Get the GoFantastic app
Fleas in the UK: Types, Where They Live and How to Deal With Them
Fleas are small, wingless, blood-sucking insects, 1–4 mm long and brown to dark brown. The cat flea is by far the most common in the UK and lives on dogs as well as cats. Adult fleas live on animals, but around 95% of a flea problem (eggs, larvae and cocoons) is in carpets, bedding and furniture.
Most Common Types of Fleas
There are three main types of flea in UK homes, plus the bird flea, which turns up where birds nest.
| Flea | Latin name | How common in the UK | Main hosts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat flea | Ctenocephalides felis | Most common | Cats and dogs; readily bites people |
| Dog flea | Ctenocephalides canis | Less common | Dogs and cats |
| Human flea | Pulex irritans | Rare | People and other animals |
| Bird flea | Ceratophyllus gallinae | Local, around nests | Birds; breeds fast in nests and hen houses |
Feeding Habits
Adult fleas feed only on the blood of mammals and birds. Each species prefers certain hosts, mainly cats and dogs for the common household fleas, but they will all bite people. Adult fleas find a host by sensing warmth, vibration and the carbon dioxide in its breath. Flea larvae don’t bite: they feed on debris and the droppings of adult fleas.
Where do fleas come from?
Fleas usually arrive on an animal. Feral cats, foxes and other wildlife are the most common carriers, and pets pick up fleas outdoors or from other animals, then bring them inside. Rats and mice can carry fleas too.
Fleas can also come in on shoes and clothes, on second-hand furniture, or be waiting in a property that’s been empty: fleas can stay in their cocoons for months and hatch as soon as people move in. That’s why homes without pets can still get fleas.
Where do fleas live?
Where fleas live depends on their life stage, and around 95% of them aren’t on your pet at all:
- Eggs: laid in your pet’s fur, then fall off into pet beds, carpets, sofas and bedding.
- Larvae: hide in dark, undisturbed places such as carpet fibres and the gaps along skirting boards and between floorboards.
- Cocoons (pupae): sit in carpets and furniture until they sense a host, which is why they’re the stage most likely to survive a treatment.
- Adults: live on cats, dogs and other furry animals, and jump on and off to feed.
Where do fleas live outside?
Outdoors, fleas live in shady, humid places where animals rest: long grass, under shrubs and hedges, in leaf litter, under decking and in sheds. These spots suit every stage of the life cycle, from eggs to cocoons, and new adults jump onto passing pets and wildlife.
Do fleas live in grass?
Yes, especially long grass and garden debris where pets or wildlife lie down. Keeping the lawn mowed and raking up leaves, grass and hedge clippings gives fleas fewer places to hide. For more, see how to get rid of fleas in your garden.
Do fleas nest?
Fleas don’t build nests. They breed wherever their host rests and sleeps: pet beds, sofas and carpets indoors, and dens, burrows and birds’ nests outdoors. Bird fleas can build up quickly in nests and hen houses.
Where do fleas live on dogs and cats?
On pets, fleas gather in warm, sheltered areas: around the neck, behind the ears and on the underbelly. A pet that never goes outside can still get fleas, as they can be carried in on people’s shoes and clothes. See little-known signs of cat fleas or how to tell if your dog has fleas.
Can fleas live on humans?
Cat and dog fleas don’t live on people, because we don’t have the fur they need, but they will happily bite us. That’s why you can get bitten even though the fleas live on your pet or in your carpet. The human flea is the one species that lives on people, and it’s rare in UK homes today. See what flea bites look like.
Are fleas dangerous?
In the UK, fleas don’t commonly spread disease to people. The main problems are itchy bites and the infection that can follow if bites are scratched a lot. Fleas can pass tapeworm to cats and dogs when a pet swallows an infected flea.
Fleas in your home?
Our technicians treat carpets, floors and furniture so fleas hatching from cocoons are killed too.
Dealing with fleas
To spot fleas, check the signs of fleas in your home. To clear them, treat your pets and your home at the same time: our guide to getting rid of fleas in the house covers every step. If they keep coming back, our flea treatment in London comes with a 3-month guaranteed plan that includes a return visit after 2 weeks.
Keep in mind that we only aim to provide some useful information about fleas in general. We cannot guarantee that what you’re dealing with corresponds to the same description.
