Cat fleas are the most common species of all members of the flea family. Insects are distinguished by their vitality and adaptability. They parasitize not only cats, but also dogs, birds, and are aggressive towards people. This type of pest is one of the most powerful - when migrating to rodents, they completely replace rat fleas. If you know what a cat flea looks like, the characteristics of its reproduction and parasitism, the fight against a dangerous pest will be greatly simplified.
How to recognize cat fleas
Cat fleas look the same as their close relatives: dog fleas and rat fleas. Only a highly specialized entomologist can distinguish one species from another. The parasite is characterized by its small size and dark brown shiny color. The body length of the imago ranges from 2-5 mm. The fertilized female, whose eggs are formed, increases in size to 15 mm.
The cat flea in the photo has a very menacing appearance due to its sloping forehead, close-set eyes and abundance of bristles densely covering the body. These peculiar teeth allow the parasite to move freely in the fur of a cat or other animal.
Fleas
The insect does not have wings; their presence would prevent them from moving in the thick cover of the prey. The lack of flying abilities is more than compensated for by its jumping ability, which is provided by 3 pairs of legs. The hind legs are especially strongly developed; a special protein, resilin, accumulates in the muscle part, thanks to which the flea is able to cover a distance 200 times greater than its own size in one jump.
Interesting!
Fleas are famous for their jumping, but during landing they are absolutely helpless and cannot accurately project the landing site. Insects do not suffer damage solely due to their light weight.
The cat flea differs from the dog flea in its flattened forehead, and from the rat flea in its more even body structure and smaller size. These differences can only be identified in photographs of cat fleas or through detailed examination under a microscope.
What do fleas look like on cats?
In order to get a good look at a cat flea, you must first catch it. This is a difficult and thankless task.
An ordinary cat flea has a body flattened on both sides, covered with a dense bristle carapace. Strong long legs provide insects with extraordinary agility and the ability to long jump 23–30 centimeters. The average size of a cat flea is 2 – 3 millimeters in length, color – black or dark brown.
Upon closer inspection, under a high magnification magnifying glass or microscope, the legs, the shell, and the proboscis through which the insect drinks blood are clearly visible.
The main feature that distinguishes a flea from all other insects is its incredible mobility and jumping ability .
The human eye is not able to track the jump or movement of the parasite. If you see a dark insect in an animal's fur and it immediately disappears, it is a flea.
A female can lay from 30 to 50 eggs per day. In fact, she does not put them aside, but shoots them. This method is most likely to ensure the survival of all eggs. The hatched larvae find themselves at a sufficient distance from each other, which significantly reduces food competition.
Important . Fleas in cats lay eggs on the skin and do not attach them to hairs. That is why they easily slide off the animal’s fur. The larvae never live on the animal. They feed on organic debris or blood remaining in feces. The habitats of the larvae are clouds of dust, carpets, upholstered furniture, and fleecy fabrics. Regular vacuuming can dramatically reduce the number of insects.
The appearance of fleas on cats is radically different from the appearance of the larvae. The latter are worm-like, completely different from an adult insect.
Fleas in cats as carriers of infections
Due to the fact that insects migrate from one animal to another, they are carriers not only of helminths, but also of such serious diseases as brucellosis, typhus, anthrax, tularimia, plague, and encephalitis. Fleas carry more than two hundred different infections, some of which are especially dangerous not only for cats, but also for humans.
The most common “accompaniment” is helminths. Worm eggs are carried on the legs of insects. If a cat has fleas, it is advisable to treat both infections under the supervision of a doctor, especially when it comes to kittens.
Features of parasitism and reproduction
The mouthparts of cat fleas are designed in such a way that they can only feed on blood. Due to the short proboscis, the parasite is in an almost vertical position during a meal and part of its body is in the wound. All adults feed on blood, regardless of gender.
Fleas on cats
Fleas select prey based on temperature fluctuations and the smell of the prey. Having jumped onto a cat or other animal, the parasite makes several punctures. Having had enough of its fill, it leaves the donor’s body and begins to actively mate. Embryos form in the female's body. The female does not have the qualities of a hen and squeezes the eggs out of herself while moving. During her life, the female reproduces from 300 to 500 embryos.
On a note!
Cat flea eggs have a smooth shell and miniature size of 0.5 mm. Most of them are concentrated in the cat's bedding; occasionally they can be found in the pet's fur. The absence of an adhesive substance on the shell and the peculiarity of the reproductive function of the female ensure the spread of eggs throughout the room or nearby space to places where fleas accumulate.
Under favorable conditions, the eggs develop within 5-10 days, after which fleshy, worm-like larvae emerge from them. Newborn individuals feed on organic remains and waste products of the imago. They are usually not found in cat fur. The younger generation hides in secluded dark corners of the apartment. If there is a food supply and favorable temperature conditions, after 9 days the larvae enter the pupation stage.
Symptoms of flea infestation
As soon as the parasite finds itself on the pet’s fur, it tries to get to the skin and, having bitten through it, begins sucking blood. It takes the insect a couple of minutes to properly attach itself to the victim. Flea bites begin to itch, and the cat actively scratches the problem area, turning small wounds into purulent abscesses.
Very itchy
It is quite difficult to detect the parasite at the initial stage. The owners begin to sound the alarm when the insects have already organized a full-fledged colony. But bites and itching are not the worst thing. Fleas in cats can become a catalyst for the development of deadly infections, which is why it is so important to diagnose the problem at an early stage.
On a note! Fleas do not live on humans due to their lack of hair. On a naked body, parasites simply have nowhere to hide. But if they come into contact with the skin, they can bite a person, which in turn causes itching and burning.
Signs of a flea infestation:
- The pet frequently and actively scratches itself.
- Small wounds with dried blood are visible on the skin.
- Restless sleep.
- Marked passivity: decreased appetite, loss of interest in games and what is happening around.
- Black dots on the fur are flea excrement.
Lifespan of a parasite
How long cat fleas live depends on environmental conditions and the ability to eat well. Optimal conditions for life:
- humidity 60%;
- temperature 24-28°C.
At these temperature and humidity levels, a cat flea lives for 1.5 years (including the stages of egg, larvae, and pupa), provided that it dies a natural death. However, in the natural environment, the average life expectancy does not exceed 3 months. As temperatures rise, developmental stages occur faster and the life cycle is greatly reduced.
Stages of flea development
A decrease in temperature slows down the development of the insect at all stages, and at temperatures below 3°C the parasites die.
Interesting!
Cat fleas can live for 2 months without food. During a starvation diet, they do not fall into suspended animation and continue to actively move. Lack of nutrition only affects the reproduction of the population. Eggs do not form in the body of a hungry female.
Flea bite symptoms
If the listed symptoms are well expressed, supplemented by profuse rashes in the area of the bites, their suppuration, ulcers in the mouth and throat, enlarged lymph nodes, fever and headache, insomnia, we can talk about the presence of a disease such as pulicosis, which is understood as a dermatological disease caused exclusively flea bites. This disease is usually caused by human fleas.
- Stitching sharp pain at the moment of the bite.
- Itching from a flea bite, more pronounced than from a mosquito bite.
- Formation of small tumors.
- The location of the bites is on the legs and occasionally in other places.
- A series of bites characteristic of these parasites.
Why are cat fleas dangerous?
The parasites do not disguise themselves during the bite and do not inject anesthetic substances into the puncture site. Flea saliva contains an enzyme that has a protein structure and provokes allergic reactions. Symptoms of a flea bite:
- pain;
- severe itching;
- the appearance of red blisters and swelling.
Regular attacks by bloodsuckers can lead to weakening, decreased immunity, and anemia of the cat. Fleas carry about 25 dangerous viruses and helminth eggs, so you should fight parasites at the first sign of their appearance.
Review
It is very easy to detect fleas on a cat. If you have a pet with light fur, just spread the hair with a comb and you will notice small dark dots moving in the fur. To examine a dark-colored cat, it is better to lay down a white sheet - when combing, brown insects will fall off and are easy to recognize against a light background.
Yulia, Saratov
How a flea bites
A person experiences a sharp stabbing pain when bitten by a flea, this is explained by the fact that, unlike bedbugs and ticks, the flea does not inject an anesthetic at the time of its bite. Thanks to special enzymes that block blood clotting, which the flea injects during a bite, human blood flows through the wound into the flea's stomach in a thin stream almost by itself. When the flea detaches itself from the bite, the elastic walls of the skin will close and prevent bleeding from escaping.
A painful bite is the least of the evils that a flea can cause.
How to rid a cat of fleas
There are a huge number of ways to deal with cat fleas. Tar soap is considered the most effective among folk remedies. Regular water procedures with a tar detergent will destroy blood-sucking insects and prevent their appearance.
Industrial products are divided into several categories:
- Anti-flea shampoos contain insecticidal substances or plant extracts that help expel and destroy jumping pests. The product is selected taking into account the cat’s age, health status, and pregnancy. Most shampoos solve the flea problem in one treatment. Lugovoi and Bars are considered effective.
Flea shampoos - Flea drops for cats are the easiest remedy to use. They are available in pipettes with a specific dosage. The product is applied to a place where the pet cannot lick it. Insecticidal substances spread throughout the entire skin, concentrate in the upper layer of the epidermis and have a detrimental effect on fleas. The destruction of parasites occurs within 24 hours. Drops provide long-term protection against repeated flea infestation for 2-3 months. The product has age restrictions and depends on the manufacturer. Depending on this, pet owners can choose the drug at their discretion: 4 with a tail, Frontline, Delix, Rolf Club 3D, Barrier, Dana Ultra Neo, Stronghold, Advantage, Blochnet, Celandine, Helminthal, Inspector and others. You can learn more about their properties at your veterinary pharmacy.
- Flea sprays have a lot in common with drops. The difference between the product is in its application. Sprays are produced in polymer bottles equipped with a spray head. The cat is not bathed 2 days before the procedure. Apply the spray evenly over the entire body according to the instructions in the instructions. Frontline and Bars sprays have proven themselves well. After the product has dried, comb the pet. For 2 days after treatment, the cat is contraindicated in water procedures and contact with other animals.
- Anti-flea collars perform a protective function. The inside of the strap is impregnated with an insecticidal solution, the active substance of which has a detrimental effect on blood-sucking insects. Many people prefer to buy Beaphar, Celandine, Bars collars against cat fleas.
Flea collars
Consequences of a flea bite
- An allergic reaction to an enzyme that prevents blood clotting can vary. From rashes, itching, redness and swelling to anaphylactic shock
- The flea is a carrier of a huge number of dangerous diseases.
- Itching caused by a flea bite forces a person to scratch the wound, thereby creating the risk of contracting secondary infections.
Diseases whose pathogens are transmitted by parasites themselves pose a huge danger. Their specificity is largely determined by the type of blood-sucking insect.
Destruction of cat fleas in an apartment
There may be several reasons for the appearance of fleas in an apartment or house. And the culprit is not always a pet. Basement and attic parasites can penetrate through utility lines; insects can be carried on clothes and shoes.
Measures to destroy fleas boil down to thorough cleaning of the apartment and treatment with an insecticidal agent. Aerosols and solutions prepared from concentrates and emulsions have a destructive effect on adults. Places where cat flea eggs and larvae may be located are additionally treated with dust powders.
Flea bites on humans: treatment and prevention
The best treatment for unpleasant consequences from contact with domestic parasites is to prevent their appearance or attack. The use of repellents that repel many insects has a good effect. It is important to use such preparations if the pest colony has grown significantly or it is necessary to go to a place where a large number of pests live.
Very often, bloodsuckers enter a home from the basement if the ambient temperature drops or the room is sanitized. Insects migrate en masse, and the only salvation from them is the use of drugs with a pungent odor. As a rule, repellents are produced in the form of aerosols and creams; they are absolutely harmless to people and even have a softening effect on the skin.
Are cat fleas dangerous to humans and are they transmitted?
A flea can attack anyone (including humans) who is nearby, although it has certain preferences. An attack on a person is possible when the premises are heavily infested with insects and in the absence of a pet as a source of food.
Fleas from cats are not transmitted to humans in the literal sense of the word. Insects only feed on the blood of animals and will not live on humans. They can migrate from place to place by jumping onto clothing when a person passes near their habitat or while petting an infected cat. Fleas can move into the folds of clothing when a person comes into contact with the belongings of animals infested with insects.
Not only flea bites pose a danger to humans, but also the fact that insects are carriers of various diseases.
A flea bite in a person can cause:
- Skin rashes that can lead to the development of mass dermatitis;
- Food poisoning due to fleas ingesting food;
- Various infectious diseases, in particular brucellosis. The disease is characterized by damage to internal organs, fever, and often ends in death;
- Creeping erythema. The disease is revealed by the constant occurrence of dead ulcers, as a result of which the skin begins to peel off and turn pale;
- Severe allergies. The pathological condition is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, and can lead to anaphylactic shock;
- Anthrax. The patient experiences hematomas, damage to internal organs, erosion, and general intoxication of the body. The disease is fatal.
You can prevent flea attacks by regularly wet cleaning the house, wiping the dust, and washing dirty laundry, since it is in dust and piles of garbage that insects live and their larvae develop.
Detection of parasites
The body length of blood-sucking insects does not exceed 2-3 mm, so they are quite difficult to notice. They love to live in floor crevices, behind baseboards, under furniture, in the folds of upholstered furniture, and on carpeting.
The first signs of the presence of parasites are bites that are very itchy and look like red spots. With increased sensitivity and multiple bites, an allergic reaction or dermatitis may develop.
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You can tell if your home is infested with fleas by actively itching your pets. It is difficult, but you can see small brown or black moving dots in their fur. The pet literally tears the skin, causing wounds that become inflamed and can become inflamed.
NOTE! To quickly get rid of fleas and lice, there are only three effective options:
- Calling a pest control service (expensive),
- Purchase (1390 rubles),
- Chemicals (doubtful effect).
You can also determine the presence of fleas in the apartment by spreading a white sheet on the floor. Dark insects on light fabric will be easy to see.
Stages of a flea's life
Egg
An adult flea reaches sexual maturity one day after emerging from the pupa. Pairing
between individuals of different sexes can occur anywhere, and the development of eggs inside the insect begins after the first meal. It is worth noting that without food, the female flea is unable to reproduce. She may starve for months, but will not lay eggs.
After each feeding, from 5 to 20 eggs mature in the flea’s body, which are then pushed out with great force, covering a fairly large distance. A special place for laying is not chosen - the eggs are scattered literally everywhere. A sufficiently large distance from each other provides future larvae with free existence and nutrition without competition with their own brothers and sisters.
Under unsatisfactory conditions, eggs can remain dormant for months.
Larva
It takes approximately 2 days to 2 weeks for the eggs to hatch into larvae. Flea in this
developmental stage feeds on all kinds of organic matter, including dead insects, feces, plant waste, etc. Moreover, variety in nutrition is a vital factor.
Thus, according to research conducted by a pair of scientists (Jules Silverman and Arthur Appel) in 1992, all larvae that fed exclusively on the feces of adult fleas died before the formation of the cocoon. At the same time, all the larvae, which, in addition to feces, also fed on yeast and dog food, survived and were able to move on to the next stage.
If the house is kept clean, that is, there is poor access to organic waste, fleas multiply much worse.
Flea larvae do not have eyes, but avoid sunlight. Habitats: darkened areas of the room, sand, cracks, crevices, bedding.
Doll
When food is available, it takes the flea larva 1 to 3 weeks to begin forming a cocoon.
After another 1-2 weeks, the insect fully matures, but does not emerge from the cocoon.
An adult flea can remain in a passive state for months until it receives a signal that a possible host is approaching. This signal includes sound vibrations, heat, and carbon dioxide emissions. Within a few seconds of receiving the signal, the adult flea emerges from the cocoon and jumps onto its host.
In the larval and pupa stages, the flea overwinters well.
Adult
Once a flea reaches adulthood, its main tasks are finding a source of blood and reproducing. The average life expectancy is from 1 to 3 months, the maximum in the presence of ideal conditions is from 1 to 1.5 years. Young fleas, just emerging from the cocoon, live for about a week if they cannot find food. Fully formed insects can starve for months. Female fleas can lay more than 5,000 eggs in their lifetime.
The ideal temperature for adults varies from +21 to +30, and humidity is 70%.
Anatomical features of fleas
The flea is a special parasite that lives on a warm-blooded “host” and feeds on his blood not only for reproduction, but throughout adult life, and both males and females feed exclusively on blood. Therefore, the anatomy of the insect is fully consistent with these “tasks”.
Of the currently known more than 2000 species, only a few varieties pose a threat to humans, their environment and the economy. These are parasites whose “hosts” are rodents, birds, dogs and cats, other domestic animals, and livestock. As well as domestic fleas, whose eggs and larvae can be laid directly in a human home.
Externally, the pests look very flattened, mostly brown in various shades, insects without wings.
- The body does not exceed 5 mm in length; in the female, during the period of hatching eggs, it can increase to 10 mm.
- The parasite is covered with many tiny spines and bristles.
- It has 3 pairs of limbs covered with bristles, the front - the shortest - clings, the middle - auxiliary - holds, the back - the longest - pushes off to make jumps.
- The organ for piercing the skin and sucking blood is a superbly developed piercing and sucking apparatus.
- There are hidden antennas on the head, which the males put forward during mating and hold the female with them during the mating process.
- At the back there is a special organ that, with the help of hairs, captures even minor vibrations of air, which is called the pygidium.
This anatomy allows the pest to quickly and easily move through wool, hair, down and feathers, between the wings of birds and the folds of skin in animals. In addition, the flea freely clings and moves, changing the angle and direction as desired, on clothing, and jumps into shoes.
The parasite settles in nests, burrows, booths, as well as in people’s homes - in carpets, furniture, bedding and other hard-to-reach places. Soon, if favorable conditions exist, intensive reproduction of fleas begins to occur there.
Removing fleas from kittens, pregnant and lactating cats
All insecticidal preparations contain toxic substances that can harm the fragile body of kittens, a pregnant cat, the expected offspring, and can also be transmitted through mother’s milk during feeding.
According to veterinarians, the approved antiparasitic drugs for the above categories are:
- Advantage drops for withers , the main active ingredient of which is imidacloprid. The drug does not affect the central nervous system of the animal; it is applied to a place that the cat cannot lick (between the shoulder blades).
- Drops Frontline Combo . The drug has a long-lasting effect and is safe for pregnant cats and during lactation. The drug is applied to the withers.
- Drops against fleas and ticks Beafar . A product has been developed on a natural basis. The active ingredient is margosa tree extract. The product has no side effects.
Pregnant cats and kittens can be bathed with anti-flea shampoo, but using the spray during lactation is not allowed, since the cat can lick the toxic substance, as a result of which it will enter the digestive tract, and through milk into the kittens’ body.
Small cats can also be bathed with tar or baby soap, a decoction of Persian chamomile, tansy or wormwood. After bathing, the kittens are dried or dried with a hairdryer and placed on a heating pad until completely dry.
Newborn kittens can be helped to get rid of fleas by scratching. To do this, you need a bowl of water and a special fine-toothed comb to combat lice. The baby is thoroughly combed, held over a bowl of water so that the insects fall into the water. The procedure must be repeated several times.
It is recommended to use insecticidal preparations no earlier than after 8 weeks. Animals with weak immune systems should be treated with such drugs no earlier than they are 6 months old. In this case, kittens must be separated from their mother.
