Fleas make life miserable for pets, and people get itchy just thinking about the parasites. Veterinarians are often asked how to remove cat fleas from the house, what are the most effective tablets, drops, collars or shampoo for cats against fleas. As experts note, the answer to the question of how to get rid of cat fleas in an apartment and in a house lies in their biology.
There is no single method or insecticide that will completely eradicate (or at least control) these insects. The life cycle of a flea is quite complex. Only understanding the various stages of development will help get rid of them.
Let's look at what fleas are from a biological point of view.
Collectively, all flea species have a common scientific name - Siphonaptera. Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felix, are the most commonly found flea in Russia. They parasitize cats, dogs, humans and other mammals and birds.
Fleas thrive in warm, moist environments and temperate climates. The main food is the blood of the host animal. Fleas are used as a host for mammals in 95% of cases. They can also infect birds (in 5% of cases).
Flea saliva, like other blood-sucking parasites, contains an ingredient that softens or "digests" the host's skin for easier penetration and feeding. Flea saliva is a strong irritant. All signs of an allergic reaction appear precisely against the background of its influence - it begins to itch, there is a desire to scratch, the skin burns, and the like.
Clean up all areas of the house
Pay attention to all surfaces and walls, especially corners and areas behind furniture. Use rags, a mop and a vacuum cleaner. Do not sweep with a broom, otherwise you will spread parasite eggs throughout the apartment, which will lead to the reappearance of pests.
Insects love a moist environment, so washing floors is not recommended. However, you can drive away fleas if you wipe the floors with a bite. Unfortunately, such disinfestation creates an unpleasant odor in the room, and the second point is, would you want to inhale such a “aroma” yourself?
Flea remedies for cats
Your furry pet needs urgent treatment for parasites. Many different means have been created for this. They come in different forms:
- shampoos;
- sprays;
- aerosols;
- drops;
- pills;
- collars;
- powder powders.
These medications are useful both for preventing infection and for treating an already manifested disease. Apply the medicine to your pet strictly according to the instructions. Do not allow these products to come into contact with the eyes, ears and mouth, as well as mucous membranes.
Home pest control
Have you tried all the remedies, but the results are ineffective, and you can’t get rid of cat fleas at home? In this case, it is best to contact a professional pest control service. Pest control specialists have all the necessary resources, know exactly where to hide and specialize in exterminating insects in any area - a house, apartment, basement or attic.
During chemical treatment, all living creatures must leave the room; aquariums or terrariums must be tightly closed.
The appearance of cat fleas in a house, apartment or country house is an extremely unpleasant incident, but not a verdict. Especially if you start removing them immediately after detecting pests, using effective means of control. With the right integrated approach, the return of parasites is excluded!
Cat fleas in the house
The cat flea is the most common species among the order of relatives. They parasitize cats, dogs and rats, in the latter example actively displacing the rat one. It also attacks humans with pleasure. The larvae develop in animal bedding and fur. Adult insects have a flat forehead and a short proboscis. Life expectancy ranges from three months to three years, depending on nutrition and climatic conditions.
They bite a person, causing quite painful bites. After which swelling and inflammation of the skin appears, as well as unbearable itching.
Flea bites on the human body
A massive attack on animals leads to exhaustion and anemia. Felines, like other representatives of the order, carry various infections that can be transmitted to people by sucking blood. For example, diseases such as brucellosis, plague or fever.
Fleas in a dog's fur
How do cat fleas get into the house?
The appearance of insects in the house is not uncommon. Moreover, both owners of private houses and dachas, as well as residents of apartments in high-rise buildings, can be attacked by parasites. If infection does occur, you should remember that parasites actively reproduce in a warm and humid environment. Take note - they do not tolerate cold, sunlight or cleanliness.
So where do cat fleas come from in the house and at the dacha? Believe me, there are many such places. Parasites can enter your home from anywhere, for example they can be:
- habitats of stray dogs and cats; nurseries with unsanitary conditions for keeping animals.
- areas where rats and mice are spread.
- from nearby houses where pets are kept in disregard of hygiene standards.
- nearby garbage dumps.
- collapsed buildings and abandoned buildings.
- damp attics, basements, sheds, etc.
A basement or barn is an ideal living area!
Particular emphasis should be placed on the basements of private and multi-storey buildings. After all, parasites can appear even in new buildings.
You may have heard this definition - basement fleas. This concept includes all insects living in basements that can be carried by people and animals. Often these are cat and rat fleas.
Many people believe that there is no need to fight parasites living in basements. However, this is a big mistake! You can easily transfer fleas on the soles of shoes or clothing. In addition, the occasional peddler could be, for example, a plumber whose job requires him to periodically visit the basement. Yes, and you yourself can, for necessary reasons, go down to the basement and unwittingly bring fleas into the apartment. In addition, rats and mice are ardent carriers of insects.
And if rodents live in the basement, then the problem doubles and getting rid of the parasites will not be so easy.
The need for nutrition encourages parasites not to wait, but to act. They are able to climb through ventilation or enter homes through cracks in the floor.
To destroy fleas in the basement, as well as to prevent their reappearance, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the premises - check the temperature, eliminate leaks, repair doors and windows, and also contact a pest control service to exterminate rodents. Of course, in case of infection, disinfestation is necessary!
Where do parasites hide in the house?
To get rid of annoying insects, it is very important to know which areas need special attention. This will affect the efficiency and speed of solving the problem.
Fleas move throughout the house, however, parasites choose places with the most comfortable conditions:
- mattresses, armchairs, sofas;
- towels, bedspreads, bedding;
- linoleum, carpets, rugs and paths, especially those made from natural materials;
- fur clothing and soft toys;
- cracks in walls and floors, behind baseboards;
- houses and bedding for your pets;
- household waste;
- absolutely any places where there has not been cleaning for a long time.
As a rule, they live no higher than one and a half meters above the floor, so bites on people most often occur on the lower part of the legs.
Description and photo of fleas: what they look like in reality, life cycle
A flea is a wingless parasitic insect from the order of arthropods with a chitinous shell of light brown, coffee, black or greenish color. The average length of adults is 2-5 mm. You can see what fleas look like in the photo below.
IMPORTANT: there are a lot of them. Common fleas most often appear in the house: house (household), earthen, basement, carpet, dog, cat and others (the popular names that we are used to hearing).
IMPORTANT: there are many types of fleas, but the same means of control will help. The list with the best methods is a little lower. If you came here for them, lower the page a little and study...
Thanks to its long and strong hind limbs, the flea is able to jump 20-40 cm in height. The life cycle of the insect is usually 2-4 months, but under favorable conditions the parasite can live 1.5-2 years.
Throughout her life, the female lays from 450 to 600 larvae. Fleas feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals using piercing-sucking mouthparts. Both animals and people can bring the parasite into the house on their clothes.
Placebo effect
It all depends on what we mean by the meaning of our request spells. The placebo effect is at work here - you are clearly convinced of a positive result, so your ritual action works, all it needs is faith in what is happening. The conspiracy against fleas must be read according to the general rules; such rituals are simple and extraordinary, done on simple objects found in every home. Spells have a unique formula that has a powerful energy message through the forces of nature. It represents a demand-request from a higher, natural force for help. The main thing is your clear belief in what is happening, the attitude towards a positive result.
- introductions are the beginning that takes us to the power of help from which we ask;
- the middle - has an energetic message, in this part the question is posed: “Why” or: “How did this happen?”;
- consolidation of everything said.
So, you will need to strictly follow some rules on how to cast a spell:
- you must be hungry;
- start reading in the morning;
- do not change the text or try to paraphrase;
- you cannot joke or laugh during the ceremony;
- say what you want, only with faith in what is happening.
Ritual with water
Add a little salt to a glass of clean water and stir. Then it should be left for a day in the open sun. The next morning, place the glass in front of you, placing your left hand on your chest and holding your right hand over the glass. Read the following text 3 times:
“Let the insects completely leave my house. My animals are tired of constant abuse, and I demand that they be gotten rid of as soon as possible. They bring only troubles and harm. I wish my home to become overflowing with happiness and kindness. Amen".
At the end of the ritual, pour the charmed water into every corner of your apartment. If you have a private house, then water the corners outside the house. Then turn to higher powers with a feeling of gratitude and read any prayers that you know. According to people, this ritual is very effective and parasites leave their habitat forever. Moreover, you can find them among your neighbors, but this will no longer threaten you.
Miracle Prayers
Miracle-working prayers are those prayers after reading which great miracles occur. One of these wonderworkers was the holy righteous Tryphon of Apamea. By the power of his prayers, demons were cast out, ailments were healed, pests were driven out of the fields, and other miracles occurred.
Martyr Tryphon was born in Asia Minor - Phrygia, not far from the city of Apamea, in the village of Kampsada. His parents were pious and simple peasants. In his youth he was a shepherd and received no education. However, even in his youth, Tryphon received from God the gift of miracles: he cast out demons with prayer, healed various ailments, and with the power of his prayer performed other miracles.
The holy righteous Tryphon became especially famous at the age of 17. His miraculous prayers were so powerful that he drove out the evil spirit from the daughter of the Roman Emperor Gordian. This young, beautiful and intelligent Princess was possessed by an evil spirit - a demon - and tormented her severely. One day the evil spirit in his daughter shouted that only Tryphon alone could drive him out. The emperor gave the order to immediately find the wonderworker Tryphon and deliver him to Rome. At that time, the martyr Tryphon was only 17 years old. When the saint approached Rome at a distance of 3 days' journey, the evil spirit could not bear the approach of the holy martyr and left the emperor's daughter. Tryphon was brought to the emperor, surrounded by courtiers. He begged the saint to show the demon with his own eyes, wanting to make sure that it was he who healed the princess. After a prayer to the Lord God and a six-day fast, Tryphon ordered the evil spirit to visibly appear to the emperor and his entourage. Thus, the emperor was shown the evil spirit with his own eyes.
During the days of his life, Tryphon did not ignore the slightest troubles or requests. Now at the Throne of God he prays for us. Sometimes people say - this is such a trifle, such a minor problem, how can we turn to the Lord God in prayer? However, God hears all our prayers and knows about them even before we pray. And Saint Tryphon helps us. People coming to the Church of St. Martyr Tryphon can talk for a long time about miracles that happen through prayers. By the prayer of faith. After all, faith does not come from miracles, but miracles come from faith in God, that God is near, that he will help us.
The holy righteous Tryphon is revered in Muscovite Rus' as a physician and healer, the ruler of reptiles and the patron of hunters. However, the Church of Christ is wary of spells and other similar forms and manifestations of folk culture. The Church of Christ celebrates the memory of the martyr Tryphon on February 14.
You can pray to the holy martyr Tryphon at any time.
First prayer to the martyr Tryphon of Apamea.
O holy martyr of Christ Tryphon, hear our prayer now and at every hour, servant of God (names), and intercede for us before the Lord. You once healed the princess’s daughter, who was tormented by the devil in the city of Rome: save us from his cruel wiles all the days of our life, and especially on the day of our last breath, intercede for us. Pray to the Lord, that we may also be worthy to be partakers of everlasting joy and joy, and that together with you we may be worthy to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Comforter of the Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer to the martyr Tryphon of Apamea.
Troparion to the martyr Tryphon of Apamea.
Thy martyr, Lord, Tryphon, in his suffering received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God, for having Thy strength, overthrow the tormentors, crush the demons of weak insolence. Save his souls with your prayers.
Kontakion to the martyr Tryphon of Apamea.
With triple firmness you destroyed polytheism from the end, you were all-glorious, you were honest in Christ, and, having defeated the tormentors in Christ the Savior, you received the crown of your martyrdom and the gift of Divine healings, as if you were invincible.
Plot on the door
Various variations of flea spells
Choose a morning on the waning moon, which helps to get rid of something in life. Open the front door and say these words:
“I will never live with parasites in the same house. I, the servant of God (name), disdain to live with them. I won't share food. I won't share the drink. I am driving you out of the yard, and I hope that you will never return again. I open the door inside for them to leave. From the outside, the door will be permanently closed to the parasites so that they cannot return to my house.”
Now close the door and thank God using prayers you know or say in your own words.
Ritual with a broom
Every home should have a broom - a symbol of purity and wealth. A used item is best suited for the ritual, because later you will need to get rid of it. Take a broom and, without lifting it from the floor, sweep away the trash from each room. While performing the ritual, read the following text:
“I drive dust and garbage out of my house forever. Fleas will follow them. Another day will bring me happiness and fulfillment of my desires. Amen".
Also, without lifting it from the floor, take the broom over the threshold and throw it away, but it is better to burn it completely.
Believe it or not?
There are many beliefs and rituals that were passed on by our ancestors from generation to generation. Insect spells are no exception. Whether they help or not is a matter of your self-hypnosis; magical rituals are powerful only if you believe in the beliefs. In any case, you have nothing to lose, and all methods are good in the fight against insects.
The main thing is that this method is easily accessible, cheap and within the power of everyone. All you need are household items or your pets, and what could be better than extra communication with them?
Danger of ectoparasites
In addition to the serious discomfort that blood-sucking insects living in its fur cause a cat, fleas pose a great danger. They are carriers of a huge number of dangerous diseases. Some of them can be fatal. A number of diseases carried by fleas are dangerous not only for animals, but also for humans.
Fleas carry:
- the causative agent of yersiniosis - an acute intestinal infection accompanied by a toxic-allergic reaction;
- bacteria that cause Far Eastern scarlet fever (pseudotuberculosis);
- plague stick;
- causative agent of hemorrhagic septicemia (pasteurellosis);
- bacteria that cause intestinal infection salmonellosis;
- Brucella;
- bacteria that cause tularemia;
- rickettsia;
- hepatitis viruses type B and C, tick-borne encephalitis;
- Trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause a number of diseases in humans and animals.
In addition, fleas are carriers of helminth eggs. If a cat has a lot of fleas and has been infected with them for a long time, then there is no doubt that she has endoparasites (for example, cucumber tapeworms).
The presence of fleas in a pet leads to a decrease in its immunity and causes various allergic reactions. Also, the appearance of ectoparasites leads to an exacerbation of chronic diseases, if the cat has any. Due to severe itching, the animal constantly scratches its skin, sores and wounds form on the body. They can fester, which will seriously complicate the pet’s condition.
In addition, constantly scratched wounds are a gateway for various pathogenic microorganisms to enter the cat’s blood.
If no measures are taken, a flea-covered cat will develop dermatological diseases of varying severity: dermatitis, dermatoses, eczema, allergic rashes. Her fur may start to come out. In some cases, if treatment is delayed, bald spots may persist forever.
In addition, constant itching and discomfort caused by insects adversely affect the emotional state of the cat. She becomes restless, nervous, cannot sleep normally, and constantly meows.
If a kitten gets fleas, then ectoparasites can cause very serious damage to the body, even death.
In humans, cat flea bites cause allergic skin reactions, itching, swelling and irritation of the skin. Fleas can infect it with infectious diseases they carry, and also cause helminthic infestation.
The procedure for processing things and apartments
Before you start treating your apartment with special insecticides against fleas, you need to prepare, namely, do a general cleaning, otherwise disinfestation may be ineffective, and pests will very soon reappear in your home.
Attention! If you have animals at home, you first need to wash and treat their fur, and only then take care of the apartment. In this case, you need to carefully read the instructions for use of the drugs, because those remedies that are suitable for one animal are completely contraindicated for another. For example, chemicals for dogs containing permethrins can be fatal in cats.
To rid your apartment of basement fleas, first of all, you should wash the floors and baseboards very thoroughly. At the same time, pay close attention to places with high humidity, pantries and closets. Next, carefully vacuum all the cracks, corners, upholstered furniture and carpets, not forgetting the rug at the front door. Shake out the contents of the vacuum cleaner outside the apartment.
Bedding, mattresses and bedspreads, where linen fleas hide, must be knocked out or treated with a steam generator. Fabric products such as bed linen, curtains, contaminated clothing and slippers must be washed, preferably at a temperature of at least 60⁰C. It is also necessary to wash all outdoor shoes and throw away those things in which a large accumulation of eggs or adult pests was found.
Only after thorough cleaning, during which it is possible to get rid of most of the insect larvae, can you treat the room with the help of “heavy artillery” - pesticides or folk remedies in order to finally destroy all the fleas that have occupied the apartment.
How to perform a conspiracy?
Many people confuse the terms “prayer” and “conspiracy.” What is their difference? The difference is that prayer means turning to heavenly powers for help. A conspiracy, in turn, is not just a request, but a specific magical text, confidently read with a demand in an approved form.
When performing any ritual, you must always remember the following fundamental rules that must not be violated under any circumstances:
- The words of the conspiracy must be read early in the morning and on an empty stomach. It is not advisable to eat until the ritual is over.
- Formulate your desire in advance, as if setting yourself up for its fulfillment.
- It is prohibited to change the sequence of words and actions.
- You should read the text only with good intentions, especially when you want to get rid of something so that the bad does not pass on to another person.
- During the ritual, be serious, do not allow ridicule and playful behavior while pronouncing the text.
Ritual with salt
If you don't have a fabric bag, sew one and pour salt into it. Then it needs to be bandaged with thick thread or tape. Such a bag should be spoken with the following words:
“I sprinkle salt for one purpose only. If only blogs would never appear in my house again. I wish I could get rid of fleas as soon as possible and never have to deal with them again. I will close the door securely and block the road to my house. Amen".
Then throw the bag on the floor, untie it and sprinkle the house with salt in a circular motion. When the salt runs out, burn the bag and flush the ashes down the toilet or pour water on the ground. From this moment the spell takes effect.
Recommendations after completion of sanitation
After sanitation, the tenant thoroughly ventilates the entire private house or apartment - opens all windows and creates a draft.
We must not forget about preventing this problem. A caring owner does not allow his dog or cat to come into contact with various street animals.
Also, the owner of a dog or cat puts a special anti-flea collar on his pet. In addition, at least 1 time in 6 months. he wet-cleans his home using a wormwood solution.
If a private house has a basement, then in this case it is necessary to call professional exterminators to your home as often as possible, who will correctly and effectively treat such non-residential premises against fleas.
