Can Cats Carry Bed Bugs? What Every Pet Owner Should Know
Can cats carry bed bugs on them? Here’s what you need to know about cats and bed bugs.
A bed bug infestation is creepy enough by itself, and you may be wondering if the bugs are being spread by your cat.
You may be asking yourself, “Can cats carry bed bugs?” The simple answer is no, but they can feed on your pet - and you.
If you enjoy learning about cross species bonds, you might like this piece on how cats and horses connect.
Key Takeaways
- 1Bed bugs target humans first: They rely on carbon dioxide to locate hosts and will choose people over pets whenever a human is within 50 to 75 feet.
- 2Pets can be bitten but are not preferred: Cats, dogs and other animals may be bitten only when no human host is available, but bed bugs do not live on pets or use them for transport.
- 3Infestations occur near sleeping areas: Bed bugs stay close to their food source and typically nest 5 to 10 feet away, often in bedding, sofas or carriers rather than on the animals themselves.
- 4Fast action is essential: Washing bedding on high heat, cleaning carriers and contacting a licensed exterminator quickly are the most effective steps to stop an infestation from spreading.
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What Are Bed Bugs
Understanding These Blood Feeding Insects
Bed bugs are small insects that survive exclusively on blood. Humans are their preferred hosts, so they often end up feeding on us.
- They hitchhike on clothing, luggage or personal items
- They slip into homes through tiny gaps, including electrical outlets
- They stay close to sleeping areas for easy access to a host
Once indoors, they settle into cracks, seams and soft furnishings.
A Long History With Humans
Bed bugs have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Early humans encountered them in caves, where the insects fed on people and later on bats once humans moved to new shelters. They thrived in early human dwellings
- They remained a common pest until the mid twentieth century
- Infestations decreased significantly around the 1950s
However, bed bugs have returned in recent decades and are now once again a widespread concern.
The video below shows a heavy bed bug infestation in a residence. If creepy crawlies give you the heebie jeebies, you might want to skip this:
How Bed Bugs Feed
How They Track Down a Host
Bed bugs are skilled at finding humans, and they rely on very specific cues to do it. Their first signal is the carbon dioxide we release with every breath. Once they move closer, their infrared sensors and antennae help them lock onto a warm spot where the skin is easiest to pierce. They follow our carbon dioxide trail They detect body heat with infrared sensors Their antennae guide them to a prime feeding spot
This combination makes it surprisingly easy for them to locate a resting person.
Why Their Bites Go Unnoticed
One of the reasons bed bugs are so frustrating is that their bites are usually painless. The insect numbs the skin before feeding, then keeps the blood flowing with an anti coagulant so it can finish its meal quickly.
- A built in anesthetic prevents you from feeling the bite
- An anti coagulant keeps the blood moving
- Feeding typically lasts only a few minutes
By the time you wake up, the bug is already back in its hiding spot.
They Do Not Keep a Night Only Schedule
Although most people associate bed bugs with nighttime activity, their feeding habits depend entirely on when a host is available. If you sleep during the day, they simply adjust.
- They bite whenever a still, sleeping host is present
- Daytime sleepers are just as vulnerable as nighttime sleepers
- They spend non feeding hours digesting their meal
Their behavior is flexible, which is one reason they are so hard to avoid.
Do Bed Bugs Bite Pets
When Pets Become a Secondary Target
People often worry about their animals when dealing with bed bugs and may ask whether these insects bite cats or dogs. The answer is yes, but it happens only when a human host is not close enough. Bed bugs instinctively seek people first because our carbon dioxide patterns are stronger and easier for them to track. Bed bugs follow carbon dioxide to find a host
- Humans attract them first within about 50 to 75 feet
- Pets are bitten only when no human is available
This preference is not about skin, fur or ease of feeding. It is simply the insect responding to the strongest signal.
Fur Does Not Offer Protection
If a person is not within range, bed bugs will feed on whatever warm blooded animal is present, including cats, dogs and birds. Pet fur does not prevent feeding
- Bed bugs adapt when their preferred host is absent
- Any resting animal can become a temporary meal
Even so, humans remain the insects’ primary target.
Can Cats Carry Bed Bugs
Understanding the Real Answer
Many owners ask, can cats carry bed bugs, especially when they spot a bug near their pet. The short answer is no. Bed bugs do not live on animals and do not use them as nests or transportation. They only remain on a host long enough to feed, then they immediately return to their hiding place. Bed bugs feed for three to five minutes They retreat to cracks or crevices afterward They do not stay on fur or skin like fleas
A cat might accidentally transport a bug for a moment, but this is not the same as an infestation.
Where Bed Bugs Actually Hide
If you see a bed bug on your cat, the true source is almost always your furniture or pet items, not the cat itself. Bed bugs prefer stable hiding spots where they can stay close to a human host.
- Check sofas, chairs and upholstered furniture first
- Inspect carriers, crates and pet bedding
- Look at toys or fabric items your cat sleeps on
The insects choose places near where you rest, not where your cat rests.
Your Cat Is Not the Problem
For anyone wondering again, can cats carry bed bugs, the answer stays the same. Cats do not carry or support bed bug infestations. The insects feed on them only as a backup and do not remain on the animal afterward. Humans are always the preferred host Pets are a last resort
- Infestations come from the home environment, not the cat
What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs
Don’t panic, but don't waste time either. Follow these steps:
- Take all the bedding and wash it in hot (120-degree) water and dry in high heat.
- Wipe down the carrier or crate generously with rubbing alcohol and vacuum the sleeping area extensively.
- Call a qualified exterminator to get an inspection done. If the bed bugs were found on a pet, there is a strong chance they are closer to you as well and that the problem is heavier near your bedroom or the living room.
The video below provides information on identifying bed bug infestations, how they start, and where (and how often) to check your home:
Is Bed Bug Treatment Safe for Cats?
In recent years there has been a large increase in the bed bug epidemic in the United States. There has also been an increase in eradication methods. Reputable companies can treat the problem without risks to your pets. Make sure the company has all the credentials to do the job right.
Bed Bug Facts
- One pregnant female will produce as many as 35,000 offspring in 10 weeks if left untreated. Yikes!
- Chemicals alone will not solve the problem. The eggs are impervious and will hatch with a resistance to the chemicals just used.
- An adult will live for up to 15 months without a blood meal.
- Bed bugs travel using the electrical lines in your home, among other ways. They sense your carbon dioxide within 100 feet. Once within 10 to 15 feet, they use infrared sensors to find the "hot" spot for a meal.
For readers curious about feline emotions, this article explores how cats grieve when they lose a companion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions
You cannot get bed bugs from cats because bed bugs do not live on animals and only use them for brief feeding when no human is available.
Bed bugs often appear suddenly after hitchhiking into a home on luggage, clothing, used furniture or other items that have been in an infested environment.
No animal truly carries bed bugs because they do not live on hosts, although they may briefly crawl on pets or wildlife while seeking a human to feed on.
Bed bugs cannot live in cat litter because it is too dry and does not offer the warmth, cracks or fabric surfaces they need to hide and reproduce.
Kristine Lacoste has been researching dog and cat breeds for nearly a decade and has observed the animals up close at dog shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She is the author of the book One Unforgettable Journey, which was named as a finalist for a Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America, and was host of a weekly pet news segment on the National K-9 Academy Radio Show. In addition, she was the New Orleans coordinator for Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit that helps military members and their pets, for 3 years. Kristine has researched and written about pet behaviors and care for many years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, another bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Business Administration degree.
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