Scientists have catalogued over 2,000 flea species. The most common domestic flea is the cat flea or Ctenocephalides felis.
Female cat fleas can lay up to 20–50 eggs per day, averaging roughly one to two eggs per hour.
About half a millimetre in size, these dry eggs look like teeny tiny white beads.
Some stay on the cat, others drop off onto floors, sofas and rugs.
Larvae hatch after about two days. These wormlike creatures are see-through and they grow quickly. In damp climates, some are half a centimetre long.
While larvae eat organic debris, including skin flakes and food particles, their favourite meal is waste produced by adult fleas.
This is why controlling adult fleas is critical to breaking the flea life cycle: no adult flea dirt (which is adult poop) means less food for larvae.
After five to 10 days of living it up, larvae wrap themselves up in a silk cocoon and prepare to become adults.
Pupae typically emerge in five to 14 days, but if it’s cold, they can remain dormant for weeks or even months.
When they emerge, they look for a host to feed from. Although they may bite a human, they prefer a furry animal like a cat or a dog.
Apart from the painful bite, fleas cause various health problems, including anaemia.
An early sign of fleas in adult cats is pale gums. Fragile newborn kittens may die before you can even spot warning signs.
Unsure if your cat has fleas? Fleas like warmth so check your kitty’s tummy and ears. As fleas sometimes stay still and look like flecks of dirt, double-check by picking a few out and squishing them on a piece of paper.
Adult fleas filled with blood will leave a reddish streak.
Thankfully, there are a number of effective anti-flea treatments. If in doubt, consult your vet.
