Cat flea
The cat flea is an insect and is by far one of the most widespread flea species in the planet! They are tiny, elusive, and hard to get rid of. They are there in your backyard, lurking and waiting for your pet to approach the grass so they can land into his appealing skin.
The lifecycle of a cat flea
It only takes two weeks for a cat flea to complete its cycle given the appropriate conditions. However, if conditions are adverse, this time can be upped to one year. The preferred environment for these parasites warm and humid environments, and banishing them off your home is a difficult task.
Just like most insects of its kind, the cat flea goes through four stages:
- Egg
- Larvae
- Pupa
- Adult
In their adult life, the fleas will be living in your cat, feeding off his blood and mating. The female then produces eggs that will fall into the environment where they will hatch into larvae. An adult female can produce 20 to 50 eggs per day, which take 2 to 5 days to hatch.
The larvae will eat organic materials to build a cocoon until they turn into pupae. The conditions for this transformation requires a pretty humid environment– at least 75%. They pupae can stay dormant for weeks and even months, waiting for the proper environment to hatch into adults.
Once the adults hatch, they will begin sniffing on your cat, waiting for him to come close enough and begin the cycle all over again.
Removal of cat fleas
You can now see why only a few fleas can be such a problem. They multiply fast and in a short time. The furry coat of your cat provides the warm, moist, and safe haven the cat flea needs. If you notice that your cat is constantly scratching, you need to identify the presence of these nasty bugs.
Check your cat’s skin around the base of his tail or under the armpits and look for tiny black dots moving around. When fleas bite on your cat, they release a juice that produces itching and allergic reaction in some cats.
Consult your veterinarian what are the most effective ways of getting rid of fleas. Remedies can be taken orally or topically.
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