Bugged couch

[Rgarner]

I don't know what these things are, maybe bedbugs. They're maybe about 1/4", teardrop or shield shape, and kind of dark reddish brownish. The other day I picked up a suit coat and they were running out of the pocket. I got rid of a bunch and then used ant and roach spray on it. I let it rest for a while and then took it in the bathroom. There were some left, which I picked up and put down the drain. There were also very small whitish bugs, which I figure were an earlier stage. The couch is near the litterbox because not a lot of options, and the cat goes outside sometimes, though usually not for long. Could he be bringing them in on his fur? Would dry cleaning fix the coat? What do I do about the couch? I probably can't afford another one right now. I don't like the swollen itchy skin bumps either.

 

[Hadron]

A cat wouldn't bring bedbugs in. Fleas, perhaps: are they flat top-bottom or side-to-side? The latter would be fleas. Bedbugs tend to stay hidden during daylight as I understand them (thankfully never encountered them personally).

 

[MoodyBlues]

Bedbugs tend to stay hidden during daylight as I understand them (thankfully never encountered them personally).

Me either--but my daughter did when she lived in New York. Ugh...I remember what an ordeal that was for her; everything they lived in--mattresses, furniture, rugs--had to be tossed, the apartment treated, then new things brought in. Maybe there's a less painful--to the pocketbook--method now.

@Rgarner, did you take pics? Please share them with us if you did. If not, take some if they come back.

As for your cat, uh-oh!, I have very strong feelings about letting cats outside. There are so many dangers out there, but not one single good reason to let them go outside. For his health and welfare, plus to eliminate the possibility of him bringing fleas home, please keep him inside.

There is *no* cat who can't become a happy, content, well-behaved housecat. If you need help making this transition, just ask! FYI, my current four cats include two ferals and one former tomcat. They're all perfectly well-behaved, don't scratch the furniture, don't spray, don't potty anywhere but their litter boxes, don't fight, etc. It can be done!

 

[Rgarner]

They are pretty much flat top to bottom. Sideways they sort of bulge out a little. They're fairly fast. The little whitish things almost seem faster but maybe it's just because of size. I agree that cats are better off inside but it's not always my decision to make. At least he's been inside since before sunset on Wednesday.

 

[MoodyBlues]

They are pretty much flat top to bottom. Sideways they sort of bulge out a little. They're fairly fast. The little whitish things almost seem faster but maybe it's just because of size.

I wonder if you're actually dealing with two different critters. As I recall [from what I had to learn about insects' life cycles in college], insect larva doesn't typically run around. Oh...I just had another thought...ugh...could they all be roaches? The white ones could be immature and/or white from having always been hidden. Roaches would explain all the fast scurrying--I don't think bedbugs do that.

I agree that cats are better off inside but it's not always my decision to make.

Whose decision is it? If your household members aren't on the same page, you can educate them about the dangers of letting cats out. Just like my mature, adult, outdoor-for-years, spraying, aggressive, fighting tomcat adjusted to staying indoors, so too can your household members. It's not that hard for them to learn not to let the cat out any more. Again, if you need help, like educating them, just let me know.

 

[Rgarner]

They are definitely not roaches. I have unfortunately had to deal with them, and these are different. One of them I "drained" seemed to bleed out first. There was a fairly long streak of reddish brownish material. I'm almost convinced that they are bedbugs. By the way, I groomed the cat a little, against his wishes as usual, which is why I seldom bother, and the result was negative. There was just fur, no sign of bugs. I know hot laundering should kill them, but how would I launder the "body" of the couch? The pillows have removable zippered covers, but the covers themselves I think are microfiber or whatever that's called. For now I have resorted to visual inspection and using a brush with stiff bristles. I did take a terrible picture of one of the very small whitish things, but at 4x magnification it's too blurry, not to mention the usual fickleness of the uploading part.

 

[MoodyBlues]

The bloody part sounds like ticks, but I've never seen a tick run, nor a whole bunch of them in one place!

If the cushions have removable covers, they're probably washable. Take one off and see if there's a care label inside. Maybe they're dry-cleanable.

The thing is, if they are bedbugs, those things are going to be deeply embedded in...everything. The cushions themselves aren't going to be [easily] washable. And, of course, you can't do anything about the body of the couch--but if there's anything in it, like foam, they're going to be in there, too.

When my daughter dealt with bedbugs, it really was an all-out attack on every non-solid object in her apartment. Apparently, much like roaches, bedbugs are practically indestructible.

It would help so much if we had good photos.

Have you tried doing an image search to identify them?

 

[mikedt]

You might need to get the couch fumigated, to ensure that the bug colony living in it is completely exterminated.

Dry cleaning should kill and disinfect any bugs in apparel.

 

[Rgarner]

Good photos...that's hilarious. I am not a decent photographer by any extent of the imagination. This S5 doesn't have the best camera, either. I'm almost convinced they are bedbugs. Under the cushions the couch is flat, with some springs. How much would it cost to fumigate it? I have some bedbug spray from the supermarket, but I'm not sure how effective it is. It sure can mess with a person's breathing.

 

[mikedt]

Good photos...that's hilarious. I am not a decent photographer by any extent of the imagination. This S5 doesn't have the best camera, either. I'm almost convinced they are bedbugs. Under the cushions the couch is flat, with some springs. How much would it cost to fumigate it? I have some bedbug spray from the supermarket, but I'm not sure how effective it is. It sure can mess with a person's breathing.

No idea. Maybe best to get some quotes from local pest control specialist. But I know to properly fumigate a piece of furniture like a couch. It basically has to be sealed airtight(so it doesn't interfere with a person's breathing), like using polythene sheeting and strong tape, and then the pesticide or some other poisonous gas is pumped right through the thing, to ensure that all unwelcome "inhabitants" and their larvae are completely dead. It is really a job for professionals AFAIK.

Bedbugs? It could actually be a termite or roach infestation or something?

 

[mikedt]

No idea. Maybe best to get some quotes from local pest control specialist. But I know to properly fumigate a piece of furniture like a couch. It basically has to be sealed airtight(so it doesn't interfere with a person's breathing), like using polythene sheeting and strong tape, and then the pesticide or some other poisonous gas is pumped right through the thing, to ensure that all unwelcome "inhabitants" and their larvae are completely dead. It is really a job for professionals AFAIK.

Very likely an outdoors job as well, just to be extra safe.

Fumigating a couch.

 

[Dannydet]

No peice of furniture is worth the risk to me.

 

[Rgarner]

Are bedbugs poisonous? Can they leave lasting marks? What can be done about those itchy bumps, calamine lotion?

 

[Rgarner]

Are there safe things to deal with bedbugs for cats, just in case? As I said, I groomed him without finding anything besides fur. I guess those things don't like to hang out in hair.

 

[Rgarner]

How hot do hair dryers get? I read that 140° F kills them. I also saw something about using hair dryers specifically for that, at least in a pinch.

 

[Rgarner]

Are there safe things to deal with bedbugs for cats, just in case? As I said, I groomed him without finding anything besides fur. I guess those things don't like to hang around in hair.

 

[Bearsyzf]

you can actually go to a Walgreenes and probably a walmart but i do know they have sprays and powders to get rid of Bed bugs if that is what you are dealing with.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Throw it away. Throw it all away.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Throw it away. Throw it all away.

Hopefully he did, a year ago-

 

[dontpanicbobby]

It gets timey-wimey in the forums.
Sometimes I just feel like...