Have you ever had someone ask you, "What's bugging you?" The word bug is synonymous with the word annoy. And for good reason, bugs are annoying--some more than others! Yes, while some bugs are merely annoying, others, such as fleas, can be downright maddening. No one likes dealing with flea bites, and the longer you wait to tackle a flea infestation, the more difficult it will be to get rid of them.
The fact is, a cat flea, which is the most common flea in Rhode Island (and in the United States in general) can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime! And don't let the name fool you. Although their favorite animal to feed upon happens to be domestic cats, they will infest dogs and wild animals, such as rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, and more. And they have no problem biting humans as well. Flea bites not only leave an itchy red bump that can be very irritating, they can also spread tapeworm to cats and dogs and have been known to transmit plague and murine typhus.
Getting rid of fleas. What may work, and what definitely works.
- Putting flea collars on your pets. While this might work to deter some fleas, many collars are ineffective once fleas have taken up residence on your furry friend.
- Using flea powder on your animals. Like flea collars, powders work on some fleas but often don't get them all. And this does nothing about the fleas in your home.
- Giving all your pets flea baths. Again, this may kill lots of fleas but may not get all of them that are hiding in nearby bedding or other places your pets like to hang out.
- Vacuuming your house thoroughly and throwing the vacuum bag away in an outside trash can. While this can get rid of a lot of fleas, there are sure to be eggs, larvae and pupae tightly attached to carpet fibers where vacuuming is not able to get them.
The sad truth about fleas is, you can spend all kinds of money, time, and effort on different flea treatments, only to be caught in a never-ending cycle of reinfestation. The best way to get rid of a flea infestation, or to prevent one in the first place, is to partner with a professional pest control company. Here at Big Blue Bug Solutions, we've been taking care of bug infestations for more than 75 years.
You don't have to deal with flea bites on your body, your family, or your pets. Let Big Blue Bug Solutions take care of what's bugging you, and end the cycle of infestation today.