Human Flea vs Cat Flea

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Human Flea	Cat Flea
Scientific Name	Pulex irritans	Ctenocephalides felis
Order	Siphonaptera	Siphonaptera
Family	Pulicidae	Pulicidae
Size	1.5-4 mm	1.5-3 mm
Habitat	Underground	Underground
Diet	Blood Feeders	Blood Feeders
Regions	Worldwide	Worldwide
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Human Flea

Once common in human homes, now relatively rare in developed countries. Historically responsible for transmitting bubonic plague. Can jump 33 cm vertically.

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Did You Know?

Human fleas were major plague vectors — the Black Death that killed 75-200 million people in the 14th century was largely spread by fleas on rats entering human homes.

Cat Flea

The most common flea on both cats and dogs worldwide. Can jump up to 150 times its body length. A single female can produce up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.

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Did You Know?

Fleas can jump 150 times their body length — equivalent to a human leaping over a 75-story building. They achieve this using a pad of elastic protein called resilin.