The Type of Cat Fleas Most Common to Watch For

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Worldwide, fleas can be found in about every habitat imaginable. Fleas tend to be associated with domestic pets, but in reality, they will feast on almost any warm-blooded mammal, including humans. With the fleas having no wings, they are unable to fly. To go about, they use their muscular legs to leap from place to place.

Adult fleas have been observed to make jumps of up to 12 inches. They get around by riding their host. They’ve settled on this particular mammal, bird, or human for a bloody feast.

Adult female fleas spend most of their lives parasitizing their host animal, where they suck on its blood and lay as many as a hundred eggs a day. Fleas can quickly spread disease and should be avoided at all costs. Insects and parasites that can hitch rides on host animals have a huge window of opportunity for new habitats.

Due to their preference for warm and humid conditions, fleas are most common on cats in the late summer. However, year-round flea prevention is essential due to the prevalence of central heating during the winter season.

Cats and Grooming

Because cats are such skilled groomers, it can be hard to conceive that your freshly-brushed feline friend could be harboring any parasites. Fleas can be difficult to spot on cats since they are so little and fast that they can readily conceal themselves in the animal’s thick fur.

According to Pet MD, the cat’s blood can be drawn by these parasites leading to constant scratching or over-grooming; they can leave bald spots on your cat’s coat, making it clear that they have fleas. Your cat may develop scabs and red, painful spots on its skin if it is allergic to fleas. Grooming your cat may not be effective in preventing parasites, but it will allow you to check their fur for signs of them so you can get them treated immediately.

10. Bird Mite ( Dermanyssus gallinae)

After eating, the body turns a vibrant red and gains eight more legs. The parasite feeds on the blood of birds. It is thus favored by warm and damp conditions, has a lifecycle of just seven days (under favorable conditions), and a maximum lifespan of about ninety days. It can reduce the efficiency with which birds lay eggs and, in extreme cases, can even kill the birds.

9. Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Because it has an extended body, this parasite is a 3-host tick, which switches hosts three times during its lifecycle (larva, nymph, and adult). According to Rentokil, they only need three blood meals, one at each of the three key developmental stages.

Dogs, kennels, and homes may all be sources, although wild animals and people are much less likely to carry them. Wherever a dog has difficulty maintaining its grooming routine is where attachments are most likely to form.

8. Pigeon Tick (Argas reflexus)

Because their mouthparts are positioned in the parasite’s ventral midline, they are hidden from view when the host is upside down. Skin is wrinkled and leathery, and there is no rough, thickened plate on the bodies.

Females can gain up to three times their body weight during a feeding cycle before laying dark brown eggs.

Although adults and nymphs only feed for a maximum of twelve hours, larvae feed for six to twelve days. Although pigeons are the most common host, other types of birds may also be used. Biting is not limited to animals; humans are at risk, too. Ticks are nocturnal parasites that sleep during the day.

They frequently inhabit pigeon roosts and the neighboring rooms and attics. These ticks can be fatal to the host pigeon if there are enough of them.

7. Scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei)

A Scabies Mite’s lifespan is only 4-6 weeks. It has four stages to its life cycle—egg, larva, nymph, and adult. These tiny animals have four legs and bite and suck mouthparts in their adult forms. The female will lay her eggs near the skin’s surface, and the hatchlings will bore into it.

The epidermis is the layer of skin directly above the dermis, where mites dig for food. The mite can spread through direct contact or on infected textiles.

6. Bird flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae)

The population of bird fleas can explode in warm, humid places like hen houses, breeders, batteries, and similar settings. Adult fleas range from 0.8mm to 8mm and have a brownish hue. Both the eyes and the antennas are visible.

Their mouthparts extend slenderly from the underside of their heads and are perfectly equipped for puncturing the skin and sucking blood.

According to Pest World, the hen flea is the most widespread flea species among birds. Bird fleas may survive only in nests for a limited time indoors. During the nesting stage, the host and the young are accessible for frequent blood feeds to breed successfully. The adult stage of bird fleas is restricted to nests.

Adult fleas must look for a new host when birds abandon their nests. The pupae will mature, mate, and start a new generation if the nest is reused.

5. Chigoe flea (Tunga penetrans)

Fleas from the genus Chigoe are commonly known as jiggers. Their natural habitats include Central and South America and other tropical and subtropical regions. These fleas are among the tiniest, with a typical length of less than 1 mm. The bodies of these fleas are a ruddy brown color.

Their preferred hosts are pigs and humans, although they’ll infect anything with a warm body temperature. After feeding on a human or animal, female chigoe fleas burrow into the skin. Until they are taken away, they have no intention of leaving. Sometimes people don’t even realize they’re there when they first appear. The flea bite might cause severe swelling in the affected area.

4. Oriental rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis)

This pest is also referred to as a tropical rat flea or an Oriental rat flea. Their preferred host is rodents. Their favorite rodent is the Norway rat. Nevertheless, they can consume the flesh of other, warmer-blooded animals. According to My Pet Andi, the fleas can range in color from mild to deep brown.

Once they’ve had a meal, they’ll become red like regular fleas. They can get to be around one-tenth of an inch long. Females can be easily identified by the presence of black sacs on their bellies. They lack the genital and pronotal combs, and behind a flea’s head, you’ll find a row of spines. They rarely invade homes and pets.

Nonetheless, they can invade your garden if mice, rats, or even rabbits carry them there. These fleas will make their home not only on their host but also in the flea’s nest. Their eggs are tiny and white, and oval.

3. Human fleas (Pulex irritans)

These parasites that feed on humans can be found in every region of the world, but they are rarely seen. They were originally from South and Central America and thrived in mild temperatures. While people are a common target, they will consume other animals, such as pigs and rats.

According to Terminix, they are reddish-brown; human fleas can grow to reach between 1 and 4 mm in length. Typically, females will be larger than males, lacking combs on their genitalia and pronota. These fleas populate the nests of their hosts and can be found anywhere a person lives. They lay long, white, and oval eggs in the host’s domicile nest and sometimes on the host itself. Therefore, bites from them frequently result in red, itching pimples.

2. Dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis)

Fleas on dogs are a typical nuisance in residential areas. But they aren’t as common as cat fleas, either. Despite their name, dogs aren’t their only favored host; rabbits are, too. They will also hop onto human hosts if they are found. The whole over, people are battling these fleas.

Fleas on dogs and cats are virtually identical. When they are fed, their brownish-black bodies flush a bright crimson. They have a flattened body and measure 1/8 inch in length. They share the small head size of cat fleas. Their small, transparent, round eggs are a sight to behold.

Eggs will be laid by the female flea in the cracks between the hairs of her host. They lay their eggs close together, and the babies emerge swiftly. A flea biting a dog might result in a red, itchy rash.

They develop from eggs to larvae to pupae to adults. Larvae are longer than adults and consume dried blood, waste, and other organic matter as a source of nutrition. It can readily navigate through an animal’s fur thanks to its elongated, flattened body.

The flea’s body is covered in spines that extend backward and assist it in gripping the host’s fur while it grooms. They can easily hop from one host to another because of their vertical jumping ability. They are also capable of infesting grassy areas of the garden.

1. Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)

The most prevalent type of flea seen in homes is the cat flea. They favor cats and dogs as hosts, but they can infest humans. But they will feed on other hosts, such as rats, out of necessity. The bite of a human is the last resort, as they favor animals. These fleas might be either black or dark brown.

Feeding causes a temporary reddening of the body. They have a flat, bug-like appearance. Women typically have a smaller-than-average head size. It has a body that’s often twice as wide as it is tall. Females often lay four to eight eggs after a meal. The female lays her eggs in the host’s hair, nest, or bedding. According to Purina, the eggs of this species are tiny in size and are white and oval. Eggs have a short incubation period of two days. Red, itchy pimples may appear after a bite.

These fleas are distinct from most others found on domestic animals because they have combs on both the genitalia and the pronotum. A flea has four life phases: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Depending on the combination, these phases can last anywhere from two to eight months.

Whether it’s the vibration of a pet or human moving around, pressure, warmth, sound, or carbon dioxide, the adult parasite is alerted to the possibility of a blood meal. Cat fleas lay their eggs and drop their offspring off wherever the host typically sleeps.

Treatment and Prevention

Flea treatments for cats are widely available from various sources, including veterinarians, pet stores, and grocery stores. While it might not be immediately apparent, there is a large disparity between the products regarding their ingredients, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety.

Always consult your veterinarian for advice before giving anything to your cat because they will have access to the most effective and safest products available. Again, the items’ safety and effectiveness depend on their users’ attentiveness to the directions.

Drops of spot-on products are often dabbed onto the skin of the neck’s nape. Products vary in effectiveness against fleas; some kill adult fleas outright, while others prevent fleas from maturing into adults. Sometimes, tablets are preferable to spot-one, especially if their administration is simpler for the owner.

Be Careful what NOT to use

As a rule, flea powders are not a suitable option for treatment because they are only effective while still on the coat. Collars impregnated with insecticides aren’t particularly effective, can irritate the skin locally, and can be dangerous if they don’t have a safety snap-open feature.

There may be both injectable and orally administered forms of insect flea growth inhibitors. While these options may be more convenient for some felines, they should always be used in conjunction with a product designed to eliminate adult fleas.

The presence of pests can be avoided in several ways, one of which is keeping one’s dwelling clean. Preventing an infestation requires regular, thorough hand washing and drying. To get rid of fleas and discourage egg hatching, it’s important to regularly vacuum carpets, floors, and furniture and wash bed linens.

Since fleas can hitchhike on rodents, maintaining the lawn in good shape can help reduce the likelihood of an infestation. Keeping the lawn frequently mowed, repairing any cracks in the foundation or weatherproof stripping around the windows, and getting rid of any standing water are all part of property maintenance.

If your pet spends time outside, checking their fur for fleas is extremely important. Look out for signs of constant licking or scratching. After long walks or playing with other animals, give your pet a nice, long bath. Ensure that your pet’s soft toys, collars, and bedding are regularly washed. Plagued animals and their dwellings are sprayed with aerosols. Contact your veterinarian for guidance on flea preventatives.

Conclusion

Several serious illnesses in cats have been linked to cat fleas. Diseases like typhus and the plague can be transmitted to humans from these animals, so it’s important to watch them. Depending on the susceptibility of the host animal, several allergic reactions can occur after a bite. The dog tapeworm is a parasite that can infect a cat’s host and then jump to the dog’s host.

Flea allergic dermatitis is a common illness caused by these insects (FAD). Cat fleas can cause severe reactions in some animals. A pet’s excessive biting and scratching can result in bald patches, hot spots, and even an infection. An infestation of fleas in your house, yard, or pets is distressing and tough to eradicate. Contact a pest control expert to evaluate your home for fleas and work with you to devise a solution if you find evidence of an infestation.

You can also read:

• The 20 Most Common Cat Health Problems
• 10 Types of Cat Parasites to Watch Out For