Chewing Lice On Cats

In general fleas make cats itchier and more uncomfortable than lice do.

Chewing lice on cats.

The lice found on cats are not the same type of lice found on people but they can still cause irritation by chewing on the skin or sucking blood. 3 lice are treated with insecticide shampoos and spot treatments but can require several cycles of treatment. 2 these lice are rare for cats and dogs but more commonly infest old or infirm animals. 1 chewing lice are tiny wingless insects that feed off dead skin and can cause irritation and transmit disease.

If you notice excessive itching grooming or poor hair coat it could be lice says dr. Lice are generally not zoonotic meaning that feline lice can t infect humans and human lice won t infect felines. Lice are parasites that live on the skin. You may notice your cat scratching or biting the area that has been affected by lice.

These pests are passed through direct contact with an infected cat or indirect contact with bedding or grooming tools containing the lice or their eggs. Left unchecked they can grow to be an infestation on the cat s body. But only one species of lice makes its home on cats a species called felicola subrostratus this is a species specific to cats and does not infest people dogs or other pets. Lice are external parasites that feed on the skin cells sloughed from mammals.

To diagnose cat lice simply observe your feline friend. The affected area may include the head ears shoulders groin tail and anus. Because lice chew on your kitty s skin they can cause intense itching hair.