The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felix, infests cats, dogs, people and other mammals more frequently than any other flea.
Fleas travel by repeatedly jumping with their powerful hind legs until they find a host.
Fleas can jump as far as 13 inches at a time. Both sexes have sucking mouth parts capable of piercing skin to obtain a blood meal. Animal blood is essential for the full development of eggs carried within the female flea's body. The body of a flea is flattened on both sides and is covered with short, backwards facing bristles. The orientation of the bristles helps facilitate a forward burrowing motion into fur, skin or feathers.