The Best Treatment for Lice on Cats

Eliminate your cat's lice with a few simple steps to keep your cat healthy and comfortable.

You've discovered your cat has lice, but how should you treat it? Fortunately, cat lice are relatively easy to get rid of, and they won't threaten the people in your household because the lice that live on animals are a different variety than those that live on human heads. With a few simple tricks, your cat should be free of lice within a couple of weeks.

Bath

First, bathe your cat thoroughly with pyrethrin shampoo formulated for cats. Never use shampoo for humans, as this will prove ineffective and even harmful for your cat.

Powder or Spray

Wait for your cat's coat to dry thoroughly before applying a pyrethrin powder or spray, which kills some of the lice the shampoo may have missed.

Fipronil Prescription

For an alternative to the powder or spray--or for an additional treatment--see your veterinarian for a fipronil prescription, such as Frontline, to kill the lice.

Repeat

In about 12 days, repeat the pyrethrin treatment to kill leftover nits or fresh offspring.

Future Prevention

In order for lice to infest your cat, your cat must have direct contact with another lice-ridden animal. Check your other pets or neighborhood animals your cat may come into contact with to avoid another round of lice.

References

• Lice (Pediculosis) in Cats; Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc., Race Foster, DVM
• Human Lice; Steve Jacobs; October 1998, revised November 2003
• VetInfo; Cat Lice Treatment Options; 2009