Cat Flea

Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis

Order & Family: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae

Size: 1.5 mm to 3.3 mm (roughly the size of the plastic tag barb shown)

Domestic environments, specifically on mammals (cats, dogs, humans) and in carpets or bedding

Hematophagous (blood-feeding); adults feed on host blood while larvae consume organic debris and flea dirt

Agile jumpers that use flattened bodies to navigate hair; they undergo complete metamorphosis from egg to adult

Risks include skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, and transmission of pathogens like tapeworms or Bartonella; no known benefits to humans

Identified on: 3/2/2026