How do cat fleas look? - briefly
Cat fleas are tiny, wingless insects measuring roughly 1–3 mm, with a laterally flattened, dark reddish‑brown body and elongated hind legs adapted for powerful jumps. Their bodies are covered in comb‑like spines, they lack eyes, and they are often only visible with magnification.
How do cat fleas look? - in detail
Cat fleas are tiny, laterally flattened insects measuring 1 – 3 mm in length. Their bodies are segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen, each covered by a hard, chitinous exoskeleton that gives a glossy appearance.
- Color: reddish‑brown to dark brown; after a blood meal, the abdomen may appear paler or engorged.
- Shape: oval, tapered at the head, streamlined for moving through fur.
- Legs: six jointed legs, each ending in a pair of tiny claws that grip hair shafts; the hind legs are especially powerful for jumping.
- Antennae: short, flexible, concealed beneath the head capsule, equipped with sensory receptors.
- Mouthparts: piercing‑sucking stylets adapted to penetrate skin and ingest blood.
- Eyes: absent; navigation relies on sensory hairs and chemical cues.
- Wings: none; the species is wingless, relying on jumping and crawling.
The flea’s dorsal surface is smooth, while the ventral side bears bristles that aid in anchoring to the host. When unfed, the abdomen is slender; after feeding, it expands dramatically, sometimes doubling in size, creating a noticeable “ballooned” look. The combination of small size, dark coloration, and powerful jumping ability makes cat fleas highly mobile parasites.