Fleas are parasites that feed on mammals. They suck their blood and are capable of transmitting diseases like plague, certain types of dermatitis and even typhus. One of the questions I often get is “can humans catch cat fleas?” It turns out the answer is yes, so I’ve decided to investigate this further. For over a decade, the Cornell Feline Health Center has been dedicated to promoting feline health and well-being. Our desire is to empower cat owners to enjoy more rewarding relationships with their pets through education and outreach. This is why we’ve prepared this article on whether human’s can catch cat fleas. Can humans get fleas? This question seems to pop up every year when we start to feel the itch of something crawling on our skin. The common ones are the dog and cat fleas, but they aren’t just pets that can be affected by these little creatures. Humans can get fleas too. Is using a flea collar dangerous for cats? When should you be concerned about your pet? There are ways to kill a flea without spraying it with chemicals. Pest control is another way to take care of these pests as well as prevent future infestations. A common misconception is that cat fleas cannot live on humans or that they are unable to transmit tapeworms, plague and other diseases to humans in the early stages of life when they reside on humans. In fact, cat fleas can and do bite humans, transmitting tapeworms, plague and other diseases. Even as they are tending to their feline source of food and existence, they are capable of biting human beings. Over 13.5% of the world’s mammals are domesticated, and most of them are cats and dogs. These beloved pets each have a set of fleas that live specifically on their body, which is why pet owners need to be aware of flea treatments for humans. While it is not possible for you to come across cat fleas while in your home (unless your house is infested), there are other reasons why you should be concerned about the health risks of these parasites.

Can Humans Catch Cat Fleas

The Flea Life Cycle

The life cycle of the flea can last from two weeks to eight months, depending on the temperature and humidity. The flea life cycle is broken down into three stages: egg, larva and pupa (cocoon). Flea eggs are laid in batches of 30 or more on host fur. Egg hatch occurs when conditions are right for larvae to feed on organic debris and flea feces until they spin a cocoon around themselves. Once the adult emerges from its cocoon, it will begin its blood-feeding period.

The average adult female lays 100 to 200 eggs during her lifetime which results in multiple overlapping generations throughout the year with peak populations occurring during warm weather months when hosts are present all day long so that developing larvae have plenty of time to find food before they pupate into adults capable of reproduction themselves!

Cats and Fleas

Cat fleas are one of the most common parasites found on cats and can be a real nuisance to your pet. They live off of blood meals taken from their hosts, which includes both wild and domestic animals. Cat fleas do not discriminate between humans or other animals in order to find their food source.

Cat fleas are small in size, measuring about 1/8” long or less (1). They have a flat body that is covered with hair and bristles that keep them well camouflaged on their host’s fur. Their coloration appears very dark brown or black but when light shines directly onto them they appear reddish-brown because of the way light reflects off of their bodies (2). When fully engorged with blood they become swollen until they resemble an inflated balloon; however, after feeding they contract back down into their original form within twenty minutes (5).

The female cat flea lays her eggs near her host’s resting areas such as beds or carpets (4), where there will be plenty of warmth from which to hatch baby fleas within 24 hours if conditions are favorable for development. If temperatures drop below 50°F then hatching may take two days instead; however, if it gets too cold then some baby fleas could die before even reaching maturity due to being unable to find adequate shelter from cold weather conditions (4).

Human Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD)

FAD, or human flea allergy dermatitis, is a skin condition that results from an allergic reaction to the bites of fleas. FAD can cause severe itching and rashes on the skin of humans bitten by fleas. While most people have no symptoms after being bitten by a single flea, some individuals who are allergic to cats develop itching within minutes of contact with cat hair, saliva or any other material that came into contact with a cat’s skin (for example, carpet).

This condition affects approximately 5 percent of Americans and can be serious enough to warrant hospitalization if left untreated. It may also lead to anaphylaxis in some people who are especially sensitive to cat hair or droppings.

Humans Getting Bitten by a Cat Flea

Humans can also be bitten by other fleas, including dog fleas and human fleas. However, they are not the same as cat fleas, and will only bite humans in certain areas of the world. Dog fleas are usually found on dogs around the world while human fleas live only in tropical regions where their eggs can survive year-round. The life cycles of both types of flea differ significantly from those of cat fleas: they do not go through a pupae stage before emerging into adult insects; instead, all new generations emerge from larvae living inside mites that feed on blood from mammals like dogs or humans. Because these remaining stages live inside mites rather than insects themselves (which allows them to survive winter even when there is no food source), these types of parasites are able to live more comfortably outside without being killed off by cold weather like other insects might be over time

While humans cannot directly be bitten by a cat flea, they can still contract diseases that were carried by the fleas.

While humans cannot directly be bitten by a cat flea, they can still contract diseases that were carried by the fleas. Examples of such illnesses include Cat Scratch Fever and Myxomatosis.

Cat Scratch Fever is an acute infectious disease caused by a Bartonella henselae bacteria transmitted to humans through cat scratches or bites. Symptoms include fever and swollen lymph nodes, as well as a rash resembling chickenpox in some patients. In severe cases it can lead to blood poisoning and joint inflammation (Arthritis). It is treatable with antibiotics but often requires hospitalization if your immune system becomes overwhelmed by the infection