"The Cat Flea" (Ctenocephalides felis)

The cat and dog flea look so alike they can only be separated by the presence of an additional two notches and spines on the hind tibia of C. canis. According to Herms (1969), the head of the female cat flea is twice as long as high when seen from the side and has seven to 10 bristles on the inner side of the third femur. Whereas, the head of the female dog flea is less than twice as long as high when seen from the side and has 10 to 13 bristles on the inner side of the hind femur. The head shape may be somewhat variable. These two fleas may be distinguished from P. irritans, which lacks the genal and pronotal comb.

Adult cat fleas are found on cats and dogs year-round, but are most common during summer months. Cat fleas are found on other urban hosts including opossum, fox, mongoose and occasionally rats. They readily attack and feed on humans.