Felicola subrostrata: Feline biting louse

General Description: Feline lice are about 1.3mm long, with bodies flattened top to bottom. The biting louse has a broad, round head.

Life Cycle: The life cycle takes 3 to 4 weeks and is characterized by incomplete metamorphosis, as described in the Overview.

Location: Anywhere on the body.

Significance: While not common on healthy animals, heavy infestations can occur on poorly nourished cats, adding to their debilitation.

Effect on Host: Lice cause severe itching. Infested cats continually scratch, may damage their skin and coats, and do not sleep well.

Diagnostic Information: Identification of adult lice on the skin.

Control: The entire louse life cycle is spent on the hosts, so louse control primarily involves treating infested cats with insecticides. Adequate nutrition makes animals less susceptible to lice. FRONTLINE® kills biting lice.