How Far Can Cat Fleas Jump?
WouterThe question “how far can cat fleas jump” may sound like a simple one, but fleas are incredibly strong, superfast, and extremely flexible. They can jump up to 100 times their body length, which is equivalent to leaping hundreds of meters. This is important, since fleas need to jump onto a moving animal to feed and breed.
Fleas are able to jump for a long distance because they do not have wings. Their legs are designed to have a high jumping ability, but they are not designed to fly. This means that they must feed on an animal that has fur. Despite their small size, this characteristic is enough to make them quite dangerous for pets.
Cat fleas are about an eighth of an inch long and weigh 1.5 to 3.5 ounces. They are reddish-brown in color, with large back legs. They can jump 12 inches horizontally in a single leap, and a single adult flea can carry up to 100 immature fleas. You can tell that your pet is a host to fleas if you see specks on its fur. These specks are the dried blood of the fleas. Once rehydrated, this blood will turn brown.
Once on a pet, fleas will latch onto it and feed. This method of transmission is the easiest way for fleas to spread from one animal to another. The best way to prevent fleas is to clean up your pets regularly, and that means bathing and brushing them regularly.
