Pest Library
Cat Flea
Nearly every household flea problem in the Southeast is the cat flea, regardless of whether you have cats, dogs or neither. Adults live on the animal, but eggs, larvae and pupae accumulate in carpet, bedding and shaded soil, which is why the problem seems to restart after the pet is treated.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Ctenocephalides felis
- Identification
- Very small, dark reddish-brown, flattened side to side, hard-bodied and built to jump. Flea dirt looks like black pepper and turns rusty red when moistened.
- Typical size
- About 1/8 inch (1.5-3.2 mm).
- Behavior
- Adults feed on the host; immature stages develop off the host in protected debris. Pupae can stay dormant and emerge when vibration and warmth signal a host.
- Habitat
- Pet bedding, carpet, upholstery, floor cracks, crawl spaces and shaded yard areas.
- Diet
- Blood as adults; larvae feed on organic debris and adult flea feces.
- Lifecycle
- Egg, larva, pupa, adult — commonly completing in a few weeks in warm humid conditions, longer when cool.
- Why it matters
- Fleas can transmit tapeworm to pets and cause allergic dermatitis. Talk to a veterinarian about pet health and to a healthcare provider about any bite reaction that worries you.
- DIY considerations
- Treating the house without treating the pet, or the pet without the environment, usually fails. Foggers rarely reach the protected pupae in carpet fibers and floor cracks.
- Professional considerations
- Service coordinates with the pet's veterinary treatment, targets developmental habitat indoors, and addresses shaded exterior areas. Follow-up is common because pupae continue emerging.
Signs of activity
- Pets scratching, biting at the base of the tail, or losing hair
- Flea dirt in fur, on bedding or on light flooring
- Bites concentrated on ankles and lower legs
- Fleas jumping onto socks when you walk across carpet
Prevention
- Keep pets on a veterinarian-recommended flea program year-round
- Vacuum carpet, rugs and upholstery frequently and discard the bag or empty outside
- Wash pet bedding on hot cycles
- Reduce shaded yard debris and wildlife harborage under decks and sheds
- Screen crawl space access where strays or wildlife shelter
Sources
Related information
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