What are fleas afraid of on a cat? - briefly
Fleas on a cat are deterred by elevated body temperature, regular grooming that dislodges them, and natural repellents such as essential oils (e.g., eucalyptus, lavender), neem, or diatomaceous earth. Chemical products containing insect growth regulators or pyrethrins also create an environment they avoid.
What are fleas afraid of on a cat? - in detail
Fleas that infest a feline host are deterred by several environmental and chemical factors.
High body temperature limits flea activity; the cat’s skin typically ranges from 38 °C to 39 °C, a range that reduces flea mobility and reproductive rates.
Regular grooming creates a mechanical barrier. When a cat brushes its coat, fleas are dislodged and exposed to friction that can damage their exoskeleton.
Specific compounds act as repellents.
- Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and cedarwood have volatile constituents that irritate flea sensory organs.
- Synthetic insecticides (e.g., fipronil, imidacloprid) interfere with neural transmission, causing rapid immobilization.
- Natural repellents like diatomaceous earth, when applied to the fur, desiccate the insects by absorbing moisture from their exoskeleton.
Biological predators also suppress flea populations. The cat’s own skin microbiota produces fatty acids that are unattractive to fleas, while predatory mites (e.g., Stratiolaelaps scimitus) introduced for biological control actively hunt and consume flea larvae.
Environmental conditions unfavorable to fleas include low humidity (below 40 %) and temperatures below 20 °C, both of which impede egg development and larval survival.
In summary, fleas on a cat encounter thermal stress, mechanical removal through grooming, chemical irritation from repellents, predation by microscopic organisms, and adverse ambient conditions—all of which act as deterrents.