Should I Be Worried About Cat Fleas At My Upper Saddle River Home?

If you've seen your cat or dog scratching more than usual at your Upper Saddle River home, cat fleas are a likely reason. Despite the name, the cat flea is the flea most often found on both cats and dogs. It's small, fast and very good at spreading through a house. Fleas are more than an itch for your pet. They bite people too, and the problem grows quickly if only part of it is treated. Below, we'll cover what cat fleas are, how they spread, the risks they bring and what it takes to get rid of them. If you're already seeing fleas indoors, our flea and tick treatments are built to deal with your home, not just your pet.

What Cat Fleas Are

Cat fleas are tiny, wingless insects with flat, reddish-brown to dark brown bodies. Their bodies are flattened side to side, which lets them slip between hairs easily. They can't fly, but their strong back legs let them jump long distances relative to their size. That's how they get on pets and, sometimes, onto your legs.

Adult fleas feed on blood. Once one finds a host, it tends to stay there, feeding and laying eggs. Those eggs don't stay on your pet for long.

How Cat Fleas Spread Through A Home

The adult fleas you see on your pet are only part of the picture. A flea's life cycle has four stages:

1. Eggs. Laid on your pet, they're smooth and fall off wherever your pet walks, sleeps or sits.
2. Larvae. Tiny worm-like larvae hatch in carpets, pet beds, couch cushions and floor cracks. They avoid light and feed on organic debris, including droppings from adult fleas.
3. Pupae. Larvae spin sticky cocoons that pick up dust and fibers. Inside, fleas can wait for a long time until they sense a host nearby through warmth, vibration or carbon dioxide.
4. Adults. New adults emerge and jump onto the next pet or person that walks by.

This is why fleas seem to come back even after you treat your pet. The eggs and cocoons in your home keep producing new adults. It's also why people sometimes get bitten after moving into a house where pets lived before, or after coming home from a long trip.

Signs You Have Cat Fleas

• Scratching and biting. Your pet scratches, licks or chews at its skin, often near the base of the tail.
• Flea dirt. Tiny black specks in your pet's fur or bedding that turn reddish when placed on a damp paper towel.
• Bites on your legs. Small, itchy red bumps, usually around the ankles and lower legs.
• Jumping specks. Small dark insects that jump on carpet or furniture, especially if you wear white socks.

If you're not sure whether you're dealing with fleas or another biter, our comparison of a flea vs. chigger can help you tell the difference.

Should You Be Worried?

Cat fleas are a real nuisance, and they're worth taking seriously. For pets, heavy flea loads cause constant itching and can lead to skin irritation. Fleas can also pass tapeworms to cats and dogs that swallow them while grooming. Young, old or small pets can be affected more by heavy infestations. Talk to your veterinarian about any of these concerns.

For people, flea bites are usually itchy and annoying. Some people react more strongly than others. Fleas can also carry certain diseases. If you have bites that worry you or symptoms that don't go away, see a doctor.

How To Get Rid Of Cat Fleas

Fleas are beaten by treating every stage at once, in your pet and in your home:

1. Treat every pet. Ask your veterinarian for flea control that suits each animal, and treat all the pets in the house at the same time.
2. Vacuum often. Vacuum carpets, rugs, furniture and pet resting areas, and empty the vacuum outside right away. Vibration also coaxes adults out of their cocoons.
3. Wash bedding. Wash pet beds, blankets and throw covers in hot water and dry them on high heat.
4. Treat the home. Targeted treatment of carpets, baseboards and pet areas reaches the stages vacuuming misses.
5. Check the yard. Fleas can also live in shaded, moist spots outdoors where pets rest and wildlife passes through.
6. Stay consistent. Keep your pet on year-round flea prevention as your veterinarian recommends.

When To Call A Professional

If fleas keep coming back after you've treated your pet, the population in your home is probably larger than you can handle with vacuuming alone. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians inspect your home, find where fleas are developing and apply targeted treatments using EPA-registered, eco-safe products. We follow Integrated Pest Management and will tell you about any temporary precautions for pets and kids. Every treatment is backed by our EcoGuard Guarantee, and we offer free inspections with same-day and next-day service.

A few fleas can become a household problem quickly, but the cycle can be broken. Treating your pets and your Upper Saddle River home together is the fastest way back to a flea-free house.