What do cat flea eggs look like? - briefly
Cat flea eggs are tiny, approximately 0.5 mm long, white or cream‑colored ovals that appear in clusters on the host’s fur or in its bedding. They are smooth, translucent, and resemble small specks of sand.
What do cat flea eggs look like? - in detail
Cat flea eggs are tiny, oval‑shaped particles measuring approximately 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. Their outer shell is smooth and slightly translucent, allowing a faint grayish‑white hue to be seen when the eggs are collected on a light surface. Under magnification, the surface appears glossy, lacking any ridges or ornamentation.
When freshly deposited, the eggs are white and may appear slightly glossy due to a thin protective coating. As they age, the coating dries, and the eggs become more opaque, taking on a duller, off‑white color. The interior contains a single embryo surrounded by a clear liquid that gradually becomes more visible as the egg approaches hatching.
Typical locations where the eggs are found include:
- Bedding, carpets, and upholstery where the host animal rests
- Cracks in flooring or baseboards
- Litter boxes and surrounding floor area
- Any fabric or material that retains moisture
Eggs are not adhesive; they rely on gravity to fall through the host’s fur onto the environment. They can be dislodged by grooming or brushing, which is why they are often discovered in vacuum cleaner bags or on clothing.
The developmental timeline is temperature‑dependent. At 75 °F (24 °C), an egg hatches in 2–5 days, whereas cooler conditions extend this period to up to 10 days. Once hatched, the emerging larva is pale and elongate, lacking legs and possessing a distinct, tapered abdomen.
Identifying these eggs requires close visual inspection, often with a magnifying lens or microscope. The combination of size, oval shape, translucent white color, and smooth surface distinguishes them from other household particles such as dust or mold spores.