What do cat lice look like on fur? - briefly
Cat lice are minute, flat, wingless insects about 1–2 mm long, typically brown or gray, that crawl rapidly through the coat and deposit small, white, oval eggs (nits) glued to hair shafts. The fur may feel gritty and contain tiny black specks from dead parasites.
What do cat lice look like on fur? - in detail
Cat ectoparasites that infest the coat are tiny, wing‑less insects measuring 1–2 mm in length. Their bodies are laterally flattened, facilitating movement through dense fur. The exoskeleton is a pale gray to tan hue, sometimes appearing almost translucent when viewed against dark hair. Antennae are short and segmented, protruding from the head region, while the legs end in claw‑like tarsi that grasp individual strands.
Key visual indicators include:
- Adult specimens: elongated, cigar‑shaped bodies; color ranges from light gray to brown; visible as moving specks when the animal grooms.
- Nymphal stages: smaller, uniformly pale; often overlooked because they blend with the host’s hair.
- Eggs (nits): oval, 0.5 mm long, firmly cemented to the base of each hair shaft; appear as tiny white or yellowish dots close to the skin.
Infestations tend to concentrate in areas where the coat is thickest or the skin is warm: the neck, behind the ears, along the back, and the base of the tail. The lice feed on skin debris and blood, leaving behind microscopic puncture marks that may cause localized redness or a fine, dry dandruff. The presence of moving insects, especially when the cat is examined under bright light, confirms the diagnosis.
Distinguishing these parasites from fleas is essential. Fleas are larger (2–4 mm), laterally compressed, and capable of jumping; they often appear as dark, fast‑moving specks on the skin surface. In contrast, lice remain attached to individual hairs and move slowly, crawling rather than leaping.
Effective identification relies on close visual inspection, preferably with a magnifying lens, and the detection of nits affixed to hair shafts. This detailed description enables accurate recognition of cat lice within the animal’s coat.