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Scabies can manifest as different skin conditions with varying levels of severity and symptoms, but they can all be traced back to the same root cause: mites. If only this miniature hatching soon insects essentially colonizing the surface of the skin of a larger animal, they cause severe irritation and discomfort that can manifest as anything from mild itching to permanent baldness and painful crusting. Mites tend to thrive best in wildlife communities that just have to live with them. That includes bears, foxes, squirrels, and raccoons. Scabies mites have managed to become so prolific because they are highly contagious. In a habitat with strong interdependence and overlap with other habitats, scabies can spread wildly. So, what about types of mange in cats?
Fortunately for pet owners, there are treatment methods for all known forms of mites. And lucky for cat owners, cats are less likely to get infected than dogs. Despite infection being relatively rare for them, there are multiple types of mange in cats – and the effectiveness of different treatments can vary depending on the species of mite causing the problem. And proper handling is important, especially if your cat lives with or is in regular contact with other pets. Human the skin is a poor carrier for mites, but other pets can carry an infection. Be careful before making assumptions. There are seven known causes of mange in cats, but there are many more potential causes for itching and scratching than mites, so always see your vet if the situation gets serious. Here’s your guide to the seven different types of mange in cats.
1. Notoedric Mange (Cat Mange)
Of the different types of mange in cats, cat mange is the only one that can manifest itself only in cats. While the mite can travel on other species: mammals in the short term, they can live out their full life cycle of 17 to 21 days only on the bodies of cats. The intense itching caused by cat mange starts at the ears and works down the cat’s face until it can spread all over the body. The infection rate from one cat to another is incredibly high, meaning cats who spend time outdoors freely are at particular risk.
If you’ve ruled out fleas and other common causes of mange and you have multiple infected cats, cat mange may be the next option to consider. Some vets will treat cat mange soon after symptoms are discovered because it is over-the-counter and safe. Fortunately, this type of mite is rare and only really occurs in localized regions that can sustain the notoedric mites. In the United States, which usually means tropical and subtropical areas such as Florida, Louisianaand parts of the south California. Kittens and cats with compromised immune systems are most at risk for cat mange.
2. Sarcoptic Mange (Dog Mange)
If your cat starts to itch shortly after his canine roommate returns from the dog park, dog mange may be the cause. A cat who gets this type of mange almost always gets it through direct contact with an infected dog, but it can rarely be passed on from a carrier such as a human groomer or pet bedding. Depending on their species, breed and overall health, many dogs or cats can have sarcoptic mange mites without showing any obvious signs. For cats experiencing symptoms, they are similar to those of a cat mange infection. The irritation generally starts around the chest or abdomen and then begins to spread outward as the cat’s scratching prolongs the infection and spreads mite eggs.
The best way to identify and treat sarcoptic mange is to take your cat to the vet. If the symptoms align, they may take a skin cell sample to check for the presence of mites. Dog mange can travel quickly through the body because scratching only exacerbates the spread of the mites. If they discover that the cause of the problem is canine mange, your vet can give you a prescription or recommendation for an over-the-counter remedy to treat it. Never use a treatment designed for dogs and make sure the treatment is appropriate for your cat’s weight and age.
3. Fur Mites
As with cat mange, fur mites are a diagnosis whose odds depend on where you live. Fur mites are everywhere Australia, Brazil, and a few US states, including Texas and California. The symptoms are very similar to both forms of mange, although there is a certain tendency in pets with fur mites to lose fur or give it a salt-and-pepper colored appearance. Diagnosis of fur mites usually takes the form of a tissue scraping and analysis, and treatment can include everything from dips to sprays to injections, depending on the severity of the infection.
4. Thrombiculosis (Chiggers)
Thrombiculosis refers to the irritation caused by an infestation of mite larvae. Rather than spending their entire life cycle on your pet’s body, eggs will simply feed themselves until they reach maturity and have a chance to escape to the habitat that serves them best: nutrient-rich soil and decaying matter. Then they tend to cluster at specific points on the body, although this can vary depending on the animal. Since these mites essentially just ride on your pet like a paw of a migration, infestation usually occurs through contact with the outside world. Unfortunately, the only really effective way to prevent them from returning is to monitor outdoor
a
ctivities more closely.
Infestations of these mites often pass without the need for treatment, but symptoms and complications can often persist past the point of infection. That means diagnosis and treatment are highly recommended, even if you think you know your cat has been infected by fleas. Thrombiculosis treatments are often similar to those for dog and cat mange, although different prescriptions are usually applied depending on the species. In the case of a particularly severe infestation or one that has been left unattended for a long period of time, prescriptions may be required for secondary infections and self-inflicted wounds.
5. Ear mites
The symptoms of ear mites can easily be mistaken for cat mange. But while visible inflammation starts around the outside of the ear, the worst problems are not visible. Ear mites typically retreat deep into the inner ear, where they cannot be easily scratched. A cat suffering from ear mites will typically shake its head and paw at its ear, and in extreme circumstances, pus may form on the outside of the ear. This condition is significantly more common in cats than dogs — possibly because of the accessibility of their ear canals — but it’s still relatively rare.
Ear mites can be a serious condition that can even lead to a ruptured eardrum if not taken care of, but it is not a serious condition to treat. Medications are generally applied directly to the ear or as a topical spread over the cat’s entire body. Treatment may vary from cat to cat, but you may need to temporarily apply a cleaning regimen to your cat’s ears. All other animals that have been in contact with the infected animal should also be tested for ear mites.
6. Demodicosis
Not all Demodex mites necessarily cause demodicosis directly. Nearly all animals have a population of Demodex mites on their bodies and they generally do not cause immediate itching or irritation in domestic cats or other species. But the presence of these mites can weaken the immune system of the animal whose body it inhabits and cause a serious infection if it comes into contact with a kitten or cat that already has a compromised immune system. Harmful species of Demodex mites, fortunately, cannot survive on humans.
Unfortunately, a cat’s response to this type of mange can cover a wide variety of different symptoms. In the mildest cases, cats with a Demodex infestation may develop slightly more earwax. In more extreme cases, Demodex mites can cause hair loss all over the body and potentially deadly infections. Treatment may vary depending on severity, but since Demodex is most severe in cats with pre-existing conditions, the medication should take into account possible reactions or complications. For most cats, a relatively easy and benign treatment, such as weekly sulfur dips, will quickly and permanently resolve the problem.
7. Running Rose
Flaky skin is the most common symptom of dandruff, but diagnosis is complicated by the fact that it can also manifest as small bumps or a thin crust that develops on the surface of the skin. This is one of the few mites that infest cats and can infect humans as well, and it is also easily and quickly transferred from one pet to another. Treatment is further complicated by the fact that animals can harbor these mites without any visible symptoms. Make sure you treat all animals that come into contact with an animal infected with dandruff infestation thoroughly and receive a proper analysis by asking your vet to take a skin cell sample.
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