Cat Flea

Natural Habitat

Found globally; typically lives on host animals like cats and dogs, or in carpets, bedding, and floor cracks where larvae develop.

Diet & Feeding

Adults are hematophagous, feeding exclusively on the blood of mammals (primarily cats and dogs, but also humans). Larvae feed on organic debris and adult flea feces ('flea dirt').

Behavior Patterns

Flightless but capable of jumping long distances. They are laterally flattened to move easily through fur. Females lay up to 50 eggs per day, which fall off the host into the environment.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, and transmission of parasites like tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) or bacterial diseases (murine typhus). They offer no known benefits to the ecosystem.

Identified on: 5/31/2026