Can dog or cat fleas live on humans?

Can dog or cat fleas live on humans? 

Cat (Ctenocephalides felis) or dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) may bite people but they won’t live on you. Fleas will seek out your dog or cat as both their preferred host and blood meal, as the dark, moist environment of their fur is the perfect place for fleas to live. 

Scientific research shows humans’ relatively hairless bodies don’t make great hiding places, as they’re difficult for fleas to attach to and they don’t provide enough heat for them to survive long term.  

Because of this, fleas can’t breed on humans and they need a dog, cat or other pet, so if you’re the only food source around, they’re unable to complete their life cycle and multiply. However, fleas will often stay on our skin and inside our clothes in the short term, using us a ‘carrier’, waiting for a more suitable host, like your cat or dog, before jumping onto them.  

They can also infest our homes, laying their eggs on your pet, which fall into the environment, onto furniture and the carpet; the eggs can then lay dormant before hatching into larvae and developing into adult fleas. 

Two specific flea species most commonly live on your cats and dogs; Ctenocephalides felis - the scientific name for cat fleas - and Ctenocephalides canis - the scientific name for dog fleas. 

Despite their scientific names, the most common flea found on dogs and cats is the cat flea. That’s because fleas are not host specific; meaning that while their preferred host is a cat or dog, they will both happily feed on either, and sometimes humans. 

 

How do you know if you have been bitten by a flea?

If you’ve been bitten by a flea, the flea bite may look like the following; 

• A  small scab on your skin which has a light red ‘halo’ 
• Very small red marks around a central red spot 
• Clusters of red bite marks which have swollen in a similar way to mosquito bites 
• You have been bitten on your ankles and or legs 

Other signs your household could have fleas include:

• When combing your pet have you found black specks which look like ground pepper? If so, and you wet this dirt on a white paper towel and it turns browny red, this is called flea ‘dirt’ which is, in fact, flea faeces 
• Your pets are scratching more than usual 

Can humans catch diseases from fleas?

Ignoring a flea infestation can risk you and your family’s health.   

Unfortunately, fleas don’t just bite, infected fleas can also spread diseases to humans, including Bartonella, tapeworm infection and or allergic reactions. 

Bartonella 

Often known as cat scratch disease, humans may contract Bartonella from infected flea faeces from under a cat’s claws via the scratches and bites of cats. 

Cat scratch disease starts with a papule on the hands or arms, then a couple of weeks later you may see other signs such as local swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache & malaise, which can last several weeks to months. 

Risk of tapeworm infection

Fleas can carry the tapeworm parasite and can pose a risk to your household. If a flea carrying the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm parasite is ingested by your pet, such as during grooming, or by humans accidentally ingesting a flea when sleeping, although this is rare, it can develop into a tapeworm infestation. Children are most at risk of getting a tapeworm infection, as they’re often in closest contact with your family pets. 

Allergic reactions to flea bites 

Some people may have an allergic reaction to flea bites, where their skin can become swollen, itchy and irritated, sometimes displaying red bumps, hives or a rash. If this happens, it’s best to see your GP. 

How do I get rid of fleas? 

If you’ve got a flea infestation, it will affect you and your family, your pet and the environment (your home).  

Below are some suggestions to help remove fleas from your home and prevent a reinfestation. 

On myself or my family ?

• Never use pet flea treatments on humans – Flea treatments should only be used on your pets.
• Soothe the itch - The biggest complaint from fleas are the itchy bites. Talk to your pharmacist about over-the-counter relief options. 
• Avoid scratching - As hard as it may be, try to avoid scratching the bite. This can open up the scab and it may take longer to heal. It also increases your risk of infection. 

On my pets? 

Prevention is always better than a cure - Regularly treating ALL of your pets ALL year round with a trusted and quality flea treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent a flea infestation. 

There are many different types of flea treatments available including tablets, flea collars and monthly spot-on treatments. 

Talk to your vet clinic for the best flea treatment option for your pet, to keep your pet and home flea-free.