The Complete Flea Life Cycle
the first step in total flea control." |
You must treat your home and your cat for each stage of a flea's life. Ignoring just one stage in your flea control efforts will result in the fleas just starting the cycle all over again. The adult female flea lays up to twenty flea eggs at a time (and this can be daily!). The flea egg stage is the beginning stage of the cycle.
The flea eggs may be deposited on your cat and in your cat's environment. This includes your cat's sleeping area, your carpet, your furniture, floorboard crevices and other cracks and corners of your home. Flea eggs will also be deposited in your yard.
In addition to attacking your outdoor cat, fleas deposited outside from other neighborhood animals may afflict your indoor cat. Adult fleas are great little hitchhikers and can jump onto you while you're outside. The flea will then jump off of you and into your house and deposit her eggs! Flea eggs deposited directly onto your cat will usually fall off into your cat's environment fairly soon.
Flea control efforts must consider the flea egg stage to be effective.
Flea Larvae
Flea eggs will hatch into larvae 2 to 14 days after being laid. The larvae are small and white. Larvae rely on adult flea excrement for nutrition, so this is a good reason to keep suspected areas where there might be fleas clean.
Over the next two weeks to six months, the larvae will molt three times before entering the next stage of the flea life cycle.
Flea control efforts must consider this aspect of the flea life cycle to be effective. Fleabusters Rx borate powder is a very safe method you can use to eliminate flea larvae in your home.
Flea Pupa
The flea larvae spin cocoons around themselves in which they move to the last phase of the flea life cycle and become adult fleas. The larvae can remain in the cocoon anywhere from one week to one year.
Temperature is one factor that determines how long it will take for the adult flea to emerge from the cocoon. Warm and humid weather speeds the maturation process and the flea life cycle.
While in this stage, the flea larvae are very resistant to chemical insecticides and other environmental treatment methods of flea control. Flea control efforts must consider this aspect of the flea life cycle to be effective.
Adult Fleas
The flea matures in the cocoon and emerges looking for a host to feed on. When the flea finds a host (your cat or kitten), it jumps on the host and holds on with six hooked legs. It then uses its sharp mouth parts to cut a hole and insert its feeding tube into your cat. After this blood feast, the flea lays its eggs and the flea life cycle starts all over again.
Amazingly, an average adult flea can live without food for up to 58 days! Fleas spend most of their lives off of your cat and in your cat's environment, so just because you don't see a flea on your cat, don't give up on your flea control efforts, especially if you see other evidence of fleas. For example, tiny black flecks of flea dirt (excrement) will be left behind after a flea has fed on your cat.
Choosing the Right Method to Get Rid of All the Fleas
When choosing a flea control method, all stages of a flea's life must be considered. To get rid of fleas, you must choose one or more methods that are effective in all four phases of the flea life cycle.
Related Cat Article:
Natural Flea Control Methods - More safe and alternative methods to eliminate fleas.
Top Choices for Flea Control Online
1-800-PetMeds is our top recommendation for discounted flea medicines. They only dispense U.S. FDA/EPA approved products and all products are 100% guaranteed. Advantage, Program, and Frontline don't require a prescription and are deeply discounted. Free shipping for orders over $39.
Only Natural Pet Store has the best selection of natural flea control products and, in my opinion, the best customer service on the internet.
Use the Search Box to find more feline info. |
From Flea Life Cycle to My Healthy Cat home
If you suspect your cat is ill, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
The material presented in this site is for informational and entertainment purposes
only. It is not intended to replace your veterinarian's advice.
Copyright 2003-2012 © www.myhealthycat.com
The material presented in this site is for informational and entertainment purposes
only. It is not intended to replace your veterinarian's advice.
Copyright 2003-2012 © www.myhealthycat.com
