How to Get Rid of Cat Head Lice
WouterThere are several things you can do to get rid of head lice from your cat. The first step is to thoroughly groom your cat. You can buy a head lice shampoo or use one provided by your veterinarian. The shampoo must be applied several times, ten to fourteen days apart, to kill the lice. Shampooing alone may not get rid of the lice completely, so you may need to shave your cat to get rid of the eggs.
Secondly, you should wash your pet thoroughly. This is critical, because head lice are contagious and can spread to other animals. It’s also important to wash your child’s pillowcase and comb. Make sure to wash them both in hot water as well. Remember that head lice don’t live long on a human head, so if your child accidentally picks up your cat, the lice will still be present.
Third, you should check your cat’s fur for signs of lice. Look for small, white or brown spots. These spots are the sign of either an immature or an adult lice. If you can’t spot them, visit your veterinarian, who can confirm the presence of head lice and rule out any other conditions that may be causing the infestation.
As a general rule, humans can’t get head lice from dogs. Dogs and cats have their own species of lice. While the human lice species is more prevalent, they are not directly infectious to humans. It is possible for a cat to catch human head lice if it spends time around dogs.
