Cat flea: treating the pet and the home
On the pet you see the adults; everything else hides in the rugs.
Guide 06
Ctenocephalides felis
Key points
The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is also the most common flea on dogs: 1 to 3 mm, reddish-brown, flattened sideways and able to jump very high. Its eggs fall to the floor and develop in rugs, floorboards and pet beds. The animal needs treating with the vet and, at the same time, the whole home.
Only adult fleas stay on the animal. Eggs drop off, larvae hide in fibres and cracks away from light, then spin a cocoon. Inside it, the flea can wait for weeks, sometimes months, until vibration or warmth signals a host.
That explains sudden infestations after a holiday or on moving into a home left empty: when people start walking through the rooms again, many fleas leave their cocoons at once.
Spotting signs of fleas
- 1Clusters of very itchy bites on the ankles and calves.
- 2Tiny insects jumping onto pale socks as you cross the room.
- 3A pet scratching often, especially near the base of the tail.
- 4Black specks in the coat or bedding that leave a red ring on damp paper.
Nuisance level
An indicative guide from our technicians, from 1 (moderate) to 5 (high).
- Health
- 3/5
- Damage
- 1/5
- Breeding
- 4/5
Why act
- Itchy bites for the people in the household.
- In dogs and cats, an allergy to flea saliva with scratching sores.
- Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) passed to a pet that swallows a flea.
- A population that spreads through the home if only the pet is treated.
Our treatment, in four stages
- 01
Locate
Locate: the pet's resting spots and the worst-affected rooms identified, coordination with the vet's treatment.
- 02
Treat
Treat: pest control on floors, textiles and bedding with an insecticide combined with a growth regulator that stops larvae developing.
- 03
Check
Check: follow-up visit after the last cocoons hatch, second visit if needed.
- 04
Prevent
Prevent: vacuuming routine (bag thrown away outside), textiles washed at 60 °C, floorboard gaps sealed if needed, photo report and advice on active vigilance.
Good everyday habits
What you can do to lower the risk of a new infestation.
- Keep every pet's flea treatment up to date, as your vet advises.
- Vacuum pet beds, rugs and sofas often.
- Machine-wash the pet's cushion and blankets on a hot cycle.
- Before moving back into a home left empty, vacuum everywhere and watch for bites.
Your questions
My cat has been treated, so why do I still have fleas?
Because most of the population (eggs, larvae, cocoons) lives in the home. Until the surroundings are treated, new fleas keep hatching for several weeks.
Will fleas settle on me?
The cat flea bites people but doesn't stay on them: it needs an animal to breed.
Do I need to leave home after the treatment?
Yes, for a few hours with your pets, while the floors dry. We tell you how long and how to air the rooms depending on the product used.
Fleas in your home or your business?
Flat, house, restaurant, shop or office: price including VAT shown before you book, 2-hour window, same-day photo report and advice to lower the risk of a return.