Fleas From Cats in the House: How to Get Rid of Them

Flea bites are small, very itchy red dots, often in groups around the ankles, feet and lower legs. Your cat scratches a lot or has tiny black specks in its fur that turn reddish on wet tissue. You may see tiny dark insects jumping on light-coloured socks or carpets.

If the bites are on your arms, neck and back after a night in bed, and there's no pet involved, check the mattress for bed bugs instead.

• Take the cat to a vet and treat every pet in the home at the same time. • Vacuum carpets, rugs, sofas, under furniture and along skirting every day for a couple of weeks, and empty the vacuum outside each time. • Wash pet bedding, throws and cushion covers on a hot cycle. • Keep up the pet treatment as your vet advises, since new fleas keep hatching for a while. • Discourage stray cats from sheltering near doors, in the garden or under parked cars by removing food and blocking spaces.

Expect to see a few fleas for a short time even when you do everything right, because eggs already in the carpet keep hatching.

A deep clean helps by pulling eggs, larvae and the debris they feed on out of the fibres, and it's worth doing once the pet is treated. It works best alongside daily vacuuming and the vet's treatment, not instead of them.

Friends deep-cleans carpets, sofas, majlis seating and mattresses using hot-water extraction, and most items are touch-dry in 4–6 hours.

• The bites carry on for weeks after the pet has been treated. • You have bites but no pets, which may mean another insect. • Carpets, rugs and sofas need a proper deep clean. • Stray cats are living around the building or villa.

Friends doesn't list flea treatment as a service. We can inspect to identify what's biting, treat bed bugs if that's the cause, and deep clean carpets and upholstery. Call 050 112 7654.