Why do cat fleas bite? - briefly
Cat fleas bite to acquire a blood meal that provides the protein needed for egg production. Their feeding is stimulated by host heat, carbon dioxide and movement, causing them to pierce the skin and ingest blood.
Why do cat fleas bite? - in detail
Cat fleas require blood to mature and reproduce. Their mouthparts pierce the skin, inject saliva that contains anticoagulant compounds, and draw a small volume of blood. The saliva prevents clotting, allowing continuous feeding, and also provokes an inflammatory response that manifests as itching and redness.
Feeding behavior is driven by several factors:
- Host detection: Fleas sense body heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement. These cues guide them to a suitable mammal.
- Nutrient need: Adult females need protein from blood to develop eggs; males also feed to sustain activity.
- Saliva composition: Enzymes and anticoagulants in the saliva irritate the host’s skin, creating a feeding site and discouraging clot formation.
- Environmental conditions: Warm, humid environments increase flea activity and the frequency of bites.
- Allergic sensitivity: Some animals develop hypersensitivity to flea saliva, resulting in intense pruritus and secondary skin lesions.
The life cycle reinforces the biting habit. After a blood meal, a female lays eggs that fall off the host into the environment, where they hatch, develop into larvae, and later emerge as adults ready to seek a new blood source. This cycle perpetuates continuous feeding pressure on the host.
Consequences of the bite include:
- Local inflammation and scratching, which can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
- Transmission of pathogens such as Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia felis.
- Development of flea‑allergy dermatitis in sensitized cats, characterized by severe itching, hair loss, and skin thickening.
Effective control requires interrupting the feeding process and breaking the life cycle through regular topical or oral ectoparasitic treatments, environmental sanitation, and monitoring of indoor and outdoor habitats.