How do fleas live on cats? - briefly
Fleas cling to a cat’s skin, feed on its blood multiple times a day, and deposit eggs in the fur that drop into the surrounding environment. Their development proceeds through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, each stage relying on the host’s warmth and moisture.
How do fleas live on cats? - in detail
Fleas survive on cats by exploiting the host’s skin and blood supply, reproducing rapidly, and remaining protected within the animal’s coat and surrounding environment. Adult insects locate a suitable feline through heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement cues. Upon contact, they grasp the hair shafts with specialized claws and insert their mouthparts into the epidermis to ingest blood. Feeding episodes last several minutes, after which the flea retreats to a protected niche in the fur.
Reproduction proceeds entirely on the host or in the immediate surroundings. After a blood meal, a female can lay up to 50 eggs per day, depositing them onto the cat’s fur. Eggs dislodge onto bedding, carpets, or furniture, where humidity and temperature (approximately 21‑30 °C, 70‑80 % relative humidity) favor development. The subsequent stages are:
- Egg – smooth, non‑adhesive; hatches in 2–5 days.
- Larva – blind, C‑shaped; feeds on organic debris, adult flea feces, and skin flakes; molts twice over 5–11 days.
- Pupa – encased in a silk cocoon; remains dormant until stimulated by vibrations, heat, or carbon‑dioxide, emerging as an adult within 1–2 weeks.
- Adult – capable of flight and rapid movement; seeks a host to begin the blood‑feeding cycle.
The life cycle can be completed in as little as three weeks under optimal conditions, allowing populations to expand dramatically. Fleas maintain attachment by exploiting the cat’s grooming behavior; while grooming removes some parasites, the insects’ rapid reproductive output compensates for losses. Additionally, fleas produce a cement‑like substance that adheres eggs to the host’s fur, ensuring continuous deposition onto the environment.
Control measures target each stage: regular combing removes adults and eggs; washing bedding at high temperatures eliminates larvae and pupae; insecticidal treatments applied to the cat’s skin disrupt feeding and reproduction. Sustained intervention prevents re‑infestation by interrupting the cycle at multiple points.