Two of my Tonkinese kits.

It has been some time since I last posted a blog. There has been a lot going on in my life so I hadn't the time. I have now added Ragdolls to my family and have been breeding them for about 12 months now. They are just so affectionate. Temperament has always been first and foremost with my choice of breeds. That is why I chose Burmese 8 years ago. Then came the Tonkinese and now the Ragdolls. Now for my blog today. Just a bit of information about Fleas.

Fleas who needs them---- Certainly not your fur family

Adult fleas are wingless insects, generally smaller than a sesame seed, which feed on the blood of animals. Their proportionately enlarged back pair of legs gives them an extraordinary jumping ability.  Hanging on to your pets fur with their claws, their needle-like mouth parts bite through the skin to suck up blood in quantities of up to 15 times their body weight daily in the case of female cat fleas.

If one flea finds your dog or cat an attractive source of food, you can be sure that other fleas will to. They mate with females laying30-50 eggs per day. These eggs will drop to the ground within 8 hours and, as soon as 2 days later flea larvae will hatch and hide in dark places on the ground, in carpets or upholstery. After about a week of feeding on adult flea droppings, crumbs, flaked off skin etc, the larvae spin cocoons to become pupae.  The pupae can remain in this stage for very long periods of time..  The cycle continues when, as soon as a week or so later, the pupae develop into adult fleas and emerge from their cocoons when they sense that a dog or a cat, or other animal host is near.  The cycle which can take as little as 12 days or as long as 180 days can then begin again.