Do Bed Bugs Bite Household Pets Like Cats and Dogs Or Just Humans?

We know that bed bugs bite humans. Yes, they are notorious for making our lives a total misery. But here’s something that you may be wondering. Do these pests also bite our pets? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. But what do you need to know about this and how can you stop it?

Why these insects bite cats and dogs too

Pests are famous for interfering in the lives of humans. What’s funny is that they rarely affect our pets. You never hear about cats and dogs having a problem with cockroaches or rats. The only exception to this rule is fleas.

Another exception is bed bugs. Yes bed bugs bite humans with their histamine filled bites and they can also go after your cat or dog. But why does this happen? The reason why is simple. Unlike rats, cockroaches, or moths, bed bugs – and fleas – feed on blood.

These pests aren’t picky at all. Whether it’s blood from a human, or animals, they don’t discriminate. That being said, while bed bugs bite pets, they vastly prefer human blood. In fact, bed bugs only bite pets when they are desperate for blood.

Another reason why bed bugs bite pets is because your pet’s bedding may be infested. You see, bed bugs enjoying living in soft, warm places like bedding. This means that they often infest pet bedding and can attack household pets.

Dealing with bed bugs infested pet bedding

Something else to know is that bed bugs do not live on pets the way that fleas do. What they will do though, is use your pet as a means of transport. For example, let’s say your cat or dog is outside, or somewhere that is infested with bed bugs in a public place. The bugs will crawl onto your pet and then be transported into your home.

So what can you do about this? First, it’s probably a good idea to throw out your pets bedding. There’s a good chance that there are bed bugs living in the bedding, or near to it. Next, thoroughly inspect the area around your pets bedding.

You want to focus on small cracks where bed bugs could have squeezed into. This includes gaps in furniture, small holes and so on. Finally, vacuum the area as thoroughly as possible. You may also want to move your pet to another area of the house.

Finally, monitor the situation. Check your pet for bites and watch to see if they’re scratching. Something else you may want to do is call in a pest control company. These bugs are exceptionally difficult to get rid of. Due to this, you may want to seek professional help.