Fleas are a parasitic insect that lives on mammals and birds. There are many types of fleas. The fleas that cause the most problems for humans are cat and dog fleas. Fleas tend to be more active during the warmer months but centrally heated premises make it easier for fleas to live and breed.

Fleas are wingless, long, thin insects up to 3mm in length with a body protected by hard plates. Their shape allows them easy movement through hair and fur. They are dark-coloured, with the cat flea being a reddish-brown in colour. Fleas have long legs and strong hind legs that allow them to leap a distance of up to 50 times their body length.

Although the cat flea’s primary host is the domesticated cat it will infest a dog too. In fact, dogs possibly have more of a problem with cat fleas than dog fleas. The dog flea is not as prevalent worldwide as the cat flea but likewise, it will bite cats and humans too.

Fleas need to feed on blood before they are able to reproduce. A female flea can lay up to 5000 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs normally take about 2 days to 2 weeks to hatch. Eggs may be laid on the host or near their bedding, in floorboards or other cracks and crevices.

The larvae can feed on dried blood, non-viable eggs and vegetable matter. The larvae stage lasts between 4 and 18 days.

The larva will then turn into a pupa and with a host present this stage can take 4 days. However, if necessary this stage can be variable if no host is present. Trigger factors for the fleas to emerge will be signs of a mammal host being available – this includes carbon dioxide, vibration and noise.

Apart from these adaptations the flea normally lives for 2 to 3 months if a host is present but with ideal conditions this can extend to a 18 months. Without a host the hatched adult flea will die after a few days.

If you want to get rid of fleas for good you are recommended to get professional help from a flea pest controller.