Fleas in the house almost always start with a pet, or with an animal that has been sleeping under the house or deck. By the time you notice bites on your ankles, most of the fleas are not on the pet at all. They are eggs, larvae and cocoons in the carpet, the pet bed and the shady spots where your dog lies outside. Cal Termite & Pest Control treats fleas inside the home and in the yard, for homes across Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties from our offices in Ventura, Woodland Hills and Santa Barbara.
The flea you are dealing with
According to UC IPM, the cat flea is the flea found on most cats and dogs in California, despite its name. Adults are small, dark reddish-brown and wingless, and they spend their adult lives on the animal. Their eggs fall off into bedding, carpet and soil, where the larvae feed and spin cocoons.
- Life cycle. At room temperature, UC IPM puts the full cycle at about 18 days, so a few fleas turn into a lot quickly.
- Cocoons wait. Fleas in their cocoons can wait up to 12 months, then hatch when they sense warmth and vibration. That is why people moving into a house that has been empty sometimes get bitten right away.
- Our climate suits them. UC IPM notes that fleas outdoors do best in coastal areas with mild temperatures and fairly high humidity, which describes much of the coast from Santa Barbara to the Westside.
Why fleas are more than a nuisance
Flea bites itch, and some pets develop flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas also carry the dog tapeworm. The California Department of Public Health says flea-borne typhus is endemic in parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties, with cases sometimes reported elsewhere in the state. Fleas pick it up from rats, opossums and stray cats, so animals living under the house or deck are worth dealing with too.
Signs you need flea control
- Your dog or cat is scratching, biting at its fur, or has tiny black specks (flea dirt) at the base of its coat.
- Itchy bites around your ankles and lower legs, often in small groups.
- Fleas jumping onto white socks when you walk through carpeted rooms. UC IPM suggests this as a simple check.
- Opossums, feral cats or rats sleeping under the house, a deck or a shed.
How we treat fleas
- Free homeowner inspection. We find where fleas are developing: pet beds, carpets and rugs, under furniture, the shady spots where pets rest outside, and crawl spaces or decks where other animals sleep. You get a written quote before any work starts.
- Indoor treatment. We treat carpets, rugs, under furniture, along baseboards and around pet resting areas. UC IPM recommends treatments that include an insect growth regulator, which stops eggs and larvae from developing into biting adults. We use products registered for that use, apply them by the label, and tell you how long to stay off treated areas.
- The yard, too. We treat the yard as well as the inside of the home. UC IPM says treating whole lawns is rarely necessary, so the yard treatment goes where pets and other animals rest: dog runs, under decks and along the foundation.
- Your pets. We do not treat animals. Treat your pets with a flea product from your vet at the same time, or the fleas come right back into the house on them.
- Follow-up. Expect to see some fleas for about two weeks after treatment. Treatments do not kill fleas still inside their cocoons, so they keep hatching for a while. If fleas are still active after that window, call us. Your written quote spells out what follow-up is included.
How to get ready for your treatment
- Wash pet bedding, throw blankets and rugs that can go in the washer, in hot water.
- Vacuum all carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture and under cushions, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Pick up toys, shoes and clothes from the floors so we can reach the carpet and baseboards.
- Plan for you and your pets to stay out of treated rooms until they are dry. Your technician will tell you how long.
- Keep vacuuming every day or every other day for the next two weeks, as UC IPM recommends. Vacuuming picks up newly hatched fleas and helps bring the rest out of their cocoons.
Common questions
Why am I still seeing fleas after treatment?
Fleas inside cocoons are protected from treatment and keep hatching for about two weeks. Keep vacuuming daily so they come out and contact the treated areas. If fleas are still active after that, call us. Your written quote spells out what follow-up is included.
Do you treat my dog or cat?
No. We treat the home and yard. Ask your vet about a flea product for your pets so everything is treated at the same time.
I do not have pets. Why do I have fleas?
Look for animals living close by. Opossums, feral cats and rats under a deck, in a crawl space or in the garage can bring fleas to your door. A previous owner’s pets can also leave cocoons behind that hatch when someone moves in.
Do I need to leave the house?
Not for the whole day. You and your pets stay out of treated rooms until they are dry, and your technician will tell you how long that is.
What affects the cost?
The size of the home, how many rooms have carpet, and whether the yard or a crawl space needs treatment too. You get a written price after the free homeowner inspection.
Why homeowners call Cal Termite for fleas
- Same-day service is available.
- Free homeowner inspection, followed by a written quote.
- Call us if fleas return after treatment; your written quote spells out what follow-up is included.
- Registered with the California Structural Pest Control Board, PR 7556.
- Award-winning pest control, rated 5 stars by 750+ customers.
- Local offices in Ventura, Woodland Hills and Santa Barbara.
Related services: Pest Control Services | Tick Control | Rodent Control | Bed Bug Treatment