Fleas in an apartment are a nightmare for residents of some regions, because parasites carry dangerous diseases. These insects appear regardless of whether there are animals living in the house. To get rid of this scourge, it is not necessary to call exterminators. You can treat the apartment yourself.
The main thing is to choose an effective means for killing fleas and strictly follow the rules.
How fleas get into an apartment
In Russia, cat fleas are the most common. Despite the name, they parasitize not only cats. These insects bite dogs, rodents, birds and people.
Flea infestations become common in the summer. This especially applies to residents of the first and second floors, as well as private houses. However, jumping insects can climb much higher.
Cat fleas enter an apartment in the following ways:
- With pets. Cats and dogs that walk outside on their own can pick up parasites from other four-legged animals.
- From the basement. Stray animals often gather in such places. Cat fleas jump off them in search of a new host and penetrate into entrances and apartments.
- With old things. Fleas can choose a mattress, carpet, or upholstered furniture if infected animals have been in contact with them or they have been in places where there are parasites.
- From the neighbors. Insects move along the ventilation ducts and crawl into the smallest cracks.
- With rodents. Cat fleas live on mice and rats. If the apartment is attacked by these pests, insects may appear along with them.
- With a person. Insects cling to clothes and shoes. It is enough to walk where an infected animal has recently walked, or pet stray kittens.
You need to get rid of cat fleas in your apartment as soon as possible. Parasites are extremely dangerous - they can infect a person with helminths and other diseases, and provoke severe allergies.
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?
Insect habitats indoors
To quickly get rid of cat fleas in the house, you should carefully treat their favorite habitats: baseboards, any cracks, carpets.
If there is a cat in the house, fleas can be found on his bed. Parasites also prefer to be in mattresses, upholstered furniture and toys.
Insects choose places where people visit most often for “hunting”, and secluded corners for breeding.
If you find cat fleas, you should immediately begin exterminating them. If parasites begin to multiply en masse, it will be much more difficult to get rid of them.
On a note. Sometimes fleas bite only one family member. Parasites choose the person who has the most attractive odor to them.
Preventive measures
After ridding the animal and housing of fleas, the main question arises - how to prevent re-infestation. Unfortunately, there is a possibility of insects being introduced due to reasons beyond our control. However, there are a number of measures that, if observed, will help minimize the risk of reappearance of parasites:
- maintain order in the house, clean, wash and shake out cat litter;
- with the beginning of the spring-summer season, protect your pet from fleas using special means (collars, drops, sprays, etc.);
- try to limit your cat’s contact with infected animals.
Such very simple methods can save you and your ward from a lot of hassle in the fight against fleas. After all, it is much easier to prevent a threat than to deal with its consequences.
Flea development cycle
It will be much easier to get rid of cat fleas on your own if you know the stages of their development:
- The flea lays eggs, which are covered with a smooth and slippery shell, so they spread freely. For example, in places where an infected animal walks.
- After about 2 weeks, a larva about 1 mm long appears. This worm can move. It feeds on the feces of adult fleas, skin scales and other organic debris.
- Over the course of two weeks, the larva molts three times, after which it turns into a pupa.
- After 14 days, an imago emerges from the pupa - an adult insect.
Eggs are very difficult to get rid of. They do not need nutrition and can remain viable for months. As soon as it gets warm, the larvae hatch from them. The most favorable time for the development of cat fleas is summer. It is then that their development cycle becomes as short as possible.
To get rid of cat fleas in an apartment, it is necessary to disrupt the cyclical nature of their development. That is, regularly destroy adult insects and larvae. Then they will not be able to reproduce.
Important. The higher the temperature and humidity, the faster new generations of parasites appear. Therefore, in hot weather, products to combat cat fleas should be used as often as possible.
Housing processing sequence
Before you treat your house for fleas, you need to understand the procedure. Treatment begins from the place where the animal sleeps, then:
- treat beds and sofas (shake out mattresses, go over all hard-to-reach surfaces with a vacuum cleaner);
- clean out the closets and process each item;
- Clean the carpets and wash the floor.
You can sprinkle insecticide in powder form under mattresses, paint over areas along the baseboards, under the arms of sofas and behind cabinets with a pencil containing a toxic substance.
All rooms in the apartment are treated at the same time, starting from the back rooms and ending with the corridor and bathroom.
Choosing a method to control insects
There are 2 ways to get rid of cat fleas in an apartment:
- physical – hot steam treatment;
- chemical - the use of various drugs that destroy insects.
The first method is more gentle. It is suitable for families with small children and people who cannot leave the apartment during treatment. Steam is safe and does not harm the environment or the inhabitants of the home.
Chemicals act radically. To get rid of fleas, you will have to not enter the apartment for 2-3 hours, remove all animals from it, and hide food. Also, some products have a pungent odor, but it usually disappears quickly.
Treatment of a pregnant and lactating cat
The choice of methods for getting rid of fleas in a pregnant and lactating cat, as well as in kittens, must be approached very carefully. To do this, you must follow the following rules:
- Be sure to consult a veterinarian;
- wash, or better yet, boil the bedding on which the cat sleeps;
- clean and disinfect the premises.
It is acceptable to use gentle and low-toxic drugs: shampoos, collars and drops.
The less toxic the flea remedy, the safer it is for the expectant or new mother.
However, it is necessary to remember that the stress of bathing is harmful for mothers and if your cat does not like water, then it is better to choose another remedy. Collars and shampoos do not penetrate the skin and do not have a toxic effect on the fetus, unlike drops, and therefore consultation with a specialist is required before using them. For nursing cats, collars are not always a suitable option, as kittens may lick them while crawling on their mother.
Therefore, the best option for anti-flea remedies may be folk remedies, and simply combing out the pet’s fur.
Chemical method
The range of products for killing cat fleas is quite wide. There are various aerosols, sprays and concentrates made from natural and synthetic components on sale.
To get rid of cat fleas in apartments, use the following insecticides:
- Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide obtained from plant materials. Forces parasites to leave the apartment, and the remaining insects die after a few days from suffocation. Safe for people and animals.
- Permethrin is a synthetically reconstituted pyrethrin that has a more pronounced effect. Causes paralysis in insects.
- Benzyl benzoate is an ester of benzoic acid. Insecticide safe for humans.
- Fipronil is a synthetic substance with a powerful insectoacaricidal effect.
- Piperonyl butoxide and chlorpyrifos are auxiliary components that enhance the effect of the main substance.
Cat fleas can develop resistance to one or another insecticide. To get rid of these insects forever, it is better to periodically change the medications.
Aerosols and sprays
Aerosols act locally and allow you to locally get rid of cat fleas in your apartment. Massive death of insects can be noticed already during treatment. These products are easy to use and contain flavorings - you don’t have to suffer from a pungent odor.
The disadvantage of sprays and aerosols is their high consumption. To get rid of cat fleas in a 1-room apartment, you will have to spend 2-3 cans. And if you consider that you need to destroy parasites regularly, it turns out to be quite expensive.
To get rid of cat fleas, use the following means:
- Pair Stop;
- Raptor;
- Raid;
- Leopard;
- Dichlorvos;
- Canina pharma;
- Frontline;
- Beafar;
- Battalion commander
Important. A cat or other pet should not be treated with a flea killer in an apartment. The concentration of active substances in it is too high - the animal can be poisoned.
Processing method
To get rid of cat fleas in residential areas, the Para Stop aerosol is most often chosen. It destroys adult insects, larvae and pupae. If the instructions and safety precautions are followed, the aerosol does not harm people or pets.
Before treatment, the apartment is wet cleaned, all family members, animals, terrariums and aquariums are evacuated. Food products are placed in sealed containers.
The product is available in the form of an aerosol generator, which ensures uniform spraying. Before use, shake the can vigorously, then turn it upside down and point it at the surface to be treated. The product is sprayed from a distance of 50 cm.
To get rid of cat fleas in an apartment, spray furniture, the space under beds and carpets, as well as all hard-to-reach places: crevices, cracks, baseboards. To treat 1 m2, it is enough to spray the product for 5 seconds.
After application, the apartment is left closed for 3 hours, then ventilated for at least 30 minutes.
The home is vacuumed daily for a week - with this measure you can quickly get rid of parasites. Vibration and warm air currents accelerate the removal of cat fleas from pupae, and Para Stop continues to destroy them.
Important. The dust container is always emptied outside the home to prevent re-infestation by parasites.
Concentrates
They are a liquid with a high content of active substances. Such products are not used in their pure form. A working solution is first prepared from them - diluted in the proportion specified by the manufacturer. These are the drugs that exterminators most often use.
To get rid of insects, concentrates are used to treat all surfaces in the apartment, not just hidden places. Typically, cat fleas die en masse 5-7 days after use, but some brands of products work faster. After disinfestation, the drugs continue to act for about another month.
Butox is recognized as one of the most popular and effective remedies. From 1 ml of concentrate, 500-750 ml of working solution is obtained. The only drawback is the rather strong specific smell.
You can also get rid of cat fleas in your apartment using the following means:
- Ektosan - diluted in the same concentration as Butox. The product does not smell so strong and does not leave marks on furniture, carpets and other coverings.
- Neostomozan - to prepare a working solution, dissolve 1 ml of concentrate in 1 liter of water. The protective properties last for about a week. The disadvantages include a very pungent odor.
- Delcid concentrate is diluted at the rate of 1 ml per 800 ml of water. Insects die within a couple of hours after using the emulsion. The drug has a weak specific odor that quickly disappears.
- Tsifox – 1 liter of water will require 2 ml of the drug. Effective only against adult insects. Causes paralysis in cat fleas after 30 minutes. It continues to repel insects for 3-4 months. It has a weak odor that does not linger on surfaces.
- Executioner – 1 bottle of 5 ml is designed to prepare 0.5 liters of working solution. The effect appears within 2 hours. The unpleasant odor goes away quickly when aired.
- Get – diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10 (100 ml per 1 l). Does not have a pronounced odor. All insects die within a week. The effect lasts for six months. The manufacturer claims that cat fleas do not develop immunity to this product.
- Tetrix – 50 ml of concentrate is dissolved in 1 liter of water. The composition contains potent poisons, so not only adult fleas and larvae die, but also eggs. However, the drug is also toxic to humans. Do not allow it to enter the respiratory tract, mucous membranes or skin.
- Cucaracha - 2.5 ml of the drug is diluted in 1 liter of water. Has a long-lasting effect: the active substances continue to work for 30 days after application. The disadvantage is an unpleasant odor that lasts for quite a long time.
- Agran - to prepare 1 liter of working solution you will need 3 ml of concentrate. The composition includes 2 poisons (chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin). There is no information yet about insects with immunity to these substances. It has a pungent odor.
- Tsifox - if there are few parasites, it is enough to mix 0.4 ml of concentrate with 1 liter of water. Otherwise, 2 ml will be required. Cat fleas begin to die 30 minutes after treatment. The drug continues to act for 3 months.
- Biorin - 1.2 ml of concentrate is diluted in 1 liter of water. Within 15 minutes after treatment, 50% of fleas are destroyed, the rest die within 24 hours. The duration of protection is 6-8 weeks.
- Sinusan - working solution is made in a ratio of 5 ml per 1 liter of water. Duration of exposure is approximately 1 month. The product has a weak specific odor.
- Chlorpyrimark - used at the rate of 5 ml per 1 liter of water. Residual activity appears over 1.5-2 months. Contains fragrances that neutralize unpleasant odors.
- Empire-20 - diluted in a ratio of 1 to 50. That is, to prepare 1 liter of working solution you will need 20 ml of the drug. Initial signs of poisoning appear in insects 2-4 hours after contact. The death of parasites increases over the course of 3 days. The duration of residual impact is more than 30 days.
- Eslanadez – add 4 ml of concentrate to 1 liter of water. The action lasts up to 45 days. The smell is weak and disappears quickly.
- Averfos – 5 ml of concentrate is required for 1 liter of water. The effect lasts for a month. It has a specific smell, but after airing it disappears.
- Taran - working emulsion is prepared at the rate of 1.25 ml per 1 liter of water. The drug begins to act within 15 minutes. In insects, activity first increases, then paralysis and death occur. The residual effect lasts for 4-8 weeks.
To get rid of fleas in an apartment, use only freshly prepared working solution. During storage, it erodes and loses its properties.
Processing method
You can get rid of annoying parasites for a long time only if you treat your apartment according to certain rules.
Pre-clean the room:
- wipe off dust even in the most difficult to reach places;
- vacuum, capturing all the cracks and furniture;
- washing the floor.
The cat's bedding is boiled, and bedding, bedspreads, blankets, toys, curtains and other things that may contain cat fleas are washed at temperatures above 60°C.
After this, the working solution is applied.
Important. Before treatment, you need to check whether the anti-cat flea product stains wallpaper and fabrics. Otherwise, you can damage the walls and upholstered furniture.
To spray the chemicals you will need a spray bottle. You can buy it at a hardware store or use the one left over from another product. For example, for washing windows.
The insecticide in the apartment is treated with:
- carpets;
- baseboards;
- upholstered furniture;
- doors and walls (approximately 1.2 m from the floor).
If the cat often climbs onto bookshelves, cabinets and other “high places”, then you will have to spray them too.
100-200 ml of working solution is sprayed onto 1 m2. After applying the product to all surfaces, close the apartment and leave for about 2 hours. You cannot be inside at this time - inhaling toxic fumes is harmful to health. If there are other pets in the house - hamsters, parrots, snails, they are given to relatives or neighbors.
After the specified time, the room is well ventilated. Places with which apartment residents are constantly in contact are wiped with a damp cloth. There is no need to wash other surfaces.
To completely remove parasites, the apartment is treated every 10-12 days.
Security measures
When working with chemicals, take minimal precautions: wear gloves, safety glasses and a respirator, and do not allow the product to come into contact with mucous membranes.
During treatment, smoking, drinking and eating are prohibited. At the end of work, you must thoroughly wash your hands and face with soap and rinse your mouth with water.
In case of contact with skin, wash off with plenty of water. If the drug is swallowed, drink 2-3 glasses of clean water and 8-10 tablets of activated carbon or other sorbent. If weakness, nausea, or dizziness occur, consult a doctor.
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.
Physical method
To get rid of cat fleas, you can treat your apartment with a steam generator or steamer. Insects, their eggs, and larvae do not tolerate strong heat. At temperatures above 45°C they die.
Steam treats carpets, upholstered furniture, floors and baseboards. Activities are carried out every 10 days until the cat fleas are completely eliminated.
For your information. You should choose steam generators that operate in a horizontal position. Some models do not have this feature.
It is not possible to get rid of all parasite eggs at once. They may be in some secluded corner of the apartment where steam does not reach. After some time, larvae will appear from them, and the fleas will begin to reproduce again.
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.
