How do fleas breed on cats? - briefly
After a blood meal, a female flea deposits 20–50 eggs onto the cat’s coat, where they soon fall into the surrounding environment. The eggs hatch into larvae, which spin cocoons and mature into adult fleas that seek a new host.
How do fleas breed on cats? - in detail
Fleas complete their reproductive cycle on a cat through a series of distinct stages. Adult females ingest blood, which triggers ovogenesis. Within 24–48 hours after a blood meal, each female can lay 20–50 eggs per day, reaching up to 2 000 eggs over her lifespan. Eggs are deposited on the host’s fur but quickly fall off due to the cat’s movement and grooming. Once on the surrounding environment—bedding, carpets, or floor—eggs hatch into larvae within 2–5 days, provided temperature stays between 20 °C and 30 °C and humidity exceeds 50 %.
Larvae feed on organic debris, including adult flea feces (rich in blood proteins). After 5–11 days of feeding, larvae spin silken cocoons and enter the pupal stage. Pupae remain dormant until stimulated by vibrations, carbon dioxide, or increased temperature, cues commonly generated by a resting cat. Emergence of the adult flea occurs in 1–4 days, after which the newly emerged insect seeks a host, typically the same cat, to obtain its first blood meal.
Key environmental factors influencing the breeding process:
- Warm, humid microclimate (optimal 20–30 °C, >50 % RH) accelerates egg hatching and larval development.
- Presence of organic detritus supplies nutrients for larvae.
- Limited grooming or heavy fur density reduces egg removal, increasing the number of eggs reaching the environment.
- Repeated infestations create a cumulative reservoir of eggs, larvae, and pupae, sustaining the cycle.
Interrupting any stage—by regular vacuuming, washing bedding at ≥ 60 °C, applying insecticidal treatments, or maintaining a dry, cool indoor climate—breaks the propagation loop and prevents further population growth on the feline host.