How long do cat lice live? - briefly
Adult cat lice live about three weeks, dying if they cannot feed on blood. Including egg and nymph stages, the complete life cycle spans roughly four to five weeks.
How long do cat lice live? - in detail
Cat lice (Felicola subrostratus) complete their life cycle entirely on the cat’s body. The cycle consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
The female deposits 30‑50 eggs, called nits, firmly attached to hair shafts near the skin. At optimal temperatures (25‑30 °C) embryos hatch within 5‑7 days. Nymphs emerge as miniature, wingless adults and undergo three successive molts. Each molt requires approximately 4‑6 days, so the nymphal period lasts about 5‑7 days in total.
Adult lice become sexually mature within 24‑48 hours after the final molt. A mature female can produce a new batch of eggs every 2‑3 days. Under favorable conditions adults survive for 2‑3 weeks, occasionally extending to 4 weeks if the host’s grooming is minimal and environmental humidity is high. Consequently, the entire life cycle from egg to death spans roughly 3‑4 weeks.
Off‑host survival is limited. Without a cat, lice die within 24‑48 hours because they cannot feed. This short environmental tolerance restricts transmission to direct contact between infested and clean animals.
Factors influencing longevity include:
- Temperature: cooler climates slow development; extreme heat accelerates it but may increase mortality.
- Host grooming: frequent licking or brushing removes nits and reduces adult numbers, shortening the population’s lifespan.
- Health of the cat: compromised immunity can allow larger infestations, extending the overall presence of lice.
- Chemical treatment: topical insecticides or oral medications eliminate adults and often prevent egg hatching, effectively truncating the cycle.
Understanding these parameters helps predict infestation duration and informs timely intervention. Regular inspection, prompt treatment, and maintaining a clean environment limit the period cat lice can persist on a host.