Can Bed Bugs Bite Cats or Dogs?
Yes. While bed bugs strongly prefer human blood, they will bite cats and dogs when a human host is unavailable or when pets sleep close to established harbourages. Bites on pets don’t mean your animal is the cause of the problem; bed bugs do not live in fur like fleas. They hide in beds, sofas, skirting boards and furniture joints, feeding briefly before returning to cracks nearby.
What people believe vs reality
- Myth: Pets cause bed bugs. Reality: Bed bugs hitchhike on luggage, furnishings and textiles. Pets are incidental hosts, not reservoirs.
- Myth: Flea collars or spot-on treatments protect pets from bed bugs. Reality: Bed bugs are not reliably affected by these products and often show resistance to common domestic insecticides.
- Myth: A quick spray or fogger will solve it. Reality: Foggers scatter bugs, miss eggs and leave cold spots where colonies rebound.
Science-backed facts
Common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide. They feed every few days, usually at night, and will bite pets on thinly furred areas such as bellies, groins and ears if those areas are near their hiding places. Bed bug eggs are more heat-resilient than nymphs and adults, which is why treatments must achieve the correct what temperature kills bed bugs for long enough to be effective.
Common mistakes that prolong infestations
- Relying on pet flea/tick products to control bed bugs.
- Using total-release foggers that push bugs deeper into the property.
- Moving pet beds from room to room, which spreads hitchhikers.
- Discarding furniture without sealing it, risking further spread.
Practical steps you can do safely
- Launder pet bedding, soft toys and washable covers at 60°C and tumble-dry hot for at least 30 minutes. Bag items before transport to the machine and re-bag when dry.
- Vacuum seams of pet beds, sofas and skirting lines; empty the vacuum outside immediately into a sealed bag.
- Place interceptors under bed and sofa legs to track activity and reduce bites.
- Inspect sleeping areas for faecal spots (tiny black dots), cast skins and eggs; here’s how to check for bed bugs carefully and systematically.
For deeper cleaning guidance before professional work begins, see our tips on preparing your home for treatment.
Why heat treatment is the superior solution for homes with pets
Whole-room heat eradication is the most reliable way to end a bed bug problem around animals without chemical residues. Unlike sprays and foggers, professional heat targets the building fabric and belongings uniformly.
- Cold spots eliminated: Industrial heaters and managed airflow remove cool refuges where eggs survive.
- Sustained lethal temperature: Rooms are held above the egg-killing threshold for long enough to denature all life stages.
- Sensors and monitoring: Multiple wireless probes confirm the coldest point in the room has exceeded the lethal threshold and stayed there.
- All life stages killed: Adults, nymphs and eggs are brought to lethal temperatures in a single visit, preventing rapid rebound.
Learn more about bed bug heat treatment and the exact steps involved in our bed bug heat treatment process.
ThermoPest’s heat expertise
ThermoPest technicians are heat-treatment specialists. We place sensors in hard-to-heat locations, manage airflow to penetrate mattresses, sofas and pet bedding, and verify temperatures at the coldest points exceed the lethal range specified in what temperature kills bed bugs. We provide clear pre-visit guidance for pet safety and post-visit advice to monitor your property after treatment and avoid reintroduction.
We support both homes and businesses; if you manage multi-occupancy housing or hospitality, see our commercial heat treatment for hotels and landlords for discreet, rapid scheduling and documentation.
FAQ’S
Question: Can bed bugs bite cats or dogs?
Answer: Yes, bed bugs will bite cats and dogs, especially if a human host isn’t available or pets sleep close to harbourages. They prefer human blood but feed opportunistically on thinly furred areas like bellies and ears. Tip: check your pet’s usual sleeping spots and adjacent furniture seams for dark faecal spots and cast skins. In professional practice, we confirm activity with targeted inspection and monitors before selecting heat treatment.
Question: Do bed bugs live on pets like fleas?
Answer: No. Bed bugs don’t cling to fur or stay on the host; they hide in cracks near where hosts rest and feed quickly before retreating. Eggs are glued to surfaces, not hair shafts, so treating the pet like a flea case won’t solve a bed bug infestation. Tip: focus attention on beds, sofas, skirting boards and pet bedding seams rather than the animal itself. In professional practice, we find the harbourages and eliminate them with whole-room heat.
Question: What do bed bug bites look like on pets, and how can I tell them from fleas?
Answer: On pets, bed bug bites may appear as small red papules on sparsely furred skin, sometimes in loose lines or clusters, but appearance alone is not diagnostic. Flea issues often come with visible flea dirt (pepper-like specks) in fur, which bed bugs do not produce. Tip: place a white sheet under your pet’s bed overnight and inspect for dark spots or shed skins in the morning. In professional practice, we rely on finding physical signs in the environment and use monitoring to confirm species.
Question: Can my pet bring bed bugs into the house, or is this a reintroduction?
Answer: Pets can inadvertently transport a hitchhiking bug on blankets or carriers, but most introductions come from travel, guests or second-hand furniture. If activity returns after treatment, it may be a new introduction rather than treatment failure. Tip: bag and launder travel blankets at 60°C after trips and keep luggage off beds. In professional practice, we differentiate reintroduction vs ongoing infestation with follow-up monitoring and room-by-room inspection.
Question: How should I protect my pets during a bed bug heat treatment?
Answer: Remove all pets (including aquariums and sensitive species) from the property during heating, and return them once temperatures normalise and the site is declared safe. Professional heat brings rooms above the egg-killing range and holds them there, so items like pet bedding are treated in place while animals are safely off-site. Tip: follow the provider’s checklist for preparing your home for treatment and clarify any pet-specific questions in advance. In professional practice, we use multiple sensors to prevent cold spots and verify safe re-entry.