Fleas, according to the definition provided by The National Pet Health and Care Network (NPHCN), are small and wingless insects that feed themselves by sucking the blood of their ‘hosts'. They can live on the skin of most mammals, such as cats or dogs, and in rare occasions birds. Fleas place their eggs below carpets, in curtains, in piles of garbage, and other places that offer them food and shelter. They are known to survive in these settings for months while waiting for a victim.

Although there are many different species of fleas, the most common type are the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, and the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis. Fleas are most commonly seen from spring through fall. They like temperatures that range between 62 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit with 52 to 92 percent humidity— just about the same temperatures under which we keep our homes.

Read more about fleas and your pets.