What do fleas on cats look like? - briefly
Fleas on cats are tiny, wingless insects, typically 1-3 mm in length, with a dark brown or reddish-brown body and strong hind legs adapted for jumping. They are often visible moving quickly through the cat's fur or as small black specks (flea dirt) on the skin.
What do fleas on cats look like? - in detail
Fleas on cats are small, wingless insects that are typically 1 to 3 millimeters in length, making them barely visible to the naked eye. They have flattened bodies from side to side, which allows them to move easily through the fur of their host. Their bodies are covered in a hard, reddish-brown exoskeleton that is resistant to being crushed. Fleas possess six long, powerful legs, with the hind legs being particularly adapted for jumping. These legs enable them to leap impressive distances relative to their size, up to 100 times their body length, allowing them to move quickly between hosts or escape threats. Fleas have mouthparts designed for piercing skin and sucking blood, which they use to feed on the cat’s blood, often causing irritation and discomfort. Their bodies are also covered in backward-facing spines and bristles, which help them cling to the cat’s fur and make them difficult to remove. When examining a cat, fleas may be seen moving rapidly through the fur, particularly around the neck, back, and base of the tail. Flea dirt, which is actually flea feces composed of digested blood, may also be visible as tiny black specks that turn reddish-brown when moistened. This combination of physical characteristics and behavior makes fleas both highly adaptable and challenging to eliminate from a cat’s environment.