How do fleas and lice differ on cats? - briefly
Fleas are jumping insects that feed on blood, cause itching, and can transmit disease, while lice are wingless, cling to hair shafts, feed on skin debris or blood, and rarely spread pathogens. Their life cycles, mobility, and typical health impacts on felines differ markedly.
How do fleas and lice differ on cats? - in detail
Fleas and lice are distinct ectoparasites that affect domestic cats, each with unique biology, life cycle, and clinical impact.
Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are wingless insects that spend most of their life off the host. Eggs, larvae, and pupae develop in the environment—carpets, bedding, or outdoor areas—while only adult fleas feed on blood. They jump long distances relative to their size, enabling rapid spread between animals. Infestations often produce intense itching, visible black specks (flea dirt), and may transmit tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) or bacterial pathogens.
Lice (e.g., Felicola subrostratus) are obligate, wingless insects that live their entire life cycle on the cat’s skin. They lay eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts, and nymphs and adults feed exclusively on skin debris, serum, or blood. Lice do not jump; they crawl, limiting transmission mainly to direct contact between cats or shared grooming tools. Infestations cause localized itching, crusted lesions, and hair loss, but they do not vector other diseases.
Key distinctions:
- Habitat: Fleas develop off‑host; lice remain on‑host throughout life.
- Mobility: Fleas jump; lice crawl.
- Transmission: Fleas spread via environment and host movement; lice spread by direct contact.
- Life‑stage visibility: Flea eggs and larvae are found in the surroundings; lice nits are visible attached to hair.
- Health risks: Fleas can transmit tapeworms and bacteria; lice are primarily a nuisance with limited disease transmission.
- Treatment focus: Flea control requires environmental insecticide and regular bathing; lice control relies on topical or oral pediculicides applied directly to the cat.
Effective management combines thorough environmental sanitation for flea eradication with targeted medication for lice, ensuring both parasites are eliminated and preventing re‑infestation.