Lice are also carriers of helminth eggs. As a result of this, helminthiasis and general exhaustion are added to the skin lesions of the infected animal. Lice spend most of their time attached with their paws to the base of an infested cat's hair. They feed on the epidermis, secretions of the sebaceous glands and blood.
Female lice lay eggs called nits. During her life, the female parasite lays 20-60 eggs and fixes them to the root part of the hair. After 7-12 days, the eggs hatch into larvae that look similar to adults, which after three molts turn into mature insects.
What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>
In large quantities, cat lice accumulate on the head, neck and at the base of the tail. These parasites infect pets of all breeds, except hairless cats. They are most often found in animals with long and thick hair.
More about cat lice
Sedentary parasites that live in the fur of cats are usually called lice eaters. They, unlike their counterparts, extremely rarely feed on blood, specializing in the upper exfoliating layers of skin and fur. Only in rare cases do cat lice feed on blood on wounds and abrasions. Lice eaters are not capable of biting a pet and sucking its blood, as lice do on humans.
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Symptoms
A disease in which cats have lice is commonly called trichodectosis. At an early stage of the lesion, it is quite difficult to identify it, but we will present the most obvious symptoms:
- Itching - its intensity only increases every day, causing great discomfort to the animal. Watch your cat: lice infestation will make him restless and irritable.
- Sudden shedding has nothing to do with natural factors or seasonality. Clumps of fur fall out only in some places, forming bald spots.
- Nits - when you look closely at the fur and skin of an animal, you can easily see not only the parasites, but also the rich black color of the larvae.
- Redness and wounds - given that cat lice feed on the skin, wounds and abrasions appear quite quickly at the site of the lesion, which are simply impossible not to notice.
On light coats the described symptoms are more obvious. If you did not notice them at an early stage, and the disease acquired a jet form, the pet may be left without hair.
Traditional methods
If it is impossible to use store-bought medications, you can use traditional methods for treating lice in cats.
The most popular is a decoction of wormwood.
For two glasses of water you need to take 1 tablespoon of dry grass or 2 tablespoons of fresh leaves. Wormwood is poured with boiling water, wrapped in a towel and cooled to room temperature. After this, using a cotton pad, you need to treat all of the animal’s fur, spreading it apart so that the broth gets onto the undercoat.
After treatment with wormwood decoction, it is necessary to thoroughly comb the cat with a fine comb to remove dead parasitic insects, their larvae and excrement.
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.
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.
How are cat lice different from lice and fleas?
So, we have already figured out that cat lice are called hair lice. Why? In fact, lice and lice eaters have a lot in common: they have a light yellow tint, are characterized by a small elongated body, and use the host’s food not only for food, but also for subsequent reproduction, laying eggs in the fur. The only difference is the power source. Lice feed on blood and bite people, while lice eaters are interested in skin and fur. So cats are susceptible to parasitism by lice eaters.
Now regarding fleas. They use the mammal exclusively for food, laying their eggs in more secluded places, most often under carpets and rugs. The female flea feeds on blood before laying eggs. In the absence of a food source, a flea can starve for up to several months. That is why. Even if you are away from home, having rid your pet of parasites during this time, when you return, the flea will begin its rapid defeat again.
Lice eaters differ from fleas in that they are also inactive: they will never jump like that. That is why, if you find completely inactive light yellow parasites on the skin of a cat, without a doubt you are dealing with lice eaters.
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
Having figured out whether lice live on cats and how to recognize them, you should move on to those measures that will help get rid of parasites quickly and safely. A set of therapeutic procedures is aimed at destroying lice and combating signs of dermatitis. It is necessary to select all medications in consultation with a veterinarian, because only he, based on an examination, can prescribe a truly effective drug.
There are nuances that need to be remembered when processing the skin and fur of a cat:
- do not exceed the maximum permissible dosage of the drug;
- ensure that the treated areas are inaccessible to the pet, since ingestion of a number of drugs can cause acute poisoning;
- The pet may have an individual intolerance to the drug, which is why if the cat’s condition worsens after contact with the miracle drug, it is necessary to immediately stop using it.
And, of course, the fight against parasites must be comprehensive - only in this case will it be possible to achieve maximum results.
Shampoos
Modern shampoos against parasites contain insecticides that repel insects, including lice. They paralyze their nervous system and respiratory organs. In addition to toxic substances, they are enriched with caring and softening components that help moisturize the pet’s skin and heal wounds.
Natural ingredients most often act as insecticides: essential oils, extracts and extracts of medicinal plants. The quality of shampoo is determined by the proportional ratio of toxic and caring components.
Using anti-lice shampoo is quite simple, but it is better to bathe your pet following the instructions from the manufacturer. Here are the main recommendations:
- use a separate bath or basin;
- fill it with warm water and immerse the animal there;
- Gently pour water over the wool and treat it with shampoo;
- leave for 7-10 minutes, then rinse the shampoo with water.
Most often, in order to get rid of parasites, one procedure is enough; in advanced situations, you will have to repeat it 2-3 more times. When choosing a shampoo, you should take into account the age of the animal, as well as the spectrum of action. The most popular anti-lice shampoos for cats today are:
- BioVax is a product whose composition includes extracts of medicinal plants. Famous for being suitable even for kittens and pregnant cats. The product is concentrated, so before use you should dissolve one capful of the product in a liter of water, then beat it until it forms a dense foam. It is she who should treat the pet's fur.
- Ms Kiss is a shampoo developed in a Swiss laboratory. The permethrin present in the composition kills parasites after the first use, and the conditioner softens its effect on the pet’s irritated skin. A convenient dispenser ensures economical use of the product. Suitable for kittens from 4 months.
- Celandine is one of the most budget options. The product of the Russian version contains the same permethrin, as well as aloe extract and B vitamins. The shampoo is contraindicated for individuals under 8 months, as well as pregnant and lactating females; you should be careful with dosages, strictly following the instructions. At the same time, the shampoo shows excellent results - as a rule, just one bath is enough to get rid of lice.
- Bio-Groom is an American shampoo, the composition of which includes plant and synthetic ingredients. Before use, dilute 1 part of the product in 4 parts of water, and then treat the animal’s hair with the resulting solution. After leaving for 5-7 minutes, rinse off the shampoo and comb the coat with a special comb.
Sprays
Spray is another form of the drug with insecticides, quite convenient to use. The product is sprayed onto the animal's fur near the withers and does not require rinsing. The spray retains its effect for several months, and the specifics of its use make it one of the safest products for pets.
If swimming is impossible, the spray will be a real salvation, you just need to follow a number of recommendations:
- Avoid swimming a few days before treatment;
- use a special collar to prevent the drug from being licked from the fur;
- Carry out the procedure in the fresh air, carefully treating all areas;
- after the product has dried, comb the animal’s fur to rid it of all parasites and nits;
- Avoid swimming for the next 2-3 days;
- Repeated treatment is allowed only after 1-2 weeks.
When choosing a spray for your pet, we advise you to pay attention to the most popular drugs:
- Barrier Bolfo is a fairly popular product based on propoxur. An absolutely hypoallergenic product that allows you to treat not only your cat’s fur, but also its household items. But not suitable for kittens under 3 months, as well as pregnant individuals.
- Sentry - the composition of the product is enriched with natural essential oils, and it is precisely due to its pungent odor that it repels insects. In order to get rid of parasites, several treatments are enough; for prevention, it is recommended to treat the cat’s fur throughout the year with breaks of 2-3 weeks. The product is contraindicated in kittens under one year of age.
- Fiprist is an excellent product suitable for kittens from 1 week of age. Fipronil, which is enriched in the composition, perfectly fights various parasites that live in the fur of domestic animals. After treatment, the protective effect will continue for another 2-3 months.
Drops
To remove lice and nits, drops are often used, intended for application to the withers area. Instant absorption, prolonged action, effectiveness and ease of use - this is the secret of popularity. The only thing is that you need to monitor the treatment area, eliminating the possibility of the animal licking the drug from the fur.
The most popular are:
- Bars - drops based on fipronil in minimal concentration. The mild action allows the product to be used even by kittens from 10 months. Due to the strong odor of the active components of the drug, it demonstrates a repellent effect on parasites.
- Hartz Ultra Guard is an American product based on methoprene, available in several types for different ages and coat lengths. The manufacturer promises that the insects will die on the first day after treatment. The only caveat is that kittens under 10 months are not allowed to use the product.
Collars
The collar is a convenient and safe means of combating parasites, suitable for kittens from birth. It also repels lice due to its pungent odor and toxic components with which it is impregnated. It is affordable, easy to use and quite effective.
Before purchasing, you need to measure the circumference of your pet’s neck, make sure that the proposed option is suitable for cats, and that there are no components that can cause an allergic reaction in the animal.
Prevention
Regular inspection and treatment with anti-parasite products will protect your cat from lice, ticks, and fleas. Using a special collar will also help. To select the size, measure the diameter of the cat's neck. The collar is selected so that it fits tightly on the animal without causing discomfort.
If it is too loose, the cat will cling to various objects with it during street walks. This will increase the risk of injury.
A tight collar puts pressure on the animal's neck. The cat tries to remove it and may injure itself.
The collars are impregnated with special components that not only repel lice, fleas or ticks, but also kill existing parasites. They can also be used as a method of treatment.
The active components of the collar have a limited lifespan. Usually it ranges from six months to eight months. Don't forget to change your protective equipment on time.
If you use the services of cat groomers, choose your groomer carefully. Feel free to ask how he handles the tools. It is advisable that they be disinfected in front of you. This will protect your pet not only from lice, but also from some cat infections.
Used brushes, slicker brushes, combs, and cat bedding received as a gift must be disinfected. Wash them with a special product, wash the textiles at high temperature.
Lice cause a lot of problems for both the animal and its owner. Therefore, you should not neglect the seasonal processing of the animal. And the best protection against uninvited “guests” will be anti-parasite collars.
