How do fleas bite cats? - briefly
Fleas pierce a cat’s skin with needle‑like stylets, inject saliva that contains anticoagulants, and then draw blood. The bite shows as a tiny, red, itchy puncture, commonly on the abdomen, neck, or tail base.
How do fleas bite cats? - in detail
Fleas locate a cat through heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement, then jump onto the coat and crawl toward the skin. Their hind legs anchor them, while the forelegs guide the insect to a suitable feeding site, typically the neck, base of the tail, or abdomen.
The insect’s mouthparts consist of a serrated, needle‑like stylet housed within a sheath. When the flea reaches the epidermis, the sheath retracts, exposing the stylet. The tip pierces the stratum corneum, reaching the superficial dermal capillaries. Simultaneously, the flea injects saliva containing anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory compounds, and enzymes that prevent clotting and facilitate blood flow.
Blood is drawn up through the hollow canal of the stylet by a combination of muscular contractions and capillary action. The flea ingests only a few microliters per bite, but repeated feeding can lead to significant blood loss in heavily infested animals.
Consequences of the bite include:
- Local irritation and erythema caused by the saliva’s proteins.
- Allergic dermatitis in sensitized cats, characterized by pruritus and papules.
- Anemia when infestation density exceeds the animal’s capacity for blood replacement.
- Potential transmission of pathogens such as Bartonella henselae or Rickettsia spp.
Understanding each step of the feeding process informs effective control measures, emphasizing rapid removal of fleas before they complete the blood‑feeding cycle.