with the chances of it being a "real" friendship being low I would say - then you might as well get onto the RSPCA about it. I doubt the friendship can be salvaged (but "with friends like that...." as the phrase goes) - but you might at least be able to help those poor cats that way.

The other possibility being - I dont have cats myself - so dont know quite how these things work - but is it possible for you to get hold of those cats (at HER home) and treat them yourself behind her back? I don't know how many treatments are needed - or whether there is a one-off you could do on them whilst ostensibly there for some other reason (ie doing her a favour of waiting in for a delivery person or something)?

Froglet

Trouble with that idea is they will still be living all over the house and will just reinfect the cats.Cannot believe people would want to live with obvious fleas!

sheramber

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

When they start getting bitten (which they will - cat fleas won't 'live' on a human, but they're perfectly happy to take a nibble and then, like when I'm given a cup of tea with sugar in it, go 'PAHHHH' and want to clear the horrid taste with something decent), they'll do something about it. Especially if they then develop an allergy themselves - which is perfectly possible - itchy ankles, back of the neck, some small red spots that burn at night....

And maybe if more people are refusing to go round, and are also being vaguely honest about why, they'll realise that it's not just a little inconvenience.

Not everybody gets bitten.

When my sister's cat had fleas her son's legs were bitten but she wasn't.

My son was bitten when their cat had fleas but his girlfriend had none.