The firm view that fleas in cats are transmitted to humans is completely true. Human blood is suitable for feeding these small parasites as well as the blood of most domestic animals. That's just constantly eating human blood is not very convenient for them. But not because his blood is different, but because it is easier for the insect to hide in the fur of a cat or dog.
On humans, other flea species also parasitize successfully, for which the main hosts are animals. Some peculiarities of flea transmission to humans depend on the species to which the fleas belong, and the specific situation.
How fleas go to humans: the process in detail
In the overwhelming majority of cases, fleas parasitizing pets are attacking humans.For example, fleas in dogs are transmitted to humans directly in the house or the aviary in which the pet lives.
It is not entirely correct to say that dog or cat fleas are transmitted to humans directly. (in other words, a flea cannot live on a person, like a cat, for example).
As a rule, parasites bite an animal, get drunk with blood and jump off its body to find a secluded place for egg laying. Before the appearance of hunger, insects will remain in the litter, in the corners of the room, in heaps of garbage, where their larvae usually develop. And just hungry, they again begin to look for a source of food. If at this time there is a person nearby, they will first attack him.
For the same reason, almost immediately after it hits the human body, the insect bites it - usually the parasite urgently needs to be fed at this moment.
On a note
In general, the term "transmitted" is not very appropriate in relation to fleas. These insects are temporary parasites, while the word “transmitted” is more commonly used to describe bacterial or viral infections. However, the phrase "fleas are transmitted to humans" is well-established and is used in the scientific literature as well.
Only in rare cases do fleas jump directly from a cat or dog to a person. Often this is the so-called human fleas (Pulex irritans), for which just a person is the optimal host. However, there are cases when just when a person comes in contact with a pet and other species move between them without having any obstacles.
On a note
Dog fleas are transmitted to humans much less frequently than cats. The latter are more common in all domestic animals, and are generally more widespread. It is believed that even a human flea is less likely to bite a person than a cat.
In search of a host fleas are guided mainly by smell. Of course, the stronger the smell of a living being, the sooner it feels like parasites and the sooner they attack.
In places where there are a lot of insects, the number of hungry individuals will be large. Accordingly, it is worth only about such a place to be, as the parasites instantly jump on a new food source. For example, this often happens with hunters near fox holes.
Risk factors: where, when and how can you be bitten by fleas
A person can meet with fleas almost anywhere.This could be his own home, a picnic in nature, going hunting or working with any farm animals.
Most often, fleas go to people from cats and dogs living in the house itself. But not necessarily it will be pets: fleas can be transmitted from rats, mice or street cats, found in the parade.
However, according to statistics, every three out of four homely pet pets regularly carry fleas on themselves. This means that a domestic cat, a dog, and even rodents with birds can be sources of parasites.
Feedback
“I somehow do not usually pay special attention to my dogs. But when I was regularly bitten by some insects, and right in the house, I tried to catch them and caught ... fleas. This is not surprising - both watchdogs never poisoned with any chemistry from parasites and did not wear collars. And then another and the vet said that this is not dog fleas, and the cat. I did not know before whether cat fleas were transmitted to humans, but it turned out that they could easily: bite, and even not particularly choose, bite animals, or people. I had to poison them, first on the dogs, then in the whole house. ”
Oksana, Yaroslavl
The greatest number of insects and almost all the larvae are in those places where the animal rests regularly: in a special arena, crib or booth. For parasites, litter in such places is the best place for rest, shelter and breeding.
For example, dog fleas are transmitted to humans almost always near the booth: it is here that the female insects lay eggs, after which they quickly become hungry. Even a person just passing by the booth attracts them and becomes the next source of food.
Other frequent flea attacks are:
- natural refuges of animals: burrows, nests, hollows. Hunters (biologists and lumberjacks) are very much at risk of being infected and bitten by hunters (especially when hunting foxes and badgers in burrows).
- Farms and livestock farms. Fur farms and rabbit farms literally teem with parasites. Even despite the ongoing struggle in these enterprises, there are usually a lot of fleas of various kinds, and their workers are often subjected to bites.
- Typical habitats of small rodents: fields, meadows, glades in the forest, ravines. The holes themselves are often a man and does not notice.And spreading out a blanket for a picnic over them, with a high probability attracts bloodsuckers to their place of rest.
- Fleas heavily infected rooms.
Feedback
“I don’t let my hunt go home at all until he changes clothes in a car and doesn’t take things to dry-cleaning. Already got these parasites: no matter how he enters the field in the house, they just pour rain from it. And then they bite all night. Fleas are very easily transmitted to humans! At one time I constantly hunted them with all sorts of cans. As it turned out, their husband catches them near fox holes - there are always a lot of them there, and they jump on clothes and bags. ”
Alla, Omsk
The main complaints to the disinsection services come from residents of fairly dirty and old apartments and houses, in which parasites live normally for a long time and reproduce successfully. It is these citizens who most often ask whether fleas are transmitted to humans, and they are puzzled why someone constantly bites them in an apartment.
So, it is useful to remember: fleas in cats, dogs, mice and other living creatures are easily transmitted to humans, as they are able to drink the blood of the most diverse warm-blooded organisms, which include humans.
On a note
Very often fleas are transferred on clothes, furniture or household appliances to a new room.In this case, the bites will be a one-time, but still unpleasant. It is important to destroy all the "random guests" as soon as possible in order to prevent them from multiplying.
How fleas are dangerous to humans: infections and parasites that these insects carry
The transfer of fleas from cat to man and their subsequent bites, although quite painful, are not the biggest problem. Diseases borne by these parasites are terrible.
For example, when cat fleas transmitted to humans, they can infect him with typhoid, anthrax, brucellosis, encephalitis, eggs of numerous types of helminths. BUT rat fleas suffer plague wand.
It is interesting
It was the rat flea that caused the worst epidemic in human history — the epidemic of bubonic plague in Europe, which wiped out a third of its population. A significant role in the distribution of rats, fleas and the disease itself then played unsanitary conditions, in general, characteristic of medieval Europe.
Today, the plague still exists in nature: its pathogen is present in the body of fleas living in the holes of wild rodents: gerbils, jerboas, hamsters, mice. And a flea bite in nature is a kind of lottery: will it be harmless or will reward a person with a deadly microorganism ...
How to protect against flea attacks
Owners of pets who regularly go outside with their pet need to be constantly alert. After each walk, a dog or cat can bring on the wool one or two parasites, which will be able to quickly multiply in the house and be transmitted to a person (in other words, they will actively bite him too).
Therefore, to protect the home from parasites is necessary:
- to observe measures for the prevention of the infection of animals with fleas: not to let cats and dogs communicate with street relatives, regularly check their coat, pay attention to any signs of behavior unusual for the pet.
- Immediately deal with parasites if they are found on the pets themselves.
- Maintain cleanliness in the room and get rid of those insects that are already present in it. A good means of prevention in the room are branches of wormwood or ammonia added to water for washing floors.
Such measures will allow not to worry that fleas will be transferred to man from street animals.
Separately, it should be said about the protection against fleas for those who, willy-nilly, happens in the places of their presence: livestock workers, hunters, employees of zoos and field employees, tourists and travelers. In any conditions, a repellent against insects containing a substance called DEET is a reliable remedy for fleas.
Mosquito repellents work well in the form of aerosols: on hikes, on excursions or field work, spray the legs below the knee with a sufficiently continuous layer to ensure protection not only from fleas, but also from other blood-sucking parasites.
In addition, given that fleas primarily get on their feet, it is enough to have tight pants tucked into shoes to provide protection against fleas for the time spent in nature. And tourists, who often find themselves in unknown settlements, should especially carefully choose a hotel and not save on their own health.
An example of a multi-storey house, infested with fleas because of a dirty basement
Among the variety of different types of fleas, a dog flea is one of the most common. However, fleas in dogs are not only insects, ...
Rat fleas are parasites that easily adapt to the most diverse conditions of existence. Parasitologists consider them one of the most dangerous enemies ...
Fleas, like most other blood-sucking insects, are obligate parasites. In other words, they cannot eat anything other than blood - ...
This problem is familiar. Themselves lived on the 1st floor and constantly suffered from flea bites in the summer. About the dog generally keep silent, than just not treated. Finally, the whole house poisoned fleas. And I bought a dog a drop, because I also got a summer cottage, then protection is needed not only from fleas and ticks, but also from mosquitoes and blackflies.
Milan, you did the right thing. I have a Chihuahua dog, there were also fleas, they were dripping with various drops, nothing helps! Tell me, what drops do you need to drip?
In our house, fleas periodically appear and bite mostly children. The dog was not processed, only the collar, but periodically appeared, then poisoned with shampoo. When the dog died, went into the house. I had to even call the sanitary service for processing. Now, with the advent of the new pet began to handle it with drops. Now there are no fleas, we go quietly to the forest, we are not afraid of ticks.
Where can I buy such drops?
In veterinary pharmacies.
In the vet pharmacy.
My pet had 2 fleas. We found them, but we are not sure that there were only two of them, and therefore we will wash it.
The cat has fleas. He sleeps with me in bed. Mom says that people do not bite fleas. I was bitten alone and I became a witness. I read the article, told my mother, but she denies this information. I was already bitten by fleas, and I remember that the bites took a long time. And painfully, I somehow do not want to make injections again. A couple of fleas have already bitten me.What to do with mom and cat ?!
That's right, my mother also says that the fleas of people do not bite, and my husband and I all go bitten. I do not know what to do with this, I want to send a cat to the street at all ...
Julia, well, you are a fool, in the world there are a lot of people like you, unfortunately. Cure a cat and attachment to normal people.
Julia, you brought the animal, but do not know how to care! Of course, why. Easier to drive on the street, to certain death. In veterinary pharmacies and pet stores full of tick and flea products for a different wallet. Do not betray your pet! Treat and live in peace.
Julia, throwing a cat cruelly. But you need to process it accurately, fleas bite people and how. Do not listen to the cat girls who are only “mimic, what kind of kisis”) Think first of all about the family. We put the cat to sleep when there was a danger to the child.
And if your child has got lice, will you put him to sleep too ?!
And do not you feel sorry for the cat? After all, die. Why are you, Julia, so cruel?
Usually animals are family members.So, Julia, maybe, someday, she will refuse from another family member because he smells or is ill. Need to treat. And do not show an example of cruelty to their children. Most often, this cruelty can manifest itself in Julia’s old age from her children.
I am very pleased that many people who love their pets and care about their health! Definitely cure a cat!
Today I found myself in a completely stupid situation, from which I don’t know how to get out ... We walked with the older child out of the garden and picked up a kitten on the street. At first I examined him for parasites, found nothing, and in general, the impression was that the cat had fallen from the window of the first floors and that it was home - it was so clean. Brought him home. After I washed and dried him, I noticed that fleas were jumping on his face! I am in a panic, and the cat is pitiful, and it’s scary for children (there is a baby in the house) ... What should I do? And how dangerous is the presence of such a kitten in the house for children? For the night the kitten put in a box in the vestibule. I hope, in one hour of their stay in the apartment, the fleas did not have time to run up ...
What a pity the kitten that he came to you, Maria. Why he was not lucky to be in the way of a normal person? Does not threaten your children kitten stay in your home. All my life, since childhood, I keep cats, just now my cats are without fleas. And before that, we had no means for the sale of fleas, and the cats walked on the street, and then slept with me or with my mother and sisters in beds. None of us have ever been bitten by a single flea. What is written on this page is the horror stories of the Elurofob, setting people up against cats.
Do not confuse cat lice and fleas! Everything written here is true. I was bitten by fleas from a cat! Very painful. And in general, it is not necessary to start animals, while the kids are very small. Children are more expensive than animals. They themselves recently brought a cat, they regretted - a kitten came from the street. A child was born, I regret very much now that they took a cat. Some torment with him, he is still a kitten, for him an eye and an eye is needed. Animals should be brought when kids are growing up! When there is time for their upbringing.
Scary stories you have brains, if they (brains) are! I have a cat at home, I flew somewhere fleas - so bit as soon as possible, until they cured!
Well, well, horror stories. My baby was all bitten by fleas.But only the 3rd dermatologist could understand that he had year-round injuries to his body. And he has allergies to these bites. The rest claimed that it was mosquito bites, but alas. I had to give the cat to friends.
We have a cat, recently discovered her fleas. My mother says that they don’t bite people, but lately I have often noticed that fleas are crawling for me, and sometimes some insects bite me. The cat was bathed with different shampoos against parasites, also treated with many drops and various means, but nothing helped. All this acted temporarily, but after a while the fleas reappeared.
We all have trouble. We live with the mother-in-law, she is a catwoman, feeding cats on the street. So, in children, all legs are bitten, the husband periodically catches fleas on himself. The older child is also allergic to bites, to the horror simply. We speak to the mother-in-law, and she has everything on the drum, for all excuses.
Tell me! They took a kitten, he has fleas, especially at the neck, withers, but he is only 2 months old ... What can be done for him effectively?
And he constantly climbs into the gap of the sofa, and the child is sleeping on the sofa. What can be processed sofa, just in case? To the child did not bite and the sofa did not start?
Violent people are much more dangerous than fleas. Fleas can be removed, but the person will remain so.
Oh, I do not know, citizens, you need to treat fleas, do not close your eyes to it. I saw a flea on my cat, today or tomorrow urgently in a pharmacy!
Hello, my puppy has black dirt, I can not wash it. But the dog itches, what to do? I just do not understand: fleas, not fleas, but nobody bites me and the child.