Sorry I've been spamming everybody so much - I am new to this and have so many questions.
Both K9 handler and the PCO are optimistic that we have a very small scale problem, isolated and easily solved at this stage. We've vacuumed and put out DE as the PCO cannot get out to us to treat until after Christmas. Some of our instructions are to leave clothing in drawers (we have some things dried and sealed in ziplocs just so we have "safe" clothing to wear around/to work.) and make sure all animals are out of the house for a minimum of 4 hours.
We have 2 cats, 3 snakes, and currently 4 crested geckos. We've had a wonderful outpouring of support from friends who will let us hang out at their place while we need to be away, but I'm looking for the best way to do this without risking spreading anything to them.
Snakes can go in tied pillowcases which can in theory be hot dryed first to make sure they're clean - we're trying to see if someone can actually take the snakes for the duration of this so I don't have to worry about the chemicals affecting them.
Geckos can go for a very short time period in small plastic takeout containers, which can be cleaned in HOT soapy water.
Cats, I may try to find some fabric carriers for them that can be washed and dried, rather than risk a BB crawling into and hiding in a plastic carrier.
Does this sound viable?
We're being told we're going crazy considering how confined this problem is right now, but I'd rather go 100% overcautious and nuclear warfare than risk not completely blasting this problem.
I want a Packtite Closet but it is another $1000 we don't really *want* to spend if we can avoid it... this has already cost us $700, and the treatments will be another $500-600...
Does anybody know much about cats and reptiles toxicity when it comes to pyrethrins? The pesticide being used is called Demand. I know they are bad for cats when wet, but low grade pyrethrins are used to treat mites in reptiles, so if none get in the tank, I assume it's safe enough, but the PCO wasn't sure...