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Cat Flea, Ctenocephalides felis1
N. C. Hinkle, P. G. Koehler and F. M. Oi2The cat flea is the most common ectoparasite of both dogs and cats in the United States and has been found on over a dozen other animals. While it does serve as the intermediate host of some tapeworms, its main effect is the itching and irritation produced by its bite (along with flea allergy dermatitis in susceptible animals).
Biology And Behavior
Cat fleas have four stages in their development -- egg ( Figure 1 ), larva ( Figure 2 ), pupa and adult ( Figure 3 ). The eggs, which are smaller than the period at the end of this sentence, are laid as the female feeds on the host and sift through the animal's coat to collect in the environment. The legless larvae which hatch from the eggs feed on excrement produced by the adult fleas and reach a length of about one-eighth inch. Outdoors these larvae develop in shaded soil and indoors they develop best in carpet. While under good conditions the larval stage takes only about a week, cool temperatures and low humidities can extend larval development for several weeks. The larvae spin cocoons of silk in which they incorporate debris from their environment (soil outdoors, soil and carpet fibers indoors) for pupation. The pupa develops and metamorphoses into an adult flea within this cocoon. This stage is the most variable in length as the pharate (pre-emerged) adult remains within the cocoon, sometimes for months, until signaled to emerge by such stimuli as pressure or carbon dioxide.
CREDITS: N. Hinkle, University of Florida
Figure 1. Cat flea eggs.
CREDITS: J. F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 2. Cat flea larva.
CREDITS: N. Hinkle, University of Florida
Figure 3. Cat flea adult. Appearance
Cat fleas are laterally-flattened, wingless insects approximately one-eighth inch long when engorged (double their unfed size). Under magnification they can be seen to have both genal and pronotal combs (ctenidia), differentiating them from most other fleas of domestic animals.Control
Combing the animal with a flea comb will remove many of the fleas, so long as the animal tolerates combing. The safest products to use on the animal are botanicals or silica gel. Flea collars have been found ineffective in controlling fleas on the animal. While treatment with a dust, shampoo, or dip can rid the animal of fleas, it is likely to be repopulated once it is put back into an infested area. Products for spot treatment of pets are available from veterinarians.It is essential to treat the home, the yard and the animal simultaneously. Insect growth regulators (methoprene, hydroprene, and pyriproxyfen) are suggested for their ability to interrupt the flea life cycle and are particularly recommended because of their safety to humans and pets. Several other products are registered for use against adult fleas and may be combined with one of the growth regulators to provide rapid knock-down of the adults present along with residual effectiveness against the immature stages.
Indoor treatments can be applied as surface treatments (Table 1 ) or space treatments (Table 2 ). These applications should be made to all areas where pets have access, concentrating on places where they spend the most time. Be sure to remove and protect childrens toys and other items to prevent contamination with spray.
Outdoor treatments can be applied as barrier (Table 3 ) or broadcast application (Table 4 ). Be sure to read and follow label directions.
Tables
Table 1. Cat flea management products labeled for indoor surface treatment.*
Common Name
Homeowner Products*
Commercial Products*
Beta-Cyfluthrin Bifenthrin Ortho Home Defense Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer Deltamethrin Suspend SC Insecticide Methoprene
Precor Precor 2000 Premise Spray II
Permethrin Dragnet SFR Termiticide/Insecticide Pyrethrins Kicker PT Tri-Die Silica & Pyrethrum Dust
Pyrethrins and Others PT 565 Plus XLO PT Microcare CS Controlled Release Pyrethrum
PT Microcare Pressurized Pyrethrum Capsule Suspension
PT Tri-Die Pressurized Silica & Pyrethrin Dust
Pyrethrins, MGK-264, Permethrin Ortho Ant-B-Gon Pyrethrins, PBO PT P.I. Contact Insecticide Pyrenone 50
Pyrenone 100
Synerol Insecticide
Tetramethrin, Phenothrin Ortho Flying Insect Killer 1 Tralomethrin Saga WP Insecticide * Read label carefully to insure pest, site, and commodity are listed prior to applying product. Some product labels are very restrictive.
Table 2. Cat flea management products labeled for indoor space treatment.*
Common Name
Homeowner Products*
Commercial Products*
Hydroprene
TurboCide Gold with Gentrol Pyrethrins
PT ULD BP-300 Pyrethrins and Others PT Pro-Control PT Pro-Control Plus
PT ULD BP-100
Pyrethrins, PBO Pyrenone 100 Synerol Insecticide
Pyrethrins, Permethrin Ortho Indoor Insect Fogger * Read label carefully to insure pest, site, and commodity are listed prior to applying product. Some product labels are very restrictive.
Table 3. Flea management products labeled for outdoor barrier treatment.*
Common Name
Homeowner Trade Name*
Commercial Trade Name*
Beta-Cyfluthrin Bayer Power Force Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus Bifenthrin Ortho Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer Talstar CA Granular Insecticide Talstar F Insecticide/Miticide
Talstar GC Granular Insecticide
Talstar PL Granular Insecticide
Talstar Termiticide/Insecticide
Carbaryl Ortho Bug-B-Gon Multipurpose Insect Killer Ready-to-Use Granules Cyfluthrin Bayer Advanced Home, Home Pest Control Indoor Insect Killer Bayer Advanced Lawn & Garden Multi-Insect Killer
Bayer Power Force Ant Killer Ready-to-Use Granules
PT Cy-Kick CS Controlled Release Cyfluthrin Tempo 20 WP
Tempo SC Ultra
Cypermethrin Cynoff EC Cynoff Power Spray Inecticide
Cynoff WP
Cynoff WSB
Prevail FT Termiticide
Deltamethrin DeltaDust Suspend SC Insecticide
Permethrin Ortho Bug-B-Gon Multipurpose Insect Killer Ready-to-Spray
Dragnet SFR Termiticide/Insecticide Pyrethrins Kicker Tau-Fluvalinate Yardex Supplemental Labeling * Read label carefully to insure pest, site, and commodity are listed prior to applying product. Some product labels are very restrictive.
Table 4. Flea management products labeled for outdoor broadcast treatment.*
Common Name
Homeowner Trade Name*
Commercial Trade Name*
Beta-Cyfluthrin Bayer Power Force Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus Bifenthrin Talstar CA Granular Insecticide Talstar F Insecticide/Miticide
Talstar GC Granular Insecticide
Talstar Termiticide/Insecticide
Cyfluthrin Bayer Advanced Home, Home Pest Control Indoor & Outdoor Insect Killer
Bayer Advanced Lawn & Garden Multi-Insect Killer
Bayer Power Force Ant Killer Ready-to-Use Granules
Bayer Power Force Carpenter Ant &
Termite Killer Plus
Bayer Power Force Multi-Insect Killer Ready-to-Spread Granules
Tempo 20 WP Tempo SC Ultra
Deltamethrin Suspend SC Insecticide Esfenvalerate Ortho Bug-B-Gon Multipurpose Insect Killer Permethrin Astro Insecticide Dragnet SFR Termiticide/Insecticide
Pyrethrins Kicker Pyrethrins and Others PT Microcare CS Controlled Release Pyrethrum Pyrethrins, PBO, Silica Gel Drione Tralomethrin Saga WP Insecticide * Read label carefully to insure pest, site, and commodity are listed prior to applying product. Some product labels are very restrictive.
Footnotes
1. This document is ENY-263, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: March 1994. Revised: April 2003. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. N. C. Hinkle, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (formerly University of Florida student), P. G. Koehler, professor/extension entomologist, and F. M. Oi, assistant extension entomologist, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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