Noordhoek Flea Control

Noordhoek still has a semi-rural feel, with smallholdings, horses, wetlands and big gardens running down to Long Beach. That means flies, rodents around feed stores and thatch problems are more common here than in town.

The local picture in Noordhoek

Fleas and ticks come in on dogs and cats that roam the common and beach. Bird mites can drop into rooms from nests in thatch or eaves.

Noordhoek lies in a broad valley between Chapman's Peak and Silvermine, with wetlands and vleis behind Long Beach and the Noordhoek Common running toward Kommetjie. Winter rain floods low-lying parts of the valley, and summer brings the South-Easter and dry fynbos. Wildlife from the Table Mountain National Park edges is never far away.

What gives them away

1. Bites appearing in a house that has been empty for a while, or just after moving in.
2. Itchy bites in small clusters around the ankles and lower legs.
3. Black, pepper-like specks in pet fur or bedding that turn reddish when pressed on damp white paper.
4. Pale specks and debris in the corners of the dog basket or along the edges of rugs.
5. Tiny dark insects jumping onto white socks when you walk across the carpet.
6. Pets scratching, biting at their back or losing fur near the base of the tail.

A note from the field

Only around one in twenty fleas in a typical infestation is an adult on the animal. The rest are eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment, which is why spot-on treatments alone often fail.

How the treatment works

A proper flea job hits every life stage, not just the adults. We use an insect growth regulator, which stops eggs and larvae developing into breeding adults, together with a residual insecticide on carpets, floors, under furniture and around pet resting places, both inside and in sheltered outdoor spots. Before we arrive, you vacuum thoroughly, wash pet bedding hot and lift items off the floor so the product reaches where the larvae live. The pets must be treated by your vet on the same day or just before, otherwise new fleas keep arriving. Because pupae are protected in their cocoons, we often book a follow-up treatment a couple of weeks later to catch the late hatchers.

Want the full step-by-step? See how our flea control service works.

Stopping a repeat visit

• Before moving into a rental or newly bought home, ask whether the previous occupants had pets, and consider a treatment before the furniture goes in.
• Deal with rats or mice in the roof promptly, as their fleas can drop into the house.
• Wash pet bedding on a hot cycle every week or two and vacuum the areas where pets sleep.
• Discourage stray cats from sleeping under the house, on the stoep or in the garage.
• Keep the grass short and rake away leaf litter in shaded spots where the dog lies outside.

How much will it cost?

The main factors are the size of the house, how much carpet and soft furnishing there is, and whether outdoor areas need treating as well. A heavy infestation in a multi-pet home will usually need a follow-up visit, which we include in the quote. Preparation on your side makes a big difference to how well a single treatment works, and we give a free quote upfront.

Fleas breed fastest in warm, humid weather, so numbers rise from about October and peak through the hot Cape Town summer. Indoors they keep going all year because houses rarely get cold enough to stop them. We also see a spike in autumn when people return from holidays and the vibration of activity wakes up dormant pupae.

Frequently asked questions

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