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Household Insects · Pest guide

Fleas control

Treat the pet, the home and the yard together, or the cycle starts again.

Start here: How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House (2026 Guide) When to call a pro

Fleas at a glance

Scientific name
Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea)
Size
1/16 to 1/8 inch (1.5–3 mm)
Appearance
Tiny, dark reddish-brown, flattened side to side; jump
Where found
On pets, pet bedding, carpets, rugs, shaded yard areas
  • Health riskModerate
  • Property damageLow
  • Do it yourself?Usually DIY
When fleas are active Peak: Jun–Sep
  1. Jan Low
  2. Feb Low
  3. Mar Low
  4. Apr Active
  5. May Active
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Peak (this month)
  10. Oct Active
  11. Nov Low
  12. Dec Low

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Pets scratching or biting at their fur
  • Black "flea dirt" that turns red on wet paper
  • Small itchy bites around ankles
  • Fleas jumping on carpets or socks

Call a professional when

  • Fleas persist after treating pets, home and yard for 4 to 6 weeks
  • A pet shows hair loss, sores or anemia (call your vet)
How to choose a pest control company

Quick prevention

  • Keep every pet on a vet-approved flea preventive
  • Vacuum carpets and furniture often
  • Wash pet bedding weekly in hot water

Fleas: removal guides

1 guide

Step-by-step plans to get rid of a pest, from DIY methods to professional treatment.

Cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, close up

Fleas · Removal

How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House (2026 Guide)

· 5 min read

Fleas: product guides

1 guide

Traps, baits, sprays and repellents compared: what works, what's safe and what to skip.

Flea close-up

Fleas · Products

5 Best Flea Sprays for Home and Pets (2026)

· 2 min read

Top picks from our product guides

Keep fleas out

  1. Keep every pet on a vet-approved flea preventive
  2. Vacuum carpets and furniture often
  3. Wash pet bedding weekly in hot water
  4. Keep wildlife out from under decks

Often confused or found together

All household insects
Bed Bugs Hitchhikers that hide in mattress seams and bite at night. Hard to clear, but it can be done. Ticks Yard control, tick checks and safe removal to cut the risk of Lyme disease. Mites Dust mites indoors and spider mites on plants: allergy relief and plant care.
Photo credits

Thank you to Michael Wunderli, Sam Thomas, Content Providers: CDC/ Harvard University, Dr. Gary Alpe and Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Public domain