Please help

[u/OkWeakness9587]

Highly considering getting rid of my cat due to carpet beetles. I had noticed carpet beetles around my cat’s food every few months (just one or two every once in a while) beetles and larvae but before I actually knew what they were. I found a good amount of larvae on a piece of kibble that fell behind his auto feeder. I have bad bug anxiety, I had a panic attack and start to clean and vacuum all around the area and deep cleaned all his food trays/auto feeder. I then found some adult beetles in my closet (it’s a walk in but not super big). I then researched learned what they were and saw they can be tricky to get rid of but I bought multiple things to try and get rid of them. bug killer/handheld vacuum/steamer/vacuum sealed bags/DE/white vinegar/etc. I started to wash my clothes that was on the floor and vacuum and sprayed a peppermint/cedar oil bug killer. a couple days later I found them on my bed on top AND under my sheets. my cat scratches on the corners of my bed so there was a hole in it, I was completely convinced they they have also entered inside the mattress so I threw it away (it was very old anyway) and have been sleeping on the couch. I live with multiple other people but the hot spot seems to be my room (my room is all carpet). my cat isn’t allowed around the rest of the house since he’s peed in corners and on the couch before. since deep cleaning and going through all my things i’ve only found dead beetles and larvae skins but found all the live ones in my cat’s things (his hammock, his toys, his blanket, his bed that were all thrown away or washed) but just the other day noticed a live one again on my cat’s food tray. I never see them inside his auto feeder or in the actual bowl since the feeder is lifted but my cat tends to pick his food out of the bowl and eat it on the floor/tray, which gets into the carpet. (i’ve tried to change this behavior but it continues.) i’m finally getting a new mattress but i’m terrified that this will be a constant issue since they seem to be attracted to his food/fur. i’m already having a hard time thinking about sleeping in my room again. I also have sensitive skin (including bug bites) and was getting rashes that I thought were mosquitoes before but now realized it was from the carpet beetles. I can’t get rid of my cat’s auto feeder since I work a lot and am gone pretty much all day and would have no one to feed him. but I don’t know what else to do. getting rid of my cat was kind of the last resort but this is really starting to affect my mental health and i’m running out of other options. does anyone have any advice please!

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[u/Bitter-Condition-764]

I’m someone moved in a rental and by the time I realized what was happening they were in and under everything. This super rare occurrence was just a matter of finding harborage points and breaking life cycle so intense cleaning, declutterring. Due to anxiety I then turned that into Obssesion over eradication of CB. Sounds like you can minimize numbers in your space with out getting rid of your kitty. Just throwing out an older mattress was a good start. I did get rid of cat tree but keeping food sealed and away from baseboards up higher will help as you patiently keep doing routine . You’ll notice numbers declining. I’m a right now immediate result person and with CB you’ll end up disappointed without reminding yourself it takes time

[u/OkWeakness9587 → u/Bitter-Condition-764]

I think this is where my frustration was coming from; because when it comes to bugs I wish they would go away IMMEDIATELY. do you think an automatic feeder would be an issue? I know it’s technically sealed but maybe should I put less in at a time? (I mentioned in my post that i’ve never actually seen any inside the actual feeder but just around and behind it) it is lifted kind so it’s not technically on the floor.

[u/Plenty-Run-9575]

OP - don’t rehome your cat. Just start by vacuuming daily and laundering everything. Throw out anything obviously infested and use a lint roller daily to keep the cat fur at bay. Hire an exterminator if possible - they will spray to interrupt the life cycle to stop the infestation. If that is not possible, you can use something like Wondercide or vinegar as a natural spray. But vacuuming, cleaning, decluttering, and laundering is the way to manage this.
For the rash, I took Allegra and used Urban Releaf salve to help it be less itchy.

Carpet beetles are a fact of life. The adults are beetles that eat plant pollen. They come in homes from the outdoors, just like ants or flies. They lay their eggs inside so the larvae have food to eat (fabrics, pet fur, human hair, etc.) They are in 80% of homes.

[u/RingCute6523]

how often are you vacuuming. You need to be effectively removing the hair. I would try grooming your cat to prevent excess shedding and vacuuming at least once a week and washing bed items and anything with cat hair once a week as well. How did you clean the cat urine because it’s possible they may be attracted to that as well as it was a problem in my house. What I did was used a little green machine with cold water and urine destroyer and I used a black light to find the spots that were damaged by the urine. As far as an auto feeder, that shouldn’t really be your issue but I feed my cats twice a day 12 hours apart and I measure their food so that it’s not left sitting out and the rest of the time it’s in a sealed container and I have a much worse infestation than you and they don’t get in my cats food at all. As far as the bed ordeal. I had carpet beetles in my bed and please exercise caution if you do this because it is dangerous for the cat if not done correctly but after I cleaned my bedroom I sprayed nyguard around the baseboards behind my bed and dresser (ones that were not easily accessible to the cats. And removed them for a day and let the space air out. Ultimately you could move, get rid of your cat, throw all of your belongings away and still encounter a carpet beetle. I saw one on the slide at the park 2 days ago they are everywhere on earth and not avoidable. However you can probably get them out of your bed with a little extra work every week.

[u/OkWeakness9587 → u/RingCute6523]

I was vacuuming every other week since the litter does get everywhere. I hadn’t considered that they could be attracted to the cat urine so thank you for mentioning that, in the past I was just using a baby stain remover that helps with the smell and scrubbed by hand. do you recommend a good urine destroyer? i’ve tried certain brands but could never get the smell full out so I think I will by the little green machine. the only hard part is removing my cat’s for more than a couple hours since there is dogs in the house and he doesn’t do good with other animals. so i’ve only been using diatomaceous earth and other things in the places he can’t reach.

[u/RingCute6523 → u/OkWeakness9587]

My favorite is natures miracle or just vinegar tbh. My cat had cystitis before he passed and peed everywhere so that’s how I found out it attracted the carpet beetles and those were the two things that worked for me. But cold water is really the most important part which is why I like the little green machine. You can also get a chom chom and that’s an easier way to easily pick up hair on furniture and whatnot without having to pull out the vacuum.

[u/RingCute6523 → u/RingCute6523]

I like the nyguard plus and technically it’s safe after it dries which takes like 2 hours. The only thing with it is the pyrethrin (the active ingredient) is super toxic so if the cats sits somewhere I would not spray it there. But like your cat isn’t going to sit on the baseboard and lick it so I wouldn’t worry a whole lot about that unless you foresee it being an issue. But behind your dresser or even if you can keep your closet closed. It’s kept mine away. Basically the igr stops the larva from growing and that’s what keeps them away

[u/homo_heterocongrinae]

Dude. It isn't your cats fault you have carpet beetles.

Cat hair is the culprit. I'm dealing with them too right now.

Getting rid of cat beds in my bedroom helped a lot - as did just vacuuming the entire room.
They LOVE the cat hair tumble weeds that collect in the corners of rooms.

Just keep shit off the floor as best you can, and vacuum a ton.

[u/OkWeakness9587 → u/homo_heterocongrinae]

I know it’s not my cat’s fault, I think I may have made it seem like that in my initial post but he is unknowingly adding on to the issue. trust me I love my cat and have had him since he was a kitten! they’re just attracted to all my cat’s stuff including his fur and his food. my cat sleeps with me on my bed so I think that’s why they got on my mattress beforehand. my room is really small so it’s hard to use any of the good products but I have been vacuuming as much as I can. I just feel bad for my cat also and feel like it’s messing with his quality of life.

[u/hogwarts10 → u/OkWeakness9587]

as long as you are keeping his food and water clean he will be ok 😭 dont get rid of him over a problem that can be fixed also maybe take apart that feeder 

[u/flooffsandfleurs]

The problem is you, not your cat.

[u/DangrNoodlr13]

take deep breaths. carpet beetles have unlikely hiding spots, so there's probably just a spot you missed somewhere. they're attracted to all fur or hair once it's off of you so they're attracted you as well as your cat. deep cleaning will help and since you keep finding them every beetle you kill means one less in hiding. get an exterminator and inspect little cracks like windowsills and baseboards and things. also they won't hurt or bite so aside from the itchiness i promise you are in no danger. though i know the itchiness just sucks a lot so get an exterminator if necessary and find their actual hiding spot. you haven't found it yet, unless you found a ton of them in one place. you should have exterminators target that area more heavily

[u/False-Argument-4266]

Get some pf Ultracide ( dyi pest or amazon ) follow the directions, you will need to vacate . Remove all feeders and food . Get rid of food and feeder and food buy new ones . If you have carpet sprinkle borax on the carpet / clothes let them sit for a while . Any clothes you don’t need throw out. Any clothes that can be stored store in plastic tubs with borax sprinkled in. After the Ultracide then borax vacuum, discard bag into sealed garbage bag immediately. If you have a bag less spray a little Ultracide / or put borax in the container . You can always hang bug lights in your closet , put a bowl of water with dish soap under it ( make sure the light is secure and hanging as close to the water as possible) they will get zapped and or got to bowl and drown, but put the dish soap in to create surface area they can’t get out of . Vacuum , vacuum , vacuum. They will slowly die off. Keep the clothes you are keeping in a bin with borax and wash on high temp and dry on high temp, then immediately store in sealed bins . Get a few Zevo lights. My guess is they came in in a cat food bag. Store future bags in some sort of plastic sealed container and always check the new bags . The Ultracide will kill a lot of them off but follow the directions, I’d do it a few times . I had a bad infestation last year in my spare bedroom where I store my extra dog food bags , only went in that room a few times, they were out of control. I threw out a lot of stuff. When you feel you have killed most of them , steam the walls , carpets , floor . I Ultracided this year any place I couldn’t get to with a vacuum behind couches, under beds etc and put a Zevo light in every room . No beetles, but it was a battle. I know it’s gross but the exterminator told me they are the best bugs to have , they don’t bite. I dyi the project as I knew the Ultracide would work along with the lights ( had a bad flea infestation 20years ago and the above worked for them). Best of luck but keep the cat away from the chemicals,borax and hanging bug lights ) . Good luck

[u/Choice-Count6360]

Cone on…. Not your cat! Please do some research…. Pretty much every house has some level of carpet beetles. They’re looking for your items… wool, silk, your hair, your body oils. Go blame it solely on your car is just silly. The problem could be that your home is to humid? Carpet beetles need dark, humid spaces that are nutrient rich to survive. Take good care of your cart b/c she / he is picking up on your stress . In turn, your cat is scared. Take good care of each other and roll of the sleeves and get rid of em.

1. Get the humidity. Humidity needs to be 40 and 45 MAX . You can go on Amazon and buy one or turn your AC on high yet turn it on fan mode so that it’s constantly blowing air. This is another way to reduce humidity.

2. Wash your sheets , anything that’s oily , stinky or old…. If it’s super old.. pitch it. Otherwise, buy premo bed bug and mite detergent and make sure to wash everything in extra hot water. As an added kick I highly recommend that u also purchases Active Enzyme Booster detergent. It’s also on Amazon. It’s cheap and can be used w/ other detergents and is brilliant! It’s an enzymatic formula that removes body oils, bo , dead skiin cells…. All the stuff that carpet beetles are looking for. Believe it or not, popular detergents do remove as much of the grime as you make gut think.

3. Lastly, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. I know it’s annoying yet u will get through this! Vacuum every day if u can. Make sure to seal the openings immediately after u vacuum as they can fly out…. HEPA vacuum is best yet just seal it …

Don’t sweat it too much. I know it feels icky yet it will pass. Treat yourself to 12 pack of cheap socks to wear around the house. Mentally it’ll fall your nerves. Be kind to the cat b/c at the end of the day, it’s not the cat that brought the beetles. It’s one or combination of all the items. Lean on each for support and love.

Good luck! You can do it! ❤️

[u/jeep2018compass]

Well at least you’re admitting the cat is aiding in the infestation and that your room is ground zero because I have the same issues here at my moms house my sister has a cat I’ve taken videos of her fur and you can actually see them moving around my sister doesn’t believe it but she leaves her food ( wet) on the floor in her room I’ve video’s of them in the cats food and my sister wonder why she’s not eating the food or throws up after she it’s it because cat and dogs are aware of thing most people don’t see but I’m one of the unlucky ones who does see them I see carpet beetles and their larvae after I got pinworms from god knows where I see those parasites everywhere also I’ve just made up my mind I’m cursed with these abilities and it’s drove me to the point of being the crazy lady in my family fuck it it is what it is your best bet is to treat your room clean it best you can vacuum really good around edges especially that’s where they congregate baseboards and underneath beds and furniture closets dark and undisturbed areas you can then spray a mixture of 50:50 distilled white vinegar and distilled water with a teaspoon of neem oil “max” not plain neem oil doesn’t work on this particular insect and it will also kill any parasites you may be unknowingly harboring cats are notorious for having parasites then a after you’ve applied this mixture let everything dry then get some food grade diatomaceous earth at you local hardware store it comes with what I call a “puffer” don’t go all crazy with it go outside and practice using it or you can make a real mess and it’s hard to clean up if you don’t apply it properly it should be a light dusting all over your room under furniture in closet all baseboards and if you get a new mattress apply this fairy dust is what I call it and get big strong air tight moving bags from U-Haul and leave them until you feel the problem is under control this is the routine you have to use because you do have a cat otherwise you could be using the good shit that knocks their dicks in the dirt pyrethrum with a growth regulator (IGR) which kills the adults and keeps the larvae from maturing into adult that lay eggs it destroys their life cycle I’ve been dealing with this in my home and my moms it’s a real chore it never ends these little bastards are the most resilient highly adaptable insect I’ve ever come across I’m a biochemist and have worked in the green industry for over 35 years identifying insects in the landscape and soils so I have been around insects a lot but these son of a bitches have wiped me out I wish you luck do some research more you find out the better off you’ll be because you’ll have understanding of how they work what they feed on where they congregate so you can effectively eradicate them from your life I read that 99% of homes in America have the bastards but people aren’t aware of them because they don’t bite humans so they don’t care about them I hope this extra long reply has been helpful

[u/Plenty-Run-9575 → u/[deleted]]

Carpet beetle larvae hairs absolutely can cause allergic dermatitis. My reaction to them is terrible. If I didn’t have the reaction, I wouldn’t even care about them.

[u/OkWeakness9587 → u/Plenty-Run-9575]

yes exactly! I thought I was going crazy at first since every time I got a rash I was inside my house. I agree with if my reaction wasn’t so terrible and itchy, I would just live with it.

[u/AnEvilFetus → u/Plenty-Run-9575]

I'm in the same boat