Fleas are parasites that need to feed off a host\u2019s blood to stay alive. There are several types of fleas in the world that feed on different animals, but the most common are cat fleas. Don\u2019t let the name fool you \u2014 cat fleas bite cats, dogs and people, too.<\/p>\n
Fleas are small (about 2 mm long), brown, wingless insects with laterally compressed bodies that allow them to move swiftly through fur. Their legs are adapted for jumping and grasping onto their host. They feed on blood, digesting only small amounts, and excreting the remainder as small, dark, fecal pellets called \"flea dirt.\" Typically, a hosted adult can survive up to two months. Without a blood meal, adult fleas will die in a few days. Fleas live outdoors but will easily survive inside your home.<\/p>\n
Because adult fleas require a blood meal, all flea life stages usually occur in the vicinity of the host. The flea goes through four life stages: egg, larvae, pupae and adult. The flea life cycle lasts from a few months up to a year, depending on environmental conditions. Only adult fleas bite, but a home flea infestation will keep producing adults until measures are taken to break their life cycle.<\/p>\n