Phantom Fleas

I brought my cat back with me when I moved home recently, and it turns out he has fleas. Or, at least, I found flea dirt on him - with the test where you brush him and collect the dirt on a damp paper towel. It turned red.
   
However, I have yet to even see one! His coat is too thick to part (not to mention he won't stand still when I'm around because he loves attention) and he hasn't been scratching at all from what I can tell. And I've started to notice what could be described as flea bites on me.
   
I ordered him a mild infestation kit which should be here tomorrow, and will be giving him a bath today. Can anyone tell me how worried I should be about bringing fleas into the house?? The cat is residing in the patio, but they seem to be coming in on me. We really can't afford an infestation - I'd hate to leave my parents with that when I'm only home for a month.

Yes, the cat can be infested even though you don't see anything. You could infest your house. The fleas are jumping to you when you go talk to the cat.
   
Go to the vet & have the cat checked for parasites. Also get a prescription for "Revolution For Cats", which kills pretty much anything that can infest a cat. Follow the vet's advice on how to treat; check with the vet about the kit you bought; bring it with you when you go.
   
Treat the cat immediately as per the vet's instructions. A treatment lasts for a month; it's a liquid you put on the skin on the cat's back, it's absorbed & stays in the bloodstream.
   
I use Revolution on my cats, & they're indoor cats; my dog goes outside, so he could bring them in (& he gets his own bug-prevention-treatment.
   
If your vet will let you get the prescription filled online, I suggest Drs. Foster & Smith for online prescription medications: It's not the absolute cheapest, but it's nearly half ($90 less than) my vet's prices for 12 doses. It's also a more reputable & reliable company than 1-800-Pet-Meds & such, & it's actually owned by a couple of veterinarians.
   
Ask if your vet price-matches; mine does, & it cuts costs. I bring in a printout of the price page & they charge me that amount.
   
To de-flea your parents' house, go the link below for full instructions. Flea bombs can be bought in home stores like Home Depot & Lowes. Remember to remove all other pets from the house during the fogging/bombing process; the stuff can kill hermit crabs, birds, & small animals if they're left in the house during the bombing.
   
And keep up the Revolution treatments on your cats.
   
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