Signs of Fleas in House: How to Detect and Prevent Infestations

Have you noticed your pet scratching more than usual? Of course, cats are self-groomers and constantly groom themselves. Still, if it’s become excessive, this could mean you’re facing a frustrating household problem: fleas.

Another sign is finding tiny black specks on your pet’s bedding — or on your pet. That is called flea dirt and is flea feces. Fleas are frustrating because they can lay 50 eggs a day. Hence, they multiply rapidly, and a minor problem can quickly become a full-blown infestation that affects both you and your pet.

To keep your home comfortable and free of fleas, you need to learn to detect fleas early, eliminate them, and prevent future infestations.

What are fleas?

Fleas are parasites that feed off of your pet, looking for a blood meal. They will bite people as well, but they prefer your pets. They are small, wingless insects. The most common type is the cat flea, which gravitates towards both dogs and cats. They’re only about one-eighth of an inch long and brownish-red, with a flattened body that allows them to move quickly through your pet’s fur and through carpet fibers.

Even though they are small, fleas are incredible jumpers. They can jump up to seven inches high and 13 inches forward. That makes it easy for them to move from pets to bedding to furniture and even to you. They thrive in warm, humid environments. They can get into your house, which is warm enough for them to live year-round. Their life cycle has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The cycle can take weeks or months. But since it can take as little as two weeks, it’s essential to focus on early detection and intervention.

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Common signs of fleas in your home

To prevent a significant infestation, you need to find fleas early. Here are some common signs that you have fleas in your house.

• Excessive scratching or biting: Common areas include the base of the tail, the neck, and the thighs.

• Flea dirt: This is actually flea feces, composed of digested blood, and looks like black pepper. If you find tiny black specks on your pet, their bedding, or furniture, you can place a little on a damp paper towel, and it will turn reddish-brown if it’s truly flea dirt.

• Tiny jumping insects: You can sometimes see adult fleas hopping around on your carpet, furniture, or on your pet.

• Red bumps or bites on your skin: Some people are actually allergic to fleas and their bites, and may develop small, itchy bumps on their ankles, legs, or waist.

• Restless pets: Your pet may be irritable or restless if they have fleas.

• Anemia: In severe cases — particularly in kittens, puppies, and senior pets — heavy infestations can cause excessive blood loss and lead to anemia, resulting in weakness, pale gums, and lethargy.

If you see any of these signs, it’s time to start looking closely around your home.

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How to detect fleas in your home

It can be tricky to find fleas because they are great at hiding. They can be in your carpet, cracks of hardwood floors, dark corners, or anywhere it’s convenient for them to lay eggs and be close to a food source (which is your pet or you). Here’s how to check your home for fleas.

Pet beds 

A good place to start is where your pet spends most of their time: their bed. Fleas also like pet beds because they’re usually warm and soft, so they often lay their eggs there.

• Remove the bedding and look closely for black specks or small white flea eggs.

• If you don’t have one, purchase a flea comb. This special comb, available at the pet store, captures flea dirt or live fleas as you comb your pet.

• Pet bedding should be washed frequently in hot water and dried on the highest setting. This will kill fleas and eggs.

Look over the carpeting

Other areas where fleas like to breed are carpeted places. Here, fleas hide deep in the fibers, and the larvae feed on flea dirt.

• Wearing white socks, shuffle slowly across carpeted areas. There’s a good chance fleas will jump onto your socks.

• Use a flashlight to look at baseboards and dark corners.

• Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend: Vacuum thoroughly, especially along the edges of rooms, under furniture, and near pet resting spots.

Be sure to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag. Or empty the canister into a bag and discard it outdoors immediately after vacuuming to prevent reinfestation.

Hardwood floors 

Just because you don’t have carpet doesn’t mean you can’t have fleas. They are great at hiding in the cracks of hardwood planks and baseboards, as well as under rugs.

• Look for dark specks in floor crevices or around the edges of your rooms.

• Sweep and mop regularly. You can use a diluted vinegar solution, which can be very effective at killing fleas.

• There are flea sprays and powders specifically labeled as safe for hardwood floors.

Backyard and outdoor areas

Your yard is probably the starting point of a flea problem. Fleas often hide in shaded, humid spots under decks, shrubs, and tall grass, especially if your pet spends time outside.

• If you have outdoor bedding or kennels, check them.

• If there are particular areas where your pets rest or dig, closely inspect those areas.

• You can reduce flea habitats by keeping your grass trimmed short and removing leaf litter.

Keep in mind that fleas can also come from wildlife, such as raccoons or even stray cats.

Upholstered furniture

Couches, chairs, and any furniture your pet can access can harbor flea eggs and larvae.

• Look under the cushions, along the seams, and in folds for flea dirt or larvae.

• Use a lint roller or your vacuum cleaner attachment.

• If you have removable covers, wash them or use an upholstery-safe steam cleaner.

How to get rid of fleas in your home

Once you determine that you actually have fleas, it’s critical to get rid of them immediately. Otherwise, they will reproduce quickly: Just one female can lay up to 50 eggs a day. 

1. Treat your pets using a veterinarian-recommended flea treatment. There are topical solutions, oral medications, or flea collars that can kill adult fleas and prevent eggs from hatching. It’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian to determine the right treatment. Make sure you use a product specific to your pet’s species. Otherwise, it can be toxic. (For example, never put a dog product on a cat.)

2. Wash everything from pet bedding and blankets to human bedding. Use hot water, and do it weekly. Heat kills fleas and their eggs.

3. Your vacuum cleaner is key to eliminating fleas. Vacuum thoroughly and often. Concentrate on high-traffic areas, spots your pet spends the most time, and on upholstery. Immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner contents outside.

4. Use sprays or powders to eliminate adult fleas and larvae hiding on your furniture or in your carpets. It’s a good idea to use ones that have an insect-growth regulator that prevents eggs and larvae from maturing.

5. Steam-cleaning carpets and upholstery combines heat and moisture to kill all life stages of fleas. Do it once a week during your infestation. This can be very beneficial.

6. Treat your yard. There are outdoor flea-control products that you can apply to grassy areas, patios, and shady spots where fleas might hide. Always read the label to protect your pets and plants.

7. Consider professional pest control. Make sure they use pet-safe products and keep your pets out of the area during treatment.

Flea control is not something you do just once. Fleas can continue to develop from hatching eggs, so follow-up treatment is essential.

How to prevent flea infestation in the future

Prevention is the way to make sure the fleas never return. Here are the most effective ways to keep your home flea-free year-round.

1. Year-round flea prevention for pets each month: Consult your veterinarian. Don’t forget fleas can survive indoors year-round.

2. Routine grooming: Use flea combs and pet-safe shampoos.

3. Frequent cleaning: Use the vacuum cleaner on carpets, rugs, and furniture weekly to get flea eggs before they hatch. Also, mop floors and wash pet bedding weekly.

4. Limit wildlife access: Keep outdoor trash sealed to discourage raccoons, opossums, and other animals from entering your yard.

5. Yard maintenance: Keep grass trimmed short. Keep your bushes trimmed. Reduce shady areas. Use pet-safe yard sprays if necessary.

6. Inspect new animals: If you get new pets, check them for fleas before bringing them home.

7. Use a dehumidifier: Since fleas love humidity, a dehumidifier can help. 

All the above may sound like a great deal of work. But by maintaining consistent, preventive care and cleaning habits, you’ll get fleas under control and create an environment that they don’t want to return to.

Bottom line

Fleas may be small, but the problems they cause aren’t. They cause itchy pets, infected skin, and infestations inside your home. And this can all happen in a matter of weeks. Early detection, thorough cleaning, and ongoing prevention make it possible to eliminate them once and for all. If you learn where fleas hide, understand the signs, and follow a reliable prevention routine.

References

• Bourne, Debra, et al. “Fleas and Flea-Borne Diseases: Biology, Control & Compliance.” Companion Animal, vol. 23, no. 4, 2 Apr. 2018, pp. 204–211, www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/coan.2018.23.4.201.

• Dockendorf, Robyn. “5 Reasons Why Fleas Won’t Leave on Their Own (and What to Do) - Pest Pointers.” Pest Pointers, 15 Dec. 2023. pestpointers.com/reasons-why-fleas-wont-leave-on-their-own.

• Dockendorf, Robyn. “Fleas, Ticks, or Bed Bugs? How to Tell the Difference! - Pest Pointers.” Pest Pointers, 7 Apr. 2021. pestpointers.com/fleas-ticks-or-bed-bugs-how-to-tell-the-difference.