My first steam treatment is today. My bed, futon, and hopefully a chair I found one on this morning will be steamed. The PCO also said he'd be using DE. He knows I have a cat. He said I just need to keep her in the bathroom while it's happening, so I put her in there and I'll let her out after work. Here are my concerns:
I still live across from the man who didn't say he had them, set off a bug bomb, and only got caught and 'fessed when the beagle came in after others complained. I absolutely would not move and risk transporting them until it was safe to do so, but I am thinking about moving to a studio with wood floors as soon as it's officially safe. I know they can find you anywhere, but the idiot across the hall (smokes and it comes through my vents, too...) makes me feel extra not-safe. I doubt he'll be taking the precautions I will.
I'm reluctant to put too much money into things like caulking -- I don't want to be in this apartment forever and it's low-income housing and especially now, I won't feel safe until I move. But until then, by bagging, wiping things down, and vaccuming and washing frequently, will I be effective?
In your opinion, do I need to board my cat? After reading more about DE, I am VERY concerned about the PCO's clain that the cat will be fine. I don't want to poison her, and also I worry about bites. The landlord told me they don't bite cats, but I'm finding lots of into that says differently. She hasn't been behaving any differently, and the vet would have told me (on Thursday, when she went) if they'd noticed welts. I still haven't (on her!)
I had a friend sleep on my couch for two nights a few weeks ago (right before I figured out what the problem was.) She says she's just fine. My boyfriend has also stayed over since the problem began, but NOT since we knew what it was. He doesn't report anything either. I'm worried that they just may not react the way I do, and I don't know how to get them to take it more seriously without nagging.
The Packtite: about $300.00. Dry cleaning the things I have that would need to be dry-cleaned/replacing the things I'd have to throw out or put away for 18 months: probably a lot more. Has anyone gotten a Packtite and found it unecessary? It seems like a good investment...
The PCO said that he found no fecal traces, so we caught this early. However, the bites were happening for about a month. They must have been doing their business elsewhere? Isolated bites at first, only one or two, so I didn't get it. And the beagle found nothing in my apartment -- but the next morning I woke up with ten by-the-book welts. Additionally, he found an adult specimen on my bed frame, and I've found four other grow-ups. Is it possible that they just ran from across the hall, full-grown? I feel like if I'm seeing adults, and they're on the bed, the living room chair (and probably the futon) it must be pretty bad.
How worried should I be about this PCO?
It's my first night as bait, on a covered mattress with traps around the bottom. I plan going home, washing and vaccuming, and then having a couple of good strong drinks to entice me onto the Fear-Factor futon.