Signs of Fleas in Your Home: What to Look For and What to Do

Fleas are small, fast-moving, and notoriously hard to spot, until it’s too late. Whether they’ve come in on your pets, through a visitor’s clothing, or from a wildlife source, fleas can quickly become a major nuisance in your home.

Here’s how to recognise the early signs of a flea infestation and what steps to take next.

1. Itchy Bites – Especially Around the Ankles

Flea bites are often small, red, and itchy. They typically appear in clusters or lines, especially on feet, ankles, lower legs, and waistbands. Bites may show up overnight and worsen over time.

2. Scratching Pets

If your cat or dog is constantly scratching, grooming, or seems agitated, fleas may be the cause. Use a flea comb and check areas like the neck, tail base, and belly for flea dirt or live fleas.

3. Flea Dirt (Droppings)

Flea dirt looks like tiny black specks. You may find it:

• In your pet’s fur

• On bedding or upholstery

• In corners of carpets and rugsTo test it, place the specks on damp paper - if they turn reddish-brown, it’s flea faeces.

4. Seeing Fleas Jump

Adult fleas are tiny (about 2mm) but can jump long distances. You may spot them on light-coloured bedding, pet fur, or carpets. They move quickly and are easily missed if you’re not looking carefully.

5. Flea Eggs and Larvae

Fleas lay eggs in fabric, carpets, and floor cracks. They’re hard to spot (white, less than 0.5mm), but they hatch rapidly in warm environments. A single flea can lay 50 eggs per day, so infestations escalate quickly.

6. Recurring Bites Despite Cleaning

If you've vacuumed, washed bedding, and treated your pet, but bites return, fleas are likely still in the environment. At this stage, professional pest control is usually the most effective solution.