Head lice are the external parasites that most often infest cats. In general, they affect stray cats or domestic cats that are free to leave the house. Especially if they are young, old or sick.
While they are not as contagious as fleas and ticks, lice are still bothersome to cats as they cause itching and shedding and can also transmit diseases. In this article, we will tell you about “What does cat lice look like?” and also how to prevent this annoying problem.
What does cat lice look like?
The louse is an airborne insect of a few millimeters, without wings and not able to jump but which lives as a parasite on some mammals. There are about 3000 different types of Phtiraptera and each of them attaches to a particular species.
They are more common in cold weather and are passed on among cats who spend a lot of time together, as they don’t jump, fly, and aren’t hiding in the grass waiting for a host. Lice spend their entire life on the host’s body and die after 1 or 2 days.
The louse that chooses the cat as its host is the Felicola subrostratus. It is important to note that cat lice do not attach themselves to humans or other animals unless they are other felines. Lice mainly affect young cats that have not yet developed their defenses well.
Older cats that no longer do much of their own cleaning and in general weak or immunosuppressed cats for various causes (poor diet or diseases). Long-haired cats tend to be attacked by lice more than short-haired ones.
The cat has lice: prevention and remedies
Do you want to prevent the cat from getting lice? It must be kept away from the felines that are affected by it and sanitize everything it uses. Your health and nutrition are also important in reacting to lice infestation.
Once we are sure that the cat has lice, we schedule a visit to the vet and ask him for advice on which products to use to clean the coat. Often it is a specific shampoo or a fibronil-based spray, which kills these insects. The use of these substances must be repeated after at least 30 days, to eliminate all traces of eggs or other residues of the same.
Maybe having yet another cat check-up at the vet can be a good idea!
