How Many Fleas Can Live on a Cat?
WouterIf your cat has been scratching and biting, you’re likely experiencing a flea problem. Fleas are insects and spend 90% of their life on the surface of the host. Their life cycle is the same across all species with some slight variations. Fleas live in warm, moist environments such as carpets and upholstered furniture. They can jump more than 200 times their body length and require an environment that is warm and humid to develop into adult fleas.
Fleas lay around 50 eggs per day. The eggs are not sticky and fall to the ground when your pet walks or lays down. Flea eggs are found in many places, including carpet, furniture, and pets. They’re most likely to land on your pet when your pet sleeps. Fortunately, adult fleas only account for a small percentage of infestations.
Fleas are a nuisance for both humans and pets, but there are ways to keep your cat free of fleas. Regularly brushing your cat will help get rid of most fleas, but some may still linger. If you’re not diligent in getting rid of them, you could end up with a cat that has a flea problem for weeks or even months.
Unlike other insects, fleas have a relatively short life cycle. Typically, fleas spend a couple of days in the egg stage before pupating. When ready, the flea will spin a silk cocoon, and incorporate debris in its cocoon. The flea pupa stage lasts four to 14 days under ideal conditions. However, in extreme conditions, the life cycle of a flea may last a year or more. The adult flea will look for a blood meal on the second day after emerging, and may live off body fat for several months.
