This might be a question for Scott or maybe someone else might have the answer for me.

I have an indoor cat and the past couple of days it's been apparent that our house has fleas. I don't see any on my cat but think they are coming in off of our feet from our neighbors animals and/or yard.

I really don't have anywhere to take the cat for the allotted time that I'm sure she has to stay out of the house for us to bomb our house. Would containing her to a room in the house such as a bathroom or laundry room with something stuffed under the door be sufficient? My other option is to put her in the cat carrier and put her in the garage. (I'm in TX, it's not cold yet)

Is there a brand that won't hurt her to be left in the house or some other way to get rid of these fleas?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions/insight.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 11:46 am:

My experience with fleabombing was that we were all - animals and people - out of the house for several hours, and when we came back I opened the windows, turned on some fans, and waited a few more hours. I also taped plastic over all of the kitchen cabinets so as to avoid having to wash everything or risk contamination of food products. BUT, that was a long time ago and products may have changed since.

BTW, can you take the cat and carrier to a neighbor?

I'll alert Scott about your question.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 11:47 am:

Oh, and indoor cat or outdoor cat, all cats and dogs need flea protection. Your vet may have a favorite brand of the monthly protection stuff - I know Scott does.

By Dramamamma on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 11:51 am:

Thanks Ginny... We just moved here in August and haven't really met anyone that we could take her to.

She is on Advantage which is why she probably doesn't have them but our house does.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 12:36 pm:

Yuck. I know just what you are going through. My dear mother once gave me a kitten - she was always adopting stray cats and taking care of them. We only discovered a couple of weeks later that this kitten had fleas, and by then so did all of our carpets and upholstery. That was when I used the flea bombs.

I will never forget walking through the living room to the necessary, sitting down, and seeing moving black specks on my legs!

By Scott on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 12:39 pm:

In regard to bombing: READ THE INSTRUCTIONS on the label. Most of those flea bombs are toxic to animals. The procedure is usually:

* evacuate
* bomb
* allow appropriate contact time to lapse
* ventilate
* return to home

I wouldn't put a cat in a "sealed" room in a bombed house for two reasons:

1. That's one room that could still have fleas.
2. The seal may not be airtight; good night kitty.

By Kate on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 01:41 pm:

My biggest concern would be your children....especially your very young one....

I'd talk to your pediatrician first.

By Shellyg on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 05:55 pm:

Have you tried advantage or frontline? All my animals are on it and we don't have any fleas!

By Scott on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 11:27 pm:

The problem isn't just for pets. Fleas will bite any mammal. You can keep fleas off your cats and still have 'em in the house because they're feeding off the people in the house.