How do cat fleas reproduce: features of the development and reproduction of parasites

Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that are quite common even in domestic cats. Infection with these insects causes anxiety, irritability, and unbearable itching in the animal, which causes scratching to appear on the body. If the owner does not take measures to remove them, the cat may develop serious diseases. In addition, although these parasites do not usually live on humans, their presence in the house can cause a lot of trouble for household members. Some human diseases are transmitted through these blood-sucking creatures.

Features and signs of fleas

The flea is a small insect (from one to five millimeters in length) brown in color, has six legs with characteristic bristles. It differs from other external parasites (ear and ixodid mites, lice, lice eaters, coccidia) by its incredible jumping ability due to its long hind limbs. It has a special mouth mechanism designed to pierce and suck the blood of the host.

At optimal temperatures and humidity, a generation of fleas can grow in ten days, they spread very quickly and live up to two years. Larvae can develop both on the body of the host and in its habitat. In the house, this could be bedding or an animal’s house, carpets, or furniture upholstery.

The initial infection of a pet is impossible to notice, but as the insect colony develops, the signs become obvious:

• the cat shows increased anxiety;
• often itches and bites teeth into fur and skin;
• characteristic red dots appear on his body - places of bites, from single to numerous;
• appetite decreases;
• looks lethargic and apathetic - anemia develops;
• worms often appear;
• an allergy occurs.

Also read the article about why a cat may itch if it doesn't have fleas.

Appearance

Externally, cat fleas are practically no different from dog and rat fleas, so an ordinary person is not able to notice the difference between such species. The main feature is that tabby-tailed pets have smaller than other pets.

The usual size of a cat flea is
from 0.8 to 4 mm, more often 2-3 mm .
This parasite has a brown color with a pronounced shine and prefers to feed on the blood of an animal. They do not pose a particular danger to humans , except that parasites are able to hide in clothes, furniture, and even hair, waiting for the right moment to “meet” with an animal. They do not parasitize human hair, but can inflict small, red bites accompanied by itching and burning .

If you have a pet at home that constantly goes outside, the risk of parasites is very high. Remember that only timely prevention, as well as subsequent treatment, will help completely eliminate fleas.

How to check a cat for fleas and why they are dangerous

If your cat is extremely restless and itches frequently, you should check for parasites:

• pay attention to the fact that the pet is scratching and biting its back and sides;
• by parting the fur, inspect the cat’s skin - the presence of scratches, wounds, and scratches signal danger;
• when combing a cat with a toothed comb, you can easily notice the eggs and excrement of parasites - grains of whitish and black color;
• When bathing a cat, it is easy to detect the insects themselves - they tend to leave the carrier, but cannot move when wet.

If a cat has fleas, immediate measures must be taken to get rid of them.

Infestation is dangerous for your pet for many reasons. In addition to direct itching and anxiety, with an increase in the number of blood-sucking parasites, he may develop serious illnesses:

• allergies - flea saliva contains up to fifteen components that provoke a reaction;
• dermatitis - occurs as a result of allergies;
• helminthic infestation - parasites are usually infected with worm larvae (usually cestodes);
• fungal infection;
• anemia due to blood loss;
• decreased immune defense of the body;
• infectious anemia - hemobartonellosis - when bitten by an infected insect or infection through wounds;
• tularemia is a severe bacterial disease.

If the cat's damage is significant, people are also at risk. Fleas do not live on a person, but even with a single insect bite, he can be infected with many infectious diseases - fungal, helminthiasis, tularemia, typhoid, plague.

There are many preventive measures that can protect your pet and people from the danger of infection. And if fleas have already appeared in the house, then insecticidal treatment of the animal will be the best way to combat the infestation.

Appearance of the larvae

Flea larvae

What flea larvae look like depends on the stage of development. Initially they are born as white, translucent worms. Length does not exceed 1 mm. Their food consists of feces of adults, skin remains, and rot. They begin to eat actively.

Over time, worms accumulate in places where they can find food:

• dog bedding, cat mats;
• trash bins;
• baskets for storing vegetables, flower pots;
• pet toilet, feeders.

A week later, the first molt occurs. Flea larvae increase in size, but do not change appearance. The worms are already more like a caterpillar. The contents of the esophagus are visible through the transparent body. The color becomes dirty gray. During the entire developmental stage, the flea molts three times. Increases to 4 mm.

At the last stage of flea development, pupation occurs. The larva envelops itself in a cocoon and stops moving. Already after 2 days it emerges from there as an adult.

How does a cat get fleas if he doesn't go outside?

A cat can easily become infected with fleas. She doesn't have to walk outside to do this. Infection can occur:

• upon contact with stray animals (cats, dogs, birds), if they get into the house, or with other pets, if they go outside, for example, a dog, or new pets;
• when visiting a veterinary clinic;
• through a person’s shoes and clothing;
• insects can themselves enter the house (entrance, balcony, etc.);
• in contact with rodents (mice, rats).

Also read the article about why even a domestic cat can have fleas and what to do in this case.

Processing rules

1. Clean up, wash the floor.
2. Close windows and doors;
3. Move furniture away from the walls;
4. Wear protective suit and gloves;
5. Shake the can and hold it at arm's length;
6. Be sure to treat the floor, baseboards, areas near the trash can, and in the toilet;
7. Leave to act for several hours;
8. Ventilate for 1–2 hours;
9. Wash in areas where your hand may touch.

After this, pets and other residents can enter. If jumping creatures appear again after 10–14 days, you will have to look for habitats again and re-treat. If the cause of infection cannot be determined, you should call a special service. You can use the services of a government organization or private companies.

Basically, success depends not so much on the drug, but on the efforts of the person!

How to remove fleas from a cat

Flea infestation can be successfully cured at any stage. Modern veterinary medicine offers a large selection of means for preventive protection and getting rid of these blood-sucking parasites:

• Anti-flea collars are an excellent preventative measure for outdoor cats. It needs to be changed once a month. May cause allergies.
• Drops against parasites - easily applied to the withers, the active ingredients quickly spread over the skin, destroying fleas. The effect lasts from two to four weeks. After applying the product, the cat should not be washed for two to three days. For the same period, it is worth limiting his contact with children. Allergic reactions may occur.
• Special shampoos for cats contain insecticides with a strong odor that kill and repel insects. The effect of using the product is not long-lasting; after a few days, use of the shampoo should be repeated. The most common remedy due to low toxicity.
• Flea sprays and aerosols. In terms of degree of impact, they are most effective. But due to their high toxicity, they must be used with caution. They are usually prescribed for high levels of infestation.
• Ointments. Easy to use and affordable.
• Powders are quite effective and low-toxic. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to apply to the skin.
• Special insect repellent powders are designed to be applied to the fur of an infected animal. The difficulty is that you should not allow your pet to lick itself for thirty minutes. Requires reapplication every three to four days.
• Tablets and injections. Easy to use, but highly toxic. Used in case of high degree of damage as prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Anti-flea comb for combing out parasites.
• Folk remedies - tar soap, saline solution, various herbs - all of them are used to bathe your pet.

At the same time as using flea treatments on your pet, you should also get rid of insects indoors.

It is advisable to treat soft surfaces, especially the cat’s bed and the places where he usually sleeps, with hot steam using a steam generator. Carry out a thorough cleaning of the house or apartment, first with a vacuum cleaner, then damp with disinfectants. Treat the room with an insecticidal agent in the absence of people and animals.

It must be remembered that all insecticides are highly toxic substances. When using them, precautions should be taken:

• when using, use rubber or medical gloves;
• Make sure that the products do not get into the eyes or mucous membranes; if this happens, rinse the affected areas with plenty of water, or, as a last resort, consult a specialist.

Read more in the article on how to get rid of fleas on the Mister Cat portal.

Morphology

The adult, like all fleas, is a small, wingless, blood-sucking insect. Body length ranges from 0.5 to 5 mm. When sucking blood, females can reach 16 mm. Body color is dark. They have cephalic and dental ctenidia. The head has 7 or 8 teeth of varying lengths located along the lower edge of the head, the thoracic has 14 or 16 teeth. The eyes are big. The anterior part of the antennal fossa is covered by the edge of the buccal lobe. The latter has a false tooth at the end. Both sexes have one developed prepygidial seta. The forehead is flat. Metepisternum has no more than two setae. The stigmas of the abdominal tergites are relatively small.

Sexual dimorphism. Individuals of different sexes differ in the structure of their genital organs.

Male. The handle of the sex claw is only slightly widened at the end.

Female. The forehead is flatter.

The egg is about 0.5 mm long, white.

Worm-shaped larva. The body is covered with long hairs and consists of three thoracic and ten abdominal segments (13 in total). It is eyeless, has short antennae and a chewing mouthparts. The maximum size of the third instar larvae is at least 5 mm.

Flea infestation in a kitten

Fleas pose a much greater danger to a small kitten than to an adult animal. They are more susceptible to allergies, helminthic infestations, anemia and rapid exhaustion due to insufficient immune forces of the body.

Dealing with fleas on a kitten is more difficult, since any drugs used to combat them are toxic to one degree or another.

Babies up to a month old can be combed daily with a flea comb. Every day, the litter must be processed at high temperatures, while using disposable diapers, making sure to dispose of old ones. You can use folk remedies with caution, for example, bathing with tar soap.

The room where the mother and kittens are kept is thoroughly vacuumed once a day. Even if these measures do not help to completely get rid of insects, they will significantly reduce the intensity of damage to children.

From one month of life, your pet can be given an anti-flea drug. All products are usually available in dosages for adult cats and kittens. They should be used carefully, observing the kitten's reaction to prevent poisoning.

Fleas in a pregnant and lactating cat

If fleas are found on a female during pregnancy, all measures should be taken to get rid of them before the kittens appear. Treat all soft surfaces in the house with steam, including bedding and animal toys (or boil them), wet clean the room and treat it with insecticides (the cat should not be in the treated room).

For a pregnant cat, anti-flea products are selected with special care and caution. It is better to seek advice from a veterinarian.

Before using the product, the cat should be thoroughly combed. Processing must be carried out strictly following the instructions.

If parasites are found in a nursing mother, then newborn kittens also have them, which means the situation is even more acute.

The use of any drug will lead to severe intoxication of animals - after all, the mother constantly licks herself and her babies. Therefore, you should use only approved products - it is most convenient to treat the female with drops on the withers for nursing cats. And, of course, boil the litter daily and clean and disinfect the room.

The use of a special anti-flea shampoo is also allowed, but not in the first week or two after birth.

Prevention

• in case of frequent trips to the country or out of town, stock up on anti-flea spray or special drops on the withers;
• protect the cat from contact with stray and any random animals;
• Vacuum and wet clean the room where your pet lives every day;
• Wash or steam animal beds, houses, and toys often enough;
• be attentive to the cat’s behavior, and at the slightest suspicion of the presence of fleas, conduct an examination;
• If parasites are detected, do not postpone measures to combat them;
• undergo periodic examination by a veterinarian.

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