The Great Flea Invasion

How I Accidentally Turned My House into a Pest Motel

Emergency plan at the end.

I’ve always used over-the-counter flea treatments, thinking that would be enough to keep my cats safe. But let me tell you—those did nothing to stop fleas from attacking my cats.

I knew indoor cats could get fleas. I’ve read enough horror stories online to know they aren’t magically protected just because they don’t go outside. But honestly? I thought it wouldn’t happen to me. My cats are indoor-only, spoiled, and safe. Fleas were something other cat owners had to deal with… not me.

Until one day—I brought them home myself.

 The Horrifying Discovery

It started with an itch. Then a few little red bites on my ankles. At first, I thought, maybe mosquitoes? But nope—mosquitoes don’t usually survive in September inside my house. Then I saw one. A flea. And then another.

Cue panic.

And that’s when I started noticing my cats weren’t themselves either. They were scratching far more than usual, twisting and biting at their fur with an intensity that screamed something’s wrong. They stopped lounging in their beloved sleeping spots on the sofa and the bed, instead retreating to the kitchen—our only room without carpets. It was like they knew the battlefield better than I did, and they weren’t moving out of their little safe zone.

 The Week-Long War

I went from relaxed cat parent to full-blown pest control warrior overnight. I even had to take an emergency week off work, because battling fleas became a full-time job.

Here’s what my life looked like for seven exhausting days:

Spraying the house. Twice. Every single room, top to bottom. And during each spraying, the cats had to be taken outside for a “walk” (their faces clearly said, this is not what we signed up for) while the chemicals settled for a couple of hours.
Vacuuming like a maniac. Twice a day, every corner, every rug, every crack. My vacuum and I are now on first-name terms.
Washing everything. Bed linens, curtains, my clothes, the cats’ blankets, even stuff from the wardrobe I hadn’t worn since 2019. My washing machine nearly filed for divorce.
Bagging and sealing. Anything I couldn’t wash went into sealed bags to starve out the little monsters.
Cleaning in circles. Just when I thought I was done, I’d see another tiny jumper mocking me from the wall.

The Cats: The True Victims

The worst part? My poor indoor-only cats. They didn’t ask for this. They didn’t bring fleas home—I did. Fleas aren’t just annoying; they’re dangerous.

They can cause severe itching and skin infections.
Kittens or small cats can become anemic from blood loss.
Fleas can transmit nasty parasites like tapeworms.
And here’s the kicker: over-the-counter flea products weren’t enough. My vet saved the day with proper flea treatment (the prescription-grade stuff). Within 24 hours, my cats were more comfortable, and I could breathe again.

 
Lessons from the Battlefield

Never underestimate fleas. They multiply faster than bad TikTok trends.
Indoor cats are not safe. Fleas will hitchhike on you—your clothes, shoes, even bags.
Vet-approved flea treatments are non-negotiable. Skip the supermarket drops; they’re often useless.
Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Think spring cleaning… but on steroids.

📝 Flea Emergency Plan (Learn From My Pain)

If you ever find yourself in the middle of a flea invasion, here’s the battle plan I wish I’d had taped to my fridge:

1. Treat your pets immediately
Skip the supermarket stuff and call your vet for proper, prescription-strength flea treatment.
Make sure all pets in the household are treated — not just cats, but also dogs and any other furry companions.

2. Deep-clean your home
Wash everything that can be washed in hot water (at least 60°C): bed linens, clothes, curtains, blankets, pet beds.
Anything that can’t be sprayed, washed hot, or sealed? Get rid of it. Fleas, larvae, and eggs will cling to fabrics and fibers.
Seal unwashable items in bags for a few weeks to suffocate fleas and eggs.

3. Use good-quality sprays (not cheap supermarket ones)
Invest in trusted, vet-recommended products. Personally, I highly recommend Indorex Defence Spray Household Flea Spray (500 ml).
Spray your entire house from top to bottom — carpets, rugs, furniture, skirting boards, under beds, under sofas, inside wardrobes. Don’t leave any spot untreated.

4. Vacuum like your life depends on it
Vacuuming must be daily for the first 10 days. Flea eggs hatch later, so persistence is key.
Empty the vacuum immediately after each round so fleas don’t crawl back out.

5. Repeat the treatment
The house needs two sprays:
First spray: Day 1 (immediately after your pets are treated and everything is washed).
Second spray: Day 7 (to catch any newly hatched fleas).

6. Prevent future attacks
Stick to regular, year-round vet-approved flea treatments for all pets.
Be cautious about bringing fleas home on your clothes, shoes, or bags — they’re sneaky hitchhikers.

The Aftermath

After a week of constant cleaning, spraying, washing, and borderline tears, the fleas were finally gone. My cats forgave me (eventually), the house is spotless, and I’ve learned one very itchy, very humbling lesson:

In the war against fleas, you can win… but it’s going to cost you your sanity, a lot of laundry detergent, and at least three pairs of rubber gloves.

🧡 Martyna
Feline Behaviourist & Nutritionist
Founder of CatZone