Chewing Lice On Cats

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

Chewing lice on cats.

Lice are parasites that live on the skin. 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. 1 chewing lice are tiny wingless insects that feed off dead skin and can cause irritation and transmit disease.

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. Left unchecked they can grow to be an infestation on the cat s body. 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.

Lice are actually very small insects that feed by chewing on the skin of the animal they are infesting in this case the cat. The affected area may include the head ears shoulders groin tail and anus. 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. A heavy lice infestation could lead to a scruffy unkempt look and excessive scratching can lead to raw or bald patches.

Chewing lice at a glance. To diagnose cat lice simply observe your feline friend. You may notice your cat scratching or biting the area that has been affected by lice.