Removal of Cat Lice From Furniture at Home

Like fleas, lice can make themselves a home in the fur of your pets. If this happens, it is possible that your pet will come into contact with your furniture before you realize that the animal has parasites attached to it. It is especially difficult to notice lice on a cat before they spread because cats are low-maintenance animals, taking care of themselves most of the day and often choosing to lay on the backs of couches and chairs. If your cat's lice spread to your furniture, you need to know what to do both to remove the pests and to keep them from returning.

  1. Clean the Cat

    • Cats can easily spread infestations and infections to one another.

      Cat lice are different from those that target humans. They do not spread to people, and if they are caught early enough, they may not spread to anything else, either. Put the cat in a separate, clean room such as the bathroom as soon as you notice lice. Use standard flea-and-tick products to bathe the cat. Both the lice and the eggs they laid will die. Powder the cat once it is dry and repeat the process weekly for a month. If you have multiple cats, be sure to wash them all at once to keep the lice from re-nesting.

    Clean the Furniture

    • Lice can make their homes in any part of your furniture.

      Although cat lice do not spread to objects as much as lice found on humans do, it is possible to find the lice on anything the cat has come into contact with. Clean any washable furniture items in water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit using nontoxic detergent. Vacuum your furniture well. Place cushions, pillows and other nonwashables in plastic bags and freeze them for two to four weeks. This will suffocate and kill lice and their eggs. Use flea-and-tick spray on large furniture.

    Verify the Type of Lice

    • Head lice will not feed off of your cat, but they may nest there as a substitute for furniture.

      Check yourself and your family members to make sure you do not have lice as well. If you mistake head lice, which is more likely to spread to furniture, for cat lice, you may have lice yourself. Examine the heads of yourself and others in a mirror using a fine-toothed comb. If you notice lice, you must reclean all of your furniture and everything else you have come into contact with, including your cat.

    What Not to Do

    • Doing too much can be just as dangerous as not doing anything.

      There are several things you must also avoid in order to keep your family safe, your cat from retaining lice and your furniture from being ruined. Don't use any sprays or products that are not furniture-safe. Avoid using dryer sheets, chlorine bleach, scented detergents and antibacterial products to clean your furniture. Abstain from using pesticides on your furniture, as you can risk the health of your family. Follow the directions on your cleaning products, or they may not have any effect. Finally, do not forget to clean the tools you used in the cleaning process.