Last updated: January 2016 Site Created by: Andre Chagljevich
Cat fleas are by far the most common species to infest homes and domestic pets in Toronto and the GTA. Despite their name they will bite dogs and people as well as cats.Approximately 1/8 inch long, fleas are wingless, laterally flattened, and have piercing and sucking mouthparts. The flea has well developed legs allowing it to jump at least 6 inches in height. They are typically black to reddish brown in color.
After each and every blood meal, females lay four to eight eggs at a time (approximately 400 to 800 in total within her lifetime) on the host animal and/or in its bedding. The eggs hatch in about 10 days, and the developing larvae feed on the adult flea feces, which contain bits of dried blood.
Adult fleas feed on blood with their piercing and sucking mouthparts. They typically seek a blood meal within two days of becoming an adult. Cat and dog fleas prefer these two animals, but readily feed on other animals (i.e. raccoons, rats and humans).
Effective flea control requires customer cooperation
and involves three major steps: sanitation, insecticide application,
and on-animal flea control. The house should be thoroughly vacuumed
to remove larvae, pupae and food materials. The vacuum cleaner bag
should be sealed and discarded immediately after vacuuming, and pet
bedding should be discarded or washed in hot, soapy water. The pet
should be treated on the same day that a residual insecticide treatment
is being done at the home. Finally a pesticide application will be
required to kill all existing fleas. Target Pest Control will also
apply an Insect Growth regulator which will inhibit the development
of new fleas.