Can cats catch lice

Cats can catch lice! There are two main sources of lice in cats. One is when the cat plays with other cats, and that cat infects it.
Another way is that the cat will run out to play, and when it walks through trees, flowers, grass, and soil outside, it will pick up lice. Cats need to be dewormed regularly, usually once a month. Otherwise, if there are too many lice, the cat will be sucked blood and cause physical discomfort.
There is an old saying, “If you have too many lice, you are not afraid of bites.” This is enough to illustrate the two characteristics of lice: they are numerous and they love to bite.
Lice live on the hair of pets and people, often clustering around the ears, neck, shoulders, and anus. Because they are large and visible to the naked eye, they are easy to diagnose.
In an era when the economy was still underdeveloped, lice were indeed a well-known parasite. However, with the improvement of living standards and hygiene conditions, lice have almost disappeared in many places. Maybe many people born in the 1990s and 2000s have never seen lice.
However, lice are still a common parasite. In addition to infecting pets, there are also occasional outbreaks in crowded places such as schools and kindergartens.

Lice profile
Category: External Parasites
Pets that can be infected: cats, dogs, etc.
Can it infect humans: Yes, but it is almost impossible to infect humans from pets
There are two common types of dog lice, one that bites and the other that sucks blood. In contrast, the blood-sucking varieties can damage the skin and cause greater trouble to dogs.
Only one type of cat lice can affect a cat’s life.
A large number of lice infestations can cause anemia in puppies. In severe cases, shock or even death may occur.
How do lice infect furry children?
Lice are mainly spread through direct contact. Cats or dogs can become infected when they come into contact with other furry animals that are infested with lice.
However, lice are specific in their choice of host. Human lice can only infect humans, dog lice can only infect dogs, and cat lice can only infect cats. It is extremely rare for pets and humans to transmit lice to each other.
Because of this infection route, lice are very common in animals that live in groups, such as pet shelters, kennels, etc.

Dangers of lice
Lice will bite the host and suck the blood of the host, causing itchy skin. In severe cases, it may lead to anemia, and even cause shock and death of the puppy.
Generally speaking, symptoms of lice infestation include:
constant tickling;
Dry and fluffy hair;
Hair loss, especially common on the ears, neck, shoulders, groin, and perianal area;
Anemia is common in puppies.
Diagnosis of lice infestation
Lice are easily diagnosed by visual inspection.
As long as adult lice or eggs are found in the hair, you can be considered to be infected with lice. Lice are insects with six legs, vestigial wings, and flat bodies. Lice eggs attach to the hair and appear as white flakes that look like dandruff.

Treatment for lice infestation
Lice infestations are generally easy to eliminate because almost all insecticides are effective against lice.
Generally, you will first use a shampoo containing insecticidal ingredients to bathe your pet, or use insecticide directly to quickly remove the adult insects. Common active ingredients in these insecticides are fipronil or selamycin, but either ingredient needs to be reused multiple times. Generally, it can be used twice a week and repeated three to four times. In severe cases, it may be used four times a week.
Pet supplies and the pet’s environment, including bedding, also need to be thoroughly cleaned. If certain toys etc. cannot be washed, they can be left in a sealed bag for a few weeks.
The infected area should be shaved during treatment.

How to prevent it?
In places with a high incidence of lice, such as kennels and pet shelters, it is recommended to carry out routine insecticides to prevent the spread of lice.
Domestic pets should frequently change bedding and other pet supplies.
Generally speaking, routine use of insecticides to disinfect lice is not required in the home environment, but if a serious infestation occurs, large-scale environmental control is still required.