cat flea life cycle – LEARN MORE

​With fleas being such a tiny insects, you may wonder what harm they can do beyond the apparent irritation of itchiness and uncleanliness. Unfortunately, fleas can be a much bigger problem than people realize and are capable of causing fatalities to cats; thankfully, death by fleas is quite rare. However, young kittens, older cats, and cats with pre-existing health problems are at a much greater risk of being killed by fleas. This article will find information on how fleas can make your cat sick, the symptoms to look out for, and general care to keep those pesky fleas at bay.    

​WHAT IS A CAT FLEA?

​The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the typical flea found on pets, affecting cats and dogs. This type of flea is the most abundant and widespread type of flea found worldwide, with more than 2,000 different species of fleas.

​Can my cat get fleas during the winter time?

​Cat fleas love warm and humid environments and don’t thrive as well in the winter. However, they love central heating, so your home makes the perfect vacation hangout. Although, introducing new fleas to your home will be significantly reduced during the winter months. However, it is still recommended to de-flea your pets throughout the year. 

​How did my cat get fleas?

​There are so many ways for fleas to make their way to your indoor cat. Fleas are expert hitchhikers; they can hitch a ride on anything. Like another pet, your clothing, bags, or they can even jump through your front door. It only takes one little flea getting into your home before you have a potential infestation. 

What is the life cycle of the cat flea?

​In ideal weather, the single adult female flea can lay from 10 to 50 eggs a day. Its entire life cycle from an adult, to egg, to larvae, to pupae, back to adult can take place in weeks.

Here are the four (4) life cycles of the cat flea:
​
Adults: Adult cat fleas are 1 mm (0.039 inches) to 3 mm (0.118 inches) in size, wingless, reddish-brown to black, and their bodies are compressed (flat). Adult cat fleas live 4 to 25 days. The adult cat fleas require fresh blood to produce eggs, and this is usually the only stage during the flea's life cycle when they live on your cat. They possess powerful hind legs which allow for running and jumping. Cat fleas jump an average horizontal distance of 20 cm (8 inches) and an average height of 13.2 cm (5.2 inches). 

Eggs: The eggs are laid at the average rate of around one egg per hour, but they can have double that amount in the right environment. The eggs are oval, smooth, and 0.5 mm (0.019 inches) in size. The eggs will be deposited into your cat's fur, but this is not where they stay. Most eggs will roll right off your cat or fall within a few days, depending on how active your cat is. Depending on where they land, the white egg is nearly impossible to see against surfaces such as carpet or bedding because of its size. It is here where the egg will remain until the larvae emerge.

Larvae: Wormlike larvae hatch from the eggs within two days of egg-laying (oviposition). This larvae stage lasts 5 to 15 days. These cat flea larvae range from 1.5 mm (0.059 inches) to 5 mm (0.196 inches) in length. The larvae lack legs, and eyes, are covered with few hairs and have a translucent exoskeleton.
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Pupae: The larvae spin silk cocoons in which they will develop to become adults. The cocoon's outer surfaces are sticky, allowing dirt and debris to stick to the surface. This dirt helps provide camouflage to the cocoons until they fully develop into adult fleas. The adult flea may stay in the cocoon for up to 5 months. Still, when stimulated by a passing animal, the adult can emerge within seconds. Once they emerge from the cocoon, they are adults, starting the cycle.

What Diseases Can Fleas Give My Cat?

​Anemia - Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Your cats, especially kittens, if heavily infested, can get anemia. Severe anemia can be life-threatening. Symptoms include; rapid heartbeat, weakness, pale mucous membranes, and lethargy. 

Bartonella – This bacterial infection (also known as bartonellosis) may cause chronic inflammatory conditions in cats. Such as; inflammation of the gums, the mouth, and inflammatory bowel disease. Some cats may carry the disease but appear to be completely healthy. While rare; it can be transferred to humans from cats through a scratch or bite; also known as cat-scratch fever.
 
Tapeworms – During grooming, your cat can ingest an infected flea. The tapeworm will attach to the intestines, where they grow and rob your cat of nutrients. Tapeworms can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) - A substance in a flea's saliva is released when it bites your cat. This bite triggers an immune response. It can cause hair loss around the tail, inner thighs, and stomach and cause skin infections.
 
Rickettsia – This is also known as Cat Flea Typhus. When the cat scratches the infected flea, fleas acquire the bacteria from an infected mammal and then transmit it to cats. Typhus can be transmitted from cats to humans. A person with a weakened immune system can develop headaches, fever, confusion, and a rash. While is no treatment for cats, people are treated with antibiotics. Most cats with rickettsia tend to be asymptomatic.
  
Plague – There are three clinical forms of plague; Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, and Pneumonic Plague. Fleas get the bacteria from an infected host (most commonly a rat).

​How do I protect my cat from fleas?

While nothing is 100 percent guaranteed, here are the three top ways to help protect your cat from fleas.
 
Use flea prevention for cats regularly - To prevent fleas, you should treat your cat monthly when there is no infestation. Then, the treatment should continue throughout the year to ensure your cat remains flea-free.
 
There are several treatments you can use, such as:

• Spot-on treatments
• Tablets
• Collars
• Sprays
• Shampoos

              
Keep your cat indoors – This may not always be possible, but it will reduce the number of fleas (expert hitchhikers) the cat brings into the home. Remember, it only takes one flea having one egg every hour to cause mayhem.  

Vacuum your house every other day – If a flea does manage to feed on your cat and start laying eggs, remember that most eggs will fall to the ground. Thus, vacuuming every other day helps eliminates the eggs before they can develop into a new generation. You may even vacuum up that flea that made its way into your home. ​

​Conclusion

​While this was not an all-inclusive guide on fleas, I hope you come away with more knowledge than you had before. Fleas are nasty little critters, and your cat deserves to be flea-free and not agonize. Flea prevention is an easy task for you to perform, and your cat will love you for it.