Marie H. asked 8 years ago
A friend’s cat has cat fleas. We are wondering if mice can have cat fleas, and then bring them into a house to cause an infestation involving the cat.
Adam Retzer Staff answered 8 years ago
It’s possible for mice and other small rodents to have cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), but it’s very rare. You shouldn’t have much to worry about.
Small rodents have their own species of fleas that infest them, and these fleas don’t infest dogs or cats. Likewise, C. felis infests dogs and cats (and coyotes, raccoons and opossums), but won’t infest small rodents. There have been reports of fleas on their non-preferred host, but these reports are far from common.
joe scappatura
replied 5 years ago Hi …i am curious… i live in wilmington, nc . i have been reading that mice and flea infestation on my cats can go hand in hand, but your source says it is highly unlikely. i am hoping your source is the accurate one:)
i have a flea infestation that is getting under control using revolution for cats, but i am still seeing very small ones after 3 weeks in my garage (concrete slab) in the corners. by concern were mice doing it. ( i found 4 droppings in the corner that i think were from the large american roach. any thoughts?
thanks… joe
Adam RetzerIf the fleas are small in the environment, it likely means they just emerged and haven’t been able to feed. Fleas double in size upon taking a blood meal, because their abdomens swell.
What you are experiencing is normal. It usually takes around 8 weeks for an infestation to completely end. This is because 95-99% of infestation consists of immature stages living in the environment (eggs, larvae, pupae). Eggs become in adults in 17-26 days. However, some cocooned adults can enter into a quiescent state for up to months, which can prolong the infestation.
The small fleas you are seeing are likely the remnants of the infestation. They are last generation of immature stages in the environment finally becoming adults. If the cat is treated, they shouldn’t be able to survive and reproduce. So, it should indeed be the last generation.
The fleas could also be from an mouse infestation. However, as mentioned, small rodents have their own species of flea that infest them. These species aren’t much interested in cats and dogs.
