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Can Cats Carry Bed Bugs?

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:44:00 +0000

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Relax, cat owners. Bed bugs would rather bite you. Photo: Dubravko Sorić

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.

Bed 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.
Pets 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.
Infestations 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.
Fast 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.

Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care

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.

Bed bug illustration from the CDC

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)

Can you get bed bugs from cats?

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.

Where do bed bugs come from all of a sudden?

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.

What animal carries bed bugs?

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.

Can bed bugs live in cat litter?

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.

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Is This the End of Buying Pets from Pet Stores?

admin — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:42:01 +0000

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In a move that was a surprise to many, and a rude shock to others, members of the Valdosta City Council, Georgia, voted unanimously to ban pet retail sales as part of a city ordinance at a recent meeting; a move that Petland owners Ben and Geoff Hoofnagle are none too impressed with.

For some, it may seem like a natural progression following the passing of Georgia House Bill 331, which, earlier this year, made the selling of cats, dogs, and rabbits in outdoor stalls like markets and roadside stands illegal. Perhaps pet stores initially saw this as a positive step towards boosting their retail sales, but it seems that those within Valdosta’s city limits might be in for a rude shock.

Following the announcement of a pet retail ban at the November 6 city council meeting, the Hoofnagles issued a statement (see below) expressing their disappointment and frustration at this surprise change in city ordinances. Which is understandable, given that they just opened a brand new store in Valdosta in October this year. According to the Hoofnagles, the pet sales ban could have a detrimental impact on the two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into developing and opening the independently owned and operated franchise in accordance with Valdosta city planning approval.

They claim that Petland prioritizes animal welfare, health, and safety, using only USDA-licensed breeders to source the animals they sell. However, what does that really mean?

Image Credit: khlungcenter, Shutterstock

The Problem With Pet Store Puppies

Valdosta might be the latest city to ban the retail sale of pets, but they are not the first. In December 2024, New York introduced the “Puppy Mill Pipeline Law” aimed at shutting down puppy mills, joining California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New York, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont, as well as hundreds of US cities that have banned the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits in retail stores.

Why?

Bringing a pet into your home should not be taken lightly. It should be a lengthy process of consideration and thought, not the result of an impulse buy.

When you buy a puppy or kitten directly from a breeder, you have the opportunity to see where they were raised, meet the mother (and sometimes the father), ask questions, and get a good feel for the health and welfare of the animal you are purchasing and where it comes from.

When you buy a puppy or kitten from a pet store, you might be able to view some paperwork, health certificates, and a USDA breeder licence, but how much does that really tell you? According to ASPCA reports, the requirements for becoming a licensed breeder do little to improve the welfare of the dogs being used to churn out the millions of puppies that are funnelled into pet stores every year. The puppy in the pet store window might be fattened, fluffed, and full of energy, but that is often a far cry from how they were born and raised.

Sadly, the moment selling puppies became a business, profitability became the top priority for many disreputable breeders, with “puppy mills” springing up all over the country. Effectively ‘factory farming’ for pets, these puppy production businesses have been known to keep dogs in squalor, providing the bare minimum to keep them producing puppies that would be taken to pet shops and sold to unwary dog lovers. Fortunately, as people become more aware of this horrendous practice, we are finally seeing a change.

Image Credit: KITSANANAN, Shutterstock

Be Part of the Change

Although the changing laws will no doubt be quite a blow to pet stores that have been enjoying the benefits of being the puppy sales middleman, it’s important to focus on the positive outcomes of banning pet retail sales. When puppy mill traders can no longer sell their wares, they will cease to exist, and we should all want to be part of that movement and the best way to do that is to only support pet stores that do not sell puppies and kittens.

When looking to buy a puppy, always do plenty of research first, and only buy from a reputable breeder, and ensure that they are happy to have you visit their home and see where the mother and puppies live.
Don’t buy from pet stores, markets, or anywhere that doesn’t feel right. You might feel like you’re ‘rescuing’ a puppy from an unfortunate situation, but you may be inadvertently financing a puppy mill.
Adopt from an animal shelter. You can find dogs and puppies of all ages, breeds, and sizes at animal shelters, and the adoption fee goes towards the care and rescue of dogs in need, not into the pockets of unscrupulous puppy farmers.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long before the United States joins countries like the UK and much of the European Union in having a complete ban on the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores. After all, shops should be for ‘things’, not family members.

Official Statement from Petland Valdosta

“We are deeply disappointed by last night’s city council action. After nearly two years of planning, permitting, and investment, we opened Petland Valdosta just last month in full compliance with all city regulations and requirements. We followed every rule, obtained every necessary license, and contributed significantly to Valdosta’s economy and community.

Last night, without notice to our business, without public comment, and without any opportunity for impacted parties like us to be heard, Council surreptitiously added retail pet sale ban language to an existing agenda item about responsible dog ownership policy. This ordinance was passed unanimously with no public process whatsoever.

This action raises serious legal and procedural concerns. The City’s own Rules of Conduct require public notice, opportunity for public comment, and due process. None of this occurred. Additionally, Georgia’s Attorney General issued a formal opinion in 2019—just six years ago—concluding that retail pet sale bans are preempted by state law and conflict with Georgia’s Animal Protection Act. That legal analysis has not changed.

We have tremendous respect for animal welfare, and Petland has been a leader in responsible pet ownership for nearly 60 years. Petland sources all puppies from USDA-licensed breeders, maintains rigorous health and safety standards, and provides expert guidance to every family we serve. We’re also proud of our community programs, including our Adopt-A-Pet initiative that has helped over 350,000 animals find homes.

We are exploring all available legal options to protect our business and the hundreds of thousands of dollars we’ve invested. We are committed to working with city leadership—if they’ll engage with us—to find a path forward that respects both our business and the community’s values.

We believe Valdosta’s citizens deserve a fair process and the opportunity to make informed decisions about their local businesses.”

Ben & Geoff Hoofnagle, Nov. 7, 2025

Feature Image Credit: Veja, Shutterstock

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