These pesky parasites could be a problem for outdoor cats—but there are preventative measures you can take. You see the word, and it just makes you cringe. Lice. Ick! Those itchy elementary school days are long gone, so why should you even think twice about these weensy pests, much less about cat lice? Cat lice is actually a rather rare condition among pampered indoor cats with adoring pet parents and a terrific veterinarian. But if they go outside regularly, or you're the kind of person we admire greatly who's caring for a cat colony or involved with kitty rescue, here's what you should know. How Can Cats Get Lice? Good news, cats can't get lice from humans. Better news? We can't get lice from cats, either. Frank Hurtig, DVM, is the director of veterinary technical services at Virbac US. He says lice are species-specific. "Lice are very particular about the host they'll live on, so the lice that live on cats don't live on other animals and vice versa." Unfortunately, these parasites are highly contagious within the same species. Hurtig explains the life cycle of cat lice: Lice attach their eggs to the base of hairs on the cat. When new lice hatch, they live the rest of their life on that cat unless they happen to brush off to another cat. Lice eggs can fall off the hairs when a cat is being brushed or combed and be transmitted to another cat that is subsequently brushed or combed. Adult lice mature and reproduce in about three weeks after hatching from an egg, or nit. They become…