Why do fleas keep coming back?
The flea you see on your pet or jumping on the carpet is only the last stage. The female lays her eggs while she is on the animal, and because the eggs are smooth they fall off wherever the pet spends time: the carpet, the sofa, its bed, and your bed if it sleeps there. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae that avoid light and burrow deep into the carpet, between its fibres and into cracks in the floor. They feed on the droppings of adult fleas, which contain blood.
Next the larva spins a sticky cocoon around itself, and that cocoon is the source of most of the frustration. No treatment product can get through it, and the flea inside can wait weeks or months until it senses movement, warmth or someone walking nearby. Then it comes out and jumps on the first body that passes.
So when someone sprays once, or treats the cat and leaves the house, or treats the house and leaves the cat, the fleas come back. The product isn’t to blame. Half of the cycle was hidden.
How we deal with fleas
We start with questions. Where does the pet sleep? Does it go up to the roof? Are there cats hanging around the building entrance? The answers tell us where to focus, because most of the eggs and larvae end up where the pet sleeps and on the rug it uses most.
Before the visit we ask for some simple preparation. Vacuum thoroughly, wash the pet’s bedding and any throws it sleeps on in hot water, and pick toys and clothes up off the floor. Vacuuming alone removes a large share of the eggs and larvae and opens up the carpet fibres so the product can sink in. If the pet sleeps on your bed or the sofa, those sheets and covers need a hot wash too.
Then we treat rugs, fitted carpet, sofas, under the beds, floor edges and anywhere else the pet spends time. On the same day the animal is treated with whatever product your vet recommends. This step really matters. Fleas live and lay eggs on the animal, so if only the home is treated, the cat keeps dropping fresh eggs every day.
About two weeks later we come back to treat the fleas that have emerged from cocoons before they can lay eggs. German Egypt Control is licensed by the Ministry of Health and Population, licence no. 32, and our products are approved by the ministry.
Roofs, gardens and swimming pools
Many of the flea cases we see start outside the flat: a roof where street cats sleep, the light well, the garage, or a garden with sand and shade. In villas and compounds we often find them in shaded spots around the swimming pool and under garden seating, because cats like those places.
In these cases treating indoors isn’t enough. We treat the outdoor area as well and suggest ways to block off the spots where cats sleep on the roof or under trees. If the building has a lot of street cats, it is best for residents to agree on cleaning the roof and light well together, so the source doesn’t stay next door to you.
If you have just taken over a flat that was locked up, or moved into a rental where the last tenant kept cats, don’t be surprised if fleas show up in the first day or two. Those are cocoons that were waiting for someone to walk in. It is best to treat the flat before you move furniture in, while the floor is clear and the product can reach every edge easily.
When to call us
If you have seen one flea on the carpet, there are probably many more you haven’t seen. Fleas multiply quickly in warm weather, and treating them while they are in one or two rooms is far easier than once they have reached every carpet and sofa. Don’t delay the pet’s own treatment either, because constant scratching breaks the skin, and a vet needs to look at that.
Call us or send a message on WhatsApp, and tell us whether you have pets and whether there is a roof or garden, so the technician comes prepared. Anywhere in Egypt, a technician can reach you the same day.
After the treatment: what to do
- Vacuum carpets and sofas every day or every other day for the first weeks. The vibration makes fleas leave their cocoons and die on the treated surfaces. Throw the vacuum bag away outside the home.
- Don't wash the carpets or mop the floor until the technician says so.
- It is normal to see fleas for two or three weeks after treatment. They are coming out of cocoons and won't survive.
- Finish the pet's treatment as your vet prescribed, and keep it off the roof and away from street cats for a while.
The price is set after the inspection
The price of flea control depends on the size of the home, how much carpet, fitted carpet and upholstery there is, whether a roof, garden or pool area needs treating, and how many follow-up visits are needed. We confirm the exact price before we start, and the inspection comes with no obligation.
After treatment you receive a guarantee certificate stating the period and the service, and if the problem returns within that period we come back at no extra cost.
