Mange In Cats

Have you seen your cat scratching itself incessantly? Or have you noticed that it has a skin rash or raw crusty areas on its skin? If so, it is quite likely that your cat has mange. Mange in cats is not life threatening, but is certainly something that can make your cat very uncomfortable and unhappy.

Burrowing And Non-Burrowing Mites

Cat mange is caused by two types of mites, burrowing and non-burrowing. The burrowing mites literally burrow into your cat’s skin, forming tunnels where they lay their eggs. The eggs develop into larvae, which become nymphs that eventually turn into adults. Burrowing mites actually live their entire lives inside the tunnels they create in your cat’s skin.

Non-burrowing mites feed on your cat’s skin scales. Some types of thee mites suck tissue fluid and others suck blood.

Symptoms Of Mange In Cats

The most notable symptom of mange in cats is intense itching, technically called pruritis. Other symptoms of cat mange include the presence of papules - small, inflamed elevations of the skin much like chicken pox, patchy hair loss and crusty sores.

Common Types Of Mange In Cats

There are two types of mange in cats that are very common and three types of cat mange that are more rare. The common types of mange in cats are:

Otodectic Mange
Otodectic mange, more commonly known as ear mites, is the most common form of mange in cats. These mites are non-burrowers and feed on skin scales. The most common symptoms of otodectic mange are irritation and inflammation of the cat’s ear canal. If the condition becomes severe, you may also see a substance oozing from the cat’s ear, as well as red, scaly skin from a secondary infection caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.

Notoedric mange
Notoedric mange is also known as cat scabies or head mange. This is the second most common form of mange in cats. Notoedric mange is caused by burrowing mites and will cause both hair loss and crusty skin. This type of cat mange is very itchy and will cause your cat to scratch excessively. It is very contagious and can even spread to humans.

Rare Types Of Mange In Cats

Demodectic Mange
This type of cat mange may be localized, that is confined to a small area of the cat’s body, or it may be generalized and cover a large part of the cat’s body. The symptoms of demodectic mange are small, red, inflamed patches of skin. If the condition becomes severe, a bacterial skin infection may also occur.

Cheyletiella Mange
This type of cat mange is often called walking dandruff because you can actually see the mites moving around on the cat’s skin. Cheyletiella mange is caused by large, red mites on the cat’s skin that move rapidly on the surface of the skin in what are called pseudotunnels of epidermal debris and spend their entire life cycle on the host. These flakes are most often seen on the cat’s back, neck and sides. Other symptoms of cheyletiella mange include itching and red, raised bumps. Cheyletiella mange is rare in cats, but it is very contagious for humans and other animals.

Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptic mange is common in dogs but is very rare in cats. It is a contagious parasitic disease caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei that affects both animals and people. Sarcoptes scabiei is non-burrowing. The chief symptom of sarcoptic mange is intense pruritus (scratching). If your cat is infested with this type of mange, you may also see small red bumps on the margins of its ear, elbows, hocks (ankles), chest and abdomen.

How Is Cat Mange Diagnosed?

To diagnose mange in cats, your vet will scrape your cat’s skin and then analyze the sample under a microscope. The diagnosis for demodectic mange and sacroptic mange is based on the type of mite that has infested your cat. Demodectic mites are cigar shaped and notoedric mites are round.

Treatment For Mange In Cats

Mange in cats is usually treated with Ivermectin, which your veterinarian will apply to the cat’s skin. However, in the case of Notoedric mange, the Ivermectin is usually given by injection weekly for four weeks.

Milbemycin (Interceptor®) is sometimes used to treat sarcoptic mange, as is Amitraz (Mitaban®).

You can also elect to treat cat mange at home with a lime-sulfur dip combined with a cat shampoo such as Dermisil for Mange. In very serious cases, your vet may use cortisone to relieve your cat’s itching. In addition, your vet may prescribe topical antibiotic solutions to treat any open sores, while an oral antibiotic medication may be used to treat any bacterial skin infections that occurred from excessive scratching.