Advice please

People that do not have pets are absolutely horrified about fleas so your daughter in law is probably acting the way she thinks is for the best.

I have always had cats so know a some point there will be fleas, even if treated monthly.

I am so sorry that I do not have an answer to your problem but hope your daughter in law calms done about it and allows visits in future.

Sorry to hear of your difficulties in seeing your son and family. I have a feeling the cats and fleas may be the problem at the moment. With a 5 month old, I suspect they may be reluctant to visit your house.

If you got on well with dil previously, I wouldn’t focus too much on your feeling that she was a bit distant when you were visiting. With a young baby, she may just have been exhausted and not up to chatting.

I think your idea of waiting for them to invite you may be the best for now.

Hm. Don’t cat fleas become a massive problem, if they get into the house? I thought that you had to be fumigated to rid of them. That’s why they have to be permanently treated to avoid this problem. I might be mistaken I just always understood cat fleas to be more problematic than dog fleas.

We’ve always had cats, but only once were fleas a problem for 1 of our children. I don’t think you need to fumigate the house, but the cats need to be treated regularly.

Some people can be allergic to cat flea bites and have a worse reaction than others, which was the case I think with our child and maybe your GS.

Fleas are a nightmare and we know how we feel knowing the pesky things are around so to a non pet lover it probably feels like the end of the world, parasites bad, I guess for a non pet lover it's probably how I would feel if I heard a home had bed bugs.

I'm hoping given time she will calm down on this issue... Its a horrible situation for you though and I wish I had some advice that would help

I wouldn’t visit a house with fleas never mind allowing young children to visit.
I can quite understand your d-i-l’s reaction. Surely the vet can advise you.

I didn't used to great about keeping up my 'flea eradication' routine and was mortified when a friend came round and I saw one jump onto her leg

I now use the treatment from the vet on my cat each month, spray her bedding (in the garden and air for ages), and hoover every day.

Unfortunately the cycle of a flea is complex and when the adults have died, the eggs hatch - somewhere!

Hoovering the little egg blighters up is the only way but as you are recovering from hand surgery that will be hard for you.

I hope you can relax and continue your routine in a gentle way, and be careful with those sprays, I know they are toxic.

Welcome Rockchick61. I am sorry I can’t help you even though very many years ago I had two cats, I never had any problems. I think you should, like Esspee, suggested and ask the vet.

You might like this article. In the past it was recommended to throw away the hoover bag after vacuuming when you had an infestation, but impossible for me as I have a Shark.

www.animeddirect.co.uk/advice/top-10-flea-treatment-tips/

Thank you for all comments. I just want to say, as I'm not sure how it came over, I totally respect my dil decision and will not make a fuss. Any "chats" will be with both of them, I just want to clarify if it means absolutely no visits here at moment and no more will be said from me ??. We've always got on well and I've supported her as much as I can given the distance involved and my health. My son by his own choice cut contact with his dad a few years ago so I'm keen to make sure they know I love them and will be there for the m ?? xxxx

I have cats and having fleas would be a big deal

I can understand your dil

Fleas can transmit diseases to humans

Not saying this is the case - it was a method of transmission of bubonic plague, also known as black death

I think you sound a nice kind understanding person but I ve got to say if my child came home with flea bites I wouldn’t want them to come round either
So I think you must sort that out or offer to meet the kids outside at a park or playpark etc
It sounds as if it’s got a bit out of control
Once you ve got fleas in the house carpet etc they are the very devil to get rid of and I wouldn’t want a child around all those chemicals either
I hope you get it sorted

I would go to the vet and get their advice. I've had cats in the past and while they do get fleas they can be eradicated. My dog is currently treated every 3 months. One tablet does the trick. It's expensive but will be well worth it and one less problem to worry about.

Just a thought but could you a try a Seresto flea collar for your cat?
My brother has used these with fantastic results as even treatment from the vet couldn't resolve the issue he had with his cat.

Make sure that any flea treatment is from your vet Rockchick those available 'over the counter' tend not to be as effective so it's worth paying more for more reliable treatment.

I wonder if your son cutting contact with his father is making you anxious that this may happen with you. Understandable IMO but if so, do try to put it out of your mind.

You sound as if you have a lovely relationship with your son and d.i.l. As has been suggested, with a 5 month and 4 year old, perhaps she was feeling particularly tired on that occasion.

Needing clarification regarding visiting is perfectly reasonable and understandable and you've already said they know you understand and accept their decision not to visit until you've got rid of the fleas.

Good luck with that.

The thing to remember is that the fleas do not stop on the cat they will live in your carpets, edges of rooms they jump on the cat to feed. There are different treatments available from your vet.

I don't use collars on my cat in case she gets stuck somewhere.

It is important to read the instructions very carefully too - a flea collar cannot be used with any other treatment.

I second the flea treatment from the vet, I am sorry to see so many ineffective cheap treatments for sale in Yorkshire Trading etc.