Embarrassing as this is, my house has fleas! I have cats, however, they are strictly outdoor cats (and are not allowed inside), and they are treated for fleas monthly. I have no idea how the fleas have gotten inside, however, I’ve noticed them in the carpeting (and my son is really bothered by them).
How in the world can I get rid of them? I have a rabbit (indoor only), so I would need to either treat her, or take her out of the house. Has anyone used Flea bombs (do they even make them?) or flea powder? I have hardwood floors downstairs (with area rugs) and carpeting upstairs. What do I do about the beds and other furniture?
They can be nasty. We had that problem when we got our cat.
If you’re sure the rabbit has no fleas, get him away from the infested area. Your vet should sell flea bombs and other insecticides. Spray rugs, furniture, floor cracks, etc. The current versions kill adults, larvae, and eggs, but nothing can kill the pupae, which means you need to reapply.
If the rabbit has fleas, ask your vet if anti-flea drops like Frontline or Advantage can be used on rabbits. It will kill any fleas on him, and keep him from getting others. If the drops aren’t recommended, you may need to give your rabbit a flea bath. There are shampoos you can use, as well as foams. Again, discuss this all with your vet: there may be issues using insecticides designed for cats on rabbits.
My experience with these little buggers – brought in by a kitten we rescued from Certain Death – is that you have to do the whole house and all the furry residents on the same day. Take up all the possible infested bedding and wash it. Vacuum the house thoroughly and throw the vacuum bag in the garbage outside immediately. Follow your vet’s advice on how to de-flea the bunny. Then do the house decontamination. The whole-house flea bombs usually require that all mammals leave the area for a time. But they do deal with everything – furniture, carpets, etc.
It is a major, major pain. The alternative is the flea infestation becoming worse and worse, and it would be very embarrassing to go to work, school or whatever covered in flea bites.
You can buy flea bombs at any Wal-mart, Target, Home Depot, etc. Remove the rabbit and bomb the house. Be prepared to rebomb the house in a couple of weeks even though they say it’ll kill the eggs. While you have the bunny out of the house, treat it for any fleas. www.rabbit.org recommends you use cat products rather than dog products on the bunny. Here’s a link to their FAQ on rabbit care.