Cat lice: what they look like and are they transmitted to humans?

Trichodectosis is a disease of domestic cats caused by infection of the animal with lice, often referred to in everyday life as lice.

This type of infestation is a less common variant of a cat becoming infected with parasites than the appearance of fleas. Cat lice are distinguished by a number of interesting features, including the specificity of their diet.

Unlike other parasites, these insects do not feed on the blood of the animal, preferring the cat's fur, as well as the upper layers of the skin. However, the manifestations of trichodectosis are typical for other forms of parasitic infestations.

The animal is bothered by severe itching, appetite and sleep are disturbed. Also, lice and lice eggs are potential sources of various infectious diseases and helminthiasis. How to protect an animal from infection and remove parasites if they have already appeared? Let's talk about this in more detail.

Do cats have lice?

As noted above, lice in cats are a fairly rare form of parasitic infestation. Much more often, the animal is attacked by other, no less unpleasant insects called fleas. Unlike several other types of lice, for example, human or rat, cat parasites are characterized by low resistance to the negative effects of external factors.

These insects cannot exist outside the host's body. Due to this feature, lice infection occurs exclusively through close contact between an infected and a healthy individual.
In addition, lice are slow to move and cannot jump or run.

Shampoo

Shampoo is the mildest remedy in the fight against blood-sucking insects. Special shampoo formulas have been developed that not only make pets' fur clean, but also destroy fleas.

Using shampoo, you can get rid of fleas even in pregnant cats, for whom the use of insecticides contained in flea drops is contraindicated.

Benefits of using shampoo for fleas in cats:

affordable price;
ease of use;
low toxicity;
Possibility of use for washing cats that are allergic to insecticides.

Shampoo can be dry, which must be used without water, or regular, which must be washed off the animal’s fur. Particular attention should be paid to rinsing the fur; this must be done very carefully, because cats, no matter how well they are wiped, will still lick themselves.

When choosing a detergent, you should pay attention to what breeds of cats the flea shampoo is intended for: long-haired, short-haired or hairless. It should also be clarified at what age this remedy can be used. The fact is that shampoo for small kittens and pregnant cats contains a minimal amount of toxic ingredients, and in the product for washing adult animals their concentration is much higher.

Experts recommend the following types of shampoos: “BIO-GROOM” (USA), “Bars” (AVZ), “Fitoelita” (Veda).

Flea shampoos for cats consist of three main ingredients:

components that create soap foam;
substances that care for the animal's fur. These are decoctions of medicinal herbs, essential oils;
insecticides. Both synthetic substances (phenothrin, decamethrin) and natural ones (penitrin contained in Caucasian and Persian chamomile) are used.

Can cat parasites be transmitted to humans?

Probably, almost every owner of an infected pet is interested in this kind of question - can lice pass from a person to a cat. These parasitic insects are specific, that is, their invasion of humans is not possible. A pet can be a carrier of lice, but an infected animal is only dangerous to members of its own species.

Are cat lice dangerous for humans?

Lice can live on cats for quite a long time - under favorable conditions, they do not leave the infected animal throughout its entire life, the total duration of which is no more than a month. Despite the fact that lice of this species cannot parasitize humans, they are potentially dangerous to humans. The danger lies in the risk of contracting infectious diseases or helminthiasis, which are carried by parasite eggs.

The danger of infecting cats with lice

It’s worth mentioning right away that cat lice are not dangerous to humans, and human lice are not dangerous to cats.

How to recognize lice on a cat

Cat lice are small in size and lighter in color than fleas. To determine whether a cat has lice, it is enough to observe the behavior of the animal. If it behaves restlessly, shows anxiety due to severe itching, it is necessary to examine the animal’s fur and skin. If there are small yellowish parasites, scratches, or small wounds on them, it is necessary to begin treatment immediately.

What do cat lice look like?

If you want to recognize cat lice, you need to know what they look like. Outwardly, these are rather small parasites, their body is elongated, but quite dense. On the triangular head there is a special recess for capturing hair. Lice are easy to distinguish by their light yellow color and sedentary lifestyle - they will never jump, like fleas.

A distinctive feature of lice eaters is their powerful jaws, which allows them to easily grab and bite off pieces of skin and fur. This is what causes severe itching in pets.

Methods for getting rid of lice and nits

So, if a cat has lice, how to get rid of these unpleasant parasites, what to do if infected?

Treatment at home is carried out through the use of various insecticides that have a detrimental effect on adult parasites and eggs. When choosing the most suitable active ingredient, it is recommended to take into account factors such as age and degree of infection. If there are other parasites, for example, lice, comprehensive treatment should be carried out.

Emulsoids

To remove parasites from cats, it is recommended to use various types of emulsoids. Products in this group for the treatment of head lice in cats are intended for diluting the concentrate in water and then applying it to the animal’s fur. The drug is quickly absorbed into the skin. When the parasite comes into contact with this substance, the insect dies.

A significant disadvantage of lice emulsoids is their high toxicity and potential danger to the animal. Contact of insecticides with the eyes, skin, or oral cavity can cause acute intoxication of the animal. In addition, such drugs remain effective for a limited period of time.

Drops and sprays

To remove adult individuals and nits from cats, you can use various drops and sprays that have somewhat similar effects. Lice drops for cats, for example, are intended to be applied to the withers area. They are almost instantly absorbed into the skin and retain their toxic effect for several months. When processing, you should strictly monitor the area where the drug is applied, since licking off the drops may result in acute poisoning.

Anti-lice sprays are also designed to treat hair in the area of the withers and spinal column. Aerosol medications are essentially improved emulsoids. Unlike the latter, sprays remain effective for several months. Due to the specific nature of the treatment, the risk of poisoning is extremely low.

Collars and shampoos

If a kitten has lice, it is recommended to remove them by using shampoos. These products are particularly gentle and non-toxic. Their significant drawback is the lack of a prolonged, destructive effect on parasites. The components included in their composition repel lice, but the risk of re-infestation cannot be excluded.

To prevent infection of your pet and eliminate existing lice, it is recommended to use special collars made from materials that contain various insecticides. As a rule, the use of collars is recommended for the treatment of pets whose age is more than two months. The device must be changed periodically due to the fact that the active components lose their effect.

Treatment of dermatitis

The cat louse feeds on hairs and particles of the animal's skin, which causes severe itching. When scratching itchy areas, the animal introduces infection into existing wounds, which leads to the development of inflammation and dermatitis. If your cat has lice or small ulcers appear on the skin, treatment should be started immediately.

The main methods are the following:

the use of anti-inflammatory drugs that prevent the spread of pathological processes and help eliminate them.
Antiseptics. They should be used to provide a disinfecting effect.
Antimycotic.
Healing. They should be used to stimulate the regenerative abilities of tissues and more quickly restore the skin.

It is recommended to comprehensively use products that help eliminate pain and itching. This measure will help improve the condition of the animal.

Symptoms

In veterinary medicine, lice infestation of cats is called trichodectosis. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

Severe itching – the animal constantly itches in the same places.
Excessive hair loss - somewhat reminiscent of shedding, but localized in several areas of the body. A lot of fur remains on the cat's bedding where he likes to lie around during the day.
Areas of baldness – bald spots appear on the animal’s body, which rapidly increase in size.
Skin damage is clearly visible in bald areas. Small wounds appear due to scratching. Against this background, dermatitis develops, crusts, cracks, and severe redness of the skin appear.

Parasite excrement is visible on the animal's fur. They are similar to ground black pepper. There are a lot of them in places where the cat itches most often: behind the ears, on the neck, on the stomach.

Itching causes severe discomfort to the animal, and its behavior changes. Adult pets become irritable, restless, and show aggression. Cats rub problem areas of their bodies against furniture, do not give in to the owner’s hands, and tend to jump off and run away.

Kittens, on the contrary, become passive. They stop playing and hide in the corners. They avoid human society.

Rules for removing lice from cats

If an animal has cat lice, antiparasitic treatment must be carried out following certain rules. First of all, it is important to exclude the possibility of contact of the animal with a toxic substance. To do this, you can put a special restrictive collar around the cat's neck. Otherwise, the necessary actions are prescribed in the instructions for the selected drug.

It is important to remember that some insecticides do not have a detrimental effect on parasite eggs, which are protected by a dense capsule.

Accordingly, to prevent the reappearance of insects, it is necessary to carry out additional treatment of the cat two weeks after the first procedure.

Flea drops

Parasite drops are the most effective remedy for ridding a cat of fleas. The drops repel or kill insects, destroy pathogenic microflora, and prevent re-infection. Drops are a concentrated solution of various insecticides that are harmful to fleas, but safe for cats.

The principle of action of the drops: the substance, when it gets on the animal’s skin, is absorbed and accumulates in the sebaceous glands. Then, over a long period of time, the substance is gradually released from the glands and repels the parasites, or affects their central nervous system, and they die. The effect on parasites occurs in the intestinal or contact way, i.e. the substance ends up in the stomach of the insect or gets on the surface of the body. After this, an irreversible reaction begins, leading to the death of the cat’s fleas.

Benefits of using drops:

ease of use. Insect repellents are usually produced in the form of disposable pipettes. It is very convenient for application;
duration of exposure. The drug should be used once every 2 to 3 months. The frequency of processing is different for each type of drop;
universality of action. The drops protect the cat not only from fleas, but also from ticks and helminths.

Bonus for the cat owner: there will never be fleas in the room where an animal treated with insecticides lives. Parasites in the room move to the cat's body and then die.

Rules for treating cats for fleas:

you need to break off the tip on the pipette along a specially made mark;
then you should spread the fur on the animal’s withers with one hand, and with the other, squeeze a drop from the pipette onto the skin. This action must be repeated in several places in the area from the withers to the shoulder blades.

The amount of product applied depends on the age and weight of the pet. Dosage instructions are included with each type of drop. The drugs are sold without a prescription in veterinary pharmacies, clinics and pet stores.

Experts note that the most popular drops are Bravecto (USA), Stronghold (Zoetis), and Vectra Felice (France).

Important points:

flea drops for cats can cause individual intolerance in the animal, so if an allergic reaction occurs, the cat should be washed immediately and then contact a veterinary clinic;
You can treat your cat with flea drops no earlier than 2 days after bathing;
after applying the drops, the animal cannot be washed for 2 days if the drug is water-based, and for 5 days if it is oil-based;
on the first day after treatment, when the applied substance is most toxic, you should not pet the cat or allow it near children;
Before removing fleas from cats, you must carefully read the instructions included with the drops.

How harmful are lice to a cat?

The appearance of lice in a cat is fraught with the development of dangerous consequences for the animal. Severe itching provokes cat anxiety, lack of appetite, and sleep disturbances. When an animal scratches itchy areas, an infection may occur, which can cause inflammation and the appearance of wounds. Against the background of a significant number of parasites, the cat’s hair loss occurs, up to complete baldness.

Lice are especially dangerous in kittens. Infection with these parasites can cause the death of the animal. The main factor that can lead to such unfavorable consequences is the infection of the cat with various types of helminths, the carriers of which are lice. Infection occurs when eggs or adult parasites enter the animal's digestive tract.

Treatment of cats for lice

If suspicions of a pet being infected with pediculosis are confirmed, treatment should be started immediately. How to remove lice from a cat? Experts note that getting rid of blood-sucking parasites is quite easy.

There are different means, the choice of which is based on the individual characteristics of the animal:

Various sprays. Directions for use: spray the cat’s entire body and do not rinse for the period specified in the instructions. Depending on the chemical composition, the period can last from a couple of hours to several days.
Drops. They are applied to the withers and rubbed along the entire spine. At the same time, the drops can not only destroy existing parasites, but also prevent the appearance of new ones.
Shampoos for fleas that also fight pediculosis. The most gentle way to fight.
Flea collars. Destroy lice and prevent their appearance. For more information about what a lice eater looks like, watch this video:

The course of treatment for a pet is about 2 weeks. The products should be used until the complete disappearance of not only parasites, but also nits. It is also recommended to carry out disinfection measures: treat the cat’s favorite places and grooming tools. During manipulations, do not allow chemicals to get into the cat’s eyes and ears.

Prevention

After treating a cat for lice, it is important to resort to preventive measures that will somewhat reduce the likelihood of the animal becoming infected in the future. This requires the use of anti-parasitic collars, which are important to change as needed.

The state of health of the skin is important. Healthy, clean skin, free from scratches and wounds, prevents the rapid proliferation of parasites. To keep your pet healthy, you need to feed it a balanced diet, avoid contact with infected pets, and conduct periodic coat checks.

The main sign that indicates a lice infestation is the appearance of whitish nits and dark spots on the skin and fur, which are products of the vital activity of parasites.

Even if their number is insignificant, it is necessary to immediately take measures aimed at destroying lice.