The Dirty Truth About Fleas (and how to get rid of ’em for good!

 

Here’s a not-so-pleasant creepy little tidbit:

Fleas lay upwards 50 eggs a day.

Doesn’t that just make your skin crawl?

These creepy crawlies are like miniature vampires that latch on to anyone and anything with warm blood and a beating pulse. They’re repulsive. Sickening. Disgusting. And is every homeowners worst nightmare.

The sooner you ‘spot’ the problem and take action to eradicate it, the faster they go away. The longer you delay, the bigger the infestation, and the longer it takes to eradicate, sometimes weeks.

This website was created to answer many of the most pressing questions for the “Average Frustrated Homeowner”, for example, “Do fleas really jump on and off animals like you see in cartoons?”, “Do cat fleas attack dogs?” And “What are fleas…exactly?”

Some responses you’ll likely be aware of while others will provide new insight to help you create a battle plan to rid your life of these bloodsuckers once and for all.

The purpose of this site, ultimately, is to save you time, trouble and money exposing the root cause followed by practical, real-life solutions – both natural and chemical – known to work.

So without further ado…

 

Q & A: You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers

What Are Fleas?

Aside from being the tiniest scavengers on the face of planet Earth, fleas are microscopic wingless external parasites that feed on warm blooded animals – humans included. They’re claim to fame is their biting and blood-sucking capabilities.

Adult fleas appear as copper or black pepper flakes roughly 1/8 inch long and flea eggs are 1/64th of an inch (barely visible to the naked eye) that fall off pets on to floors.

95% of all flea populations live in outside grass and indoor carpets.

Do Adult Fleas Jump On and Off Animals?

No. Once they’ve found a viable host, they remain to feed, mate, and lay eggs.

Do Wild Animals Carry Fleas, Too?

Yes. And we know what you’re thinking. “It’s hard enough dealing with fleas on my own pet(s), I have to put up with this mess on wild animals, too?”

Not necessarily, provided you take precautions in keeping raccoons, opossums, deer, skunks, bears, and other wild animals out of your yard altogether, you’ll be fine.

Are They Easy To Kill?

Yes…

…and “no”.

The adults are easy to kill posing little threat, but its eggs are the biggest threat. They’re harder to identify and have hard exterior shells to protect them – similar to the Alien film.

What’s Harder To Kill? Cat or Dog Fleas?

Cat fleas, without a doubt.

They’re more resistant to products of both the natural and chemical-type, but by rotating various solutions you decrease resistance.

Can I Put Flea Products For Dogs On Cats?

No. Cats are more sensitive to flea certain products than dogs are with some treatments being deadly toxic. Flea treatments are based on size and physiology of the animal so the best and safest treatments are the ones formulated specifically for felines.

How To Get Rid of Yard Fleas 

 

 

Fleas love moisture. They thrive on it. What they can’t do is live in pools of accumulated moisture in the act of flooding. Target areas you suspect are most troublesome make sure pools of water are in those areas. Remember, the water must accumulate and sit, not saturate and dissolve in ground.

If dealing with a particularly problematic infestation, do this once a week or so for best results

For more information see how to terminate yard fleas permanently.

How To Get Rid of Dog Fleas 

 

 

If a dog is a man’s best friend, fleas are a dogs worst enemy.

Along with cats, dogs are the primary flea carriers. When adult fleas lay eggs on dogs, within minutes it falls off onto wherever the pet moves. If, for example, your pet walks through certain areas, there will be hundreds of eggs scattered throughout; like planting seeds in a garden.

To prevent this from occurring several actions must be taken to rectify the situation before those eggs become larvae and eventually adults.

For more information see how to terminate dog and puppy fleas permanently.

How To Get Rid of Cat Fleas 

 

As independent as they are, our feline friends can’t fight every battle on their own, and this includes going to war with fleas.

Treating kittens and dogs are ‘trickier’. The natural remedies that work for dogs aren’t as accessible to cats and kittens because A. They’re overly sensitive to essential oils and B. They lick themselves to often. Thus, the best methods are preventative or indirect such as bed washing, vacuuming, etc. However, there are a few natural remedies you can take action with to get quick results…

For more information see how to terminate cat and kitten fleas permanently.

 

 

Q & A: You’ve Got MORE Questions, We’ve Got MORE Answers 

Is There A “One-Size-Fits-All” Treatment For Cat and Dog Fleas?

In a perfect Utopian world, yes, but in reality, one could only dream.

Some treatments are more effective than others depending on climate, location, types of fleas, intensity of infestation amongst other uncontrollable factors. What may work best for you in a hot and humid environment, be it naturally or man-made, won’t work as well for another in a old, dry environment.

Experimentation is the best solution to find the combination of solutions that works best. For the sake of time we recommend seeking professional consultation if not for anything but to diagnose the problem and proceed to utilize solutions yourself if on a tight budget.

Why Do Fleas Prefer Animals To Humans?

They prefer dark, hairy areas to hide and reduce exposure at least long enough to lay its eggs (spread its genes) and populate.

So difficult are they to find that if you were to part the hairs on your pet you would rarely be able to spot them and falsely assume (thus worsening the situation) that your pet is over-reacting or allergic to something.

Do They Transmit Disease?

Yes. They transmit diseases such as tapeworms and mankind’s most deadly disease, the plague.

What Is The Maturation Rate?

One flea, in 6 weeks, can lay 1000 eggs throughout its life cycle. In 3 more weeks those eggs hatch and lay 1,000 eggs each themselves, for a whopping 1,000,000 (that’s MILLION with a capital “M”) in a little over 2 months.

Can Fleas “Kill”?

Unfortunately, yes, which is why we urge you to get to the root of the problem as soon as today. They’re known to suck enough blood from animals, usually infants such as pups, kittens, lambs, and calves due to a weaker exterior, immune system and lesser quantities of blood to feed.

Who Has Flea Problems?

Everyone and everywhere. If a flea had a motto of its own it would be, “You can run, but you can’t hide!” It’s true. They’re widespread and have plagued the human existence for thousands of years; some suggest millions. No home is spared; not even the spotless, including veterinarian hospitals.