Her career in adult entertainment started when she was just 18. She asked a friend to take some pictures of her in lingerie. She sent the pictures in to Hustler and soon afterwards received a call to come in for an interview. She was selected to pose and be the centerfold for the December 1981 issue. While taking pictures at Hustler Studios, she encountered another model who gave her a phone number of a reputable modeling agency. Cara called the number and immediately began shooting for nude magazines. Soon afterwards, she began acting in adult films. This time, from from 1981 to 1991 was "round one" of her career.

After 1991, Lott took a break from films to go back to college to complete her degree. She was arrested for prostitution around 1990, but the charges were later dismissed.

She came back to the adult industry to make six more films in 1997—1998. She made a total of about 255 movies.

As of January 2005[update], she became once again active in the adult film industry as a "40+ model" and takes roles as a "MILF" actress and have appeared on the cover and in the pages of both Girls Over Forty and Forty Something magazines. In January 2006, she was inducted into both the AVN Hall of Fame, as well as the Legends of Erotica hall of fame. In the mid-to-late 80s she was married for a time to bisexual porn actor Vladimir Correa.