Ctenocephalides felis

Interesting Cat Flea Facts

• The annual expenditures by pet owners for flea control products in the United States exceed $1 billion. (Rust and Dryden 1997)

• In infested animals the greatest number of cat fleas are found in the head and neck regions with 29.4% and 26.6%. (Rust 2005)

• A survey of feral cats in Florida found that 92.5% of them were infested with cat fleas (C. felis). (Rust 2005)

• It was estimated that over 50% of the dermatological cases reported to veterinarians and 35% of their total cases are due to flea-related diseases. (Rust and Dryden 1997)

• Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) is the most common flea species found infesting cats throughout the world. (Rust and Dryden 1997)

• Grooming a host in one week accounts for about 50% mortality of adult fleas (Rust and Dryden 1997)

• Fleas  can produce about 0.77 mg of feces per day. (Rust and Dryden 1997)

• It is estimated that there are 2,500 species of fleas in the world with approximately 325 occurring in the continental U.S. (Purdue University 2008)