Playing Fetch for Bed Bugs

Matt Unrein • April 16, 2025

Are your pets bringing in unwanted guests?

Bed bugs are blood-feeding hitchhikers that can hide in tight, dark spaces to find new feeding grounds. They often latch onto luggage, clothing, or even pets to travel from one location to another. Once they arrive, they quickly seek out hiding spots and hosts to feed on. Common hiding places include furniture, clothing, and pet fur.

In some cases, bed bugs may use a pet’s coat or hair as a means of transportation into a new home, where they’ll have access to plenty of warm-blooded hosts. It only takes one bed bug to start an infestation—a single female can lay up to five eggs per day. These eggs typically hatch within two weeks, and the young bed bugs begin feeding soon after.
Photo of dogs in the mountain, bed bugs on dogs SOS Pest Control
Photo of cat on ranch, bed bugs on cats SOS Pest Control

But there Is some good news

Bed bugs do not cause any illnesses to people or animals, they just cause itchiness from their bites and they are difficult to remove. So if you think bed bugs are biting your cat or dog, the vet should be able to prescribe something to help make your pets more comfortable. If you start to notice red spots on your pets then you can use this as an opportunity to stop the bed bug infestation before it gets worse.


These are the signs of bed bugs

Bed bug bites often resemble mosquito or flea bites but typically appear in a distinct pattern—commonly in clusters or straight lines. These nocturnal pests hide during the day and come out at night to feed on blood. They often hide in small cracks and crevices in furniture, beds, and walls.


After feeding, bed bugs shed their skin (a process called molting). These molted skins are similar in size to the bugs themselves and can be found in the following areas:

  • Along mattress seams
  • Behind headboards
  • At ceiling and wall junctions
  • Along baseboards
  • Among personal belongings
  • 

For more detailed information on identifying signs of bed bugs, refer to this document by Virginia Tech.

bed bug bites SOS Pest Control
Bed bugs and bed bug eggs on mattress SOS Pest Control

SOS can save your home with no harm to your pets

Thermal heat treatment is the safest and most effective way to eliminate bed bugs—without causing any damage to your furniture or home. This non-toxic method poses no health risks to people or pets, making it a clean and eco-friendly solution.


Heat penetrates every wall, crack, and crevice, reaching the hidden places where bed bugs live. Adult bed bugs die at 119°F, but their heat-resistant eggs require temperatures of at least 125°F. At SOS Pest Control, we seal off the affected area and raise the temperature to the required levels, ensuring complete elimination of both bugs and their eggs. Best of all, this method won’t harm your property or belongings.


Think You Have Bed Bugs? Call Us Today!

If you notice signs of a bed bug infestation, don’t wait—call SOS Pest Control right away. We offer free inspections to residents within our service area.



📞 Call 816-237-5342 to schedule your inspection today!

Why Bed Bugs Are Becoming More Resistant—and What Kansas City Residents Should Know

By Carley Norton • August 18, 2025
According to a TIME article, bed bugs have been a persistent problem for years, but lately, they’ve become even more difficult to eliminate. That’s because these pests are developing resistance to many common pesticides, making traditional treatments less effective.

Hotels Face Growing Bed Bug Risks Amid Peak Travel Season

By Carley Norton • July 18, 2025
Even the cleanest hotels are vulnerable to bed bugs—especially during the summer rush of travelers crisscrossing the country. With suitcases coming and going, and guests checking in and out in rapid cycles, these pests are finding new homes in hotels both budget and luxury. According to a recent USA Today article titled “Any hotel can have bed bugs. How travelers can avoid bringing them home,” experts emphasize that bed bugs aren’t tied to cleanliness but to human activity. “Bed bugs aren’t a reflection of cleanliness—they’re a reality of travel,” the article states. Bed bugs travel by hitching rides on luggage, clothing, or personal items. Once inside a hotel room, they can hide in mattress seams, behind headboards, or in upholstered furniture—waiting for their next host. This makes high-traffic hotels especially susceptible. The surge in summer travel has brought renewed attention to the risk of infestations. With the influx of summer travelers in full swing, bed bugs are hitching rides on luggage, clothing, and personal items, moving from guest to guest and room to room. For hotel operators, this means proactive action is more important than ever. Hotels should implement early detection protocols, such as routine inspections and discreet monitoring tools. Rapid-response treatment options that don’t disrupt guests are critical. SOS Pest Control's approach includes same-day heat treatments that are non-toxic and discreet, conducted with unmarked vehicles to avoid alarming guests. Because your guests should leave with memories, not bed bugs. According to the USA Today report, travelers can protect themselves by: Placing suitcases on luggage racks instead of beds or carpets Inspecting the bed, headboard, and surrounding furniture for small reddish-brown bugs or black dots (droppings) Washing and drying clothes on high heat after travel Even if hotels take all the right steps, prevention is a shared responsibility between guests and management. “Wherever there are people, there’s potential for bed bugs,” said Dr. Brittany Campbell, entomologist with the National Pest Management Association, in the USA Today article. SOS Pest Control warns that bed bugs can follow guests home and remain hidden for long periods. We recommend travelers inspect luggage before reentering their homes and seek professional help at the first sign of an infestation. If you’re a hotel manager in the Kansas City area, you can contact SOS Pest Control at www.soskc.com or call 816-237-5342. Article link: USA TODAY
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