How have you dealt with flea problems?

Question

We've had one indoor/outdoor cat for 5 years and an indoor only cat for 4. We have never had much of a problem with fleas, even when skipping months of frontline here and there. I don't know if it's because of the particulary dry weather this summer, but we've been using frontline. I can still see fleas on the indoor cat. He will not let me bathe him. Our house isn't carpeted, but there are some rugs. I'm wary about using bombs or anything that could get into my fish tanks (two). Personal experiences with stuff that works would be helpful.

Answer 1

I was given a chair that was infested with fleas... I have 3 cats... so you know what happened!

here is what I did and it worked like a charm... within one month there wasn't a flea in sight / or bite.  that is why I recommend this to everyone who asks about fleas on this site.

********************************

I have a NATURAL remedy for getting rid of fleas in your house.

Go to the Store and buy some 20 Mule Team BORAX.  (you find it in the soap isle)

Then sprinkle it all over. Carpets, couch, bedding, pillows, PET BEDs,  car, even wood floors. (NOT ON YOUR PET!)

THEN VACCUME IT UP.

What Boax does is coats the eggs ... The eggs hatch deformed or unable to reproduce.

You will have to do this 2 or 3x about a week apart in order to get all the egg cycles.

FOR YOUR PET. Use the topical flea killer that is on the market or wash with Dawn dish washing soap (make sure to rinse all soap out)  and use a flea comb (this is also a head lice comb) especially for kittens or puppies who are too young to have insecticide put on them.

Kill the fleas that you find on the comb with soap or alcohol

Answer 2

Hi, I found this on a site, good luck!!!

How I got rid of fleas and bugs from my home

You will need to purchase a simple bug/fly zapper; the type you use on a patio to kill flying insects.  You can buy a small one that will cover a large area of your house at most home improvement stores for as little as 15.00-20.00 dollars.  For faster results you can use one bug zapper for each room.  However the fleas do gravitate to the bug zapper’s light once night sets in and all the lights in your house are out. So one should work for a small home, just make sure to place it in the room where the most fleas are seen or felt.   Place the zapper on the floor in a corner behind a piece of furniture so kids and pets won’t play with or bother it. Set it on a plate or pie tin for easy cleaning up of the zapped bugs, you will be killing all bugs in your home as well, and then plug it in.  Remember, it is a piece of electrical equipment.  You have to use caution in where you put it. At night the fleas automatically want to go to a light, when they hop in to the bug zapper light they get fried! You can actually hear little, zits, zits when the fleas are getting zapped! All GONE! Keep the carpet vacuumed daily until your flea problem is under control, this will help tremendously in getting the fleas eggs out of your home and carpet faster!!  I am not responsible for misuse of the above item.  Use full caution in placing your bug zapper to the safest place.  It will work for months, even years; it will continue to kill bugs in your home as long as the light is on.  The bulb can be replaced once it burns out.  The light bulb can be purchased at most home improvement stores.

Answer 3

How I got rid of fleas and bugs from my home

You will need to purchase a simple bug/fly zapper; the type you use on a patio to kill flying insects.  You can buy a small one that will cover a large area of your house at most home improvement stores for as little as 15.00-20.00 dollars.  For faster results you can use one bug zapper for each room.  However the fleas do gravitate to the bug zapper’s light once night sets in and all the lights in your house are out. So one should work for a small home, just make sure to place it in the room where the most fleas are seen or felt.   Place the zapper on the floor in a corner behind a piece of furniture so kids and pets won’t play with or bother it. Set it on a plate or pie tin for easy cleaning up of the zapped bugs, you will be killing all bugs in your home as well, and then plug it in.  Remember, it is a piece of electrical equipment.  You have to use caution in where you put it. At night the fleas automatically want to go to a light, when they hop in to the bug zapper light they get fried! You can actually hear little, zits, zits when the fleas are getting zapped! All GONE! Keep the carpet vacuumed daily until your flea problem is under control, this will help tremendously in getting the fleas eggs out of your home and carpet faster!!  I am not responsible for misuse of the above item.  Use full caution in placing your bug zapper to the safest place.  It will work for months, even years; it will continue to kill bugs in your home as long as the light is on.  The bulb can be replaced once it burns out.  The light bulb can be purchased at most home improvement stores.

Answer 4

I've had fleas in my house a couple of times.  The first time I bathed my cat.. and no it was not an easy task.  She was definitely not a happy camper after that.  Then you will need to vacuum your entire house and your furniture.  You will need to wash any item your cat may have been on clothes, bedding etc.  When you finish vacuuming be sure to throw out your vacuum bag.  The fleas will come out of it and re-infest your home if you don't.

The other time I got a topical to put on my cats from the vet and then my husband's friend works for orkin and he came over and sprayed our house.  You will still need to wash clothes bedding etc that the cat may  have slept on.

Hope that this helps.