How would you feel it you itched all the time and had a nasty rash that had started in your head and was now spreading throughout your body? You probably wouldn’t like this very much. Yet, that’s exactly what your cat may be going through if it has mange. And you can bet that your cat doesn’t like it anymore than you would.
The cause of mange in cats
Mange in cats is a type of cat skin allergy that is caused mainly by mites and parasites. It is more likely to affect cats that spend a lot of their time outdoors under unhygienic conditions. However, cat mange is very contagious and is easily transmitted from one animal to another. So, even if your cat spends most of its life indoors, it can contract this disease – from something as innocent as being groomed with infested brushes.
There are several types of mange in cats. The ones that are most likely to infest your cat are otodectic mange, demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, and cheyletiella mange.
What causes otodectic mange in cats?
Otodectic mange is probably the most common form of mange found in cats. It is caused by Otodectes cynotis mites, which are commonly called ear mites. These mites embed themselves deep in your cat’s external ear canal. You can tell if your cat has been infested with otodectic mange as you will see it shaking its head repeatedly and scratching its ears violently.
How do cats get otodectic mange?
This type of mange is highly contagious and if your cat develops otodectic mange it will be because your cat came in close contact with an infested animal – such as a cat or dog. However, be aware that the ear mites can survive off a host for a short time so it is possible that your cat contracted mange through infested bedding or grooming equipment that had not been properly sterilized.
What causes demodectic mange in cats?
Demodectic mange in cats is caused by one of two mites named Demodex cati and Demodex gatoi.
The Demodex cati lives inside the cat’s hair follicles while the Demodex gatoi mite lives on the cat’s skin. Neither of these is a burrowing mite. They lay eggs on the cat’s hair follicles or on its skin.
How do cats get demodectic mange?
These mites can live in harmony in the cat for many years without causing a disease. In fact, your cat may have one of the two types of demodectic mites right now and you would never know it. However, for reasons that are not well understood, the mites can “get the upper hand” and your cat will come down with a case of demodectic mange.
What causes notoedric mange in cats?
A tiny, microscopic creature named Notoedres cati that can affect dogs as well as cats cause Notoedric mange. The female of Notoedres cati burrows into the cat’s skin creating a tunnel, which can reach several centimeters in length. She lays eggs in this tunnel several times and dies. The eggs go through two stages and then become adults, a process that requires two to three weeks.
How do cats get notoedric mange?
The main way a cat can get the Notoedres cati mite and then, subsequently develop notoedric mange is by coming in direct contact with an infested animal – usually another cat. This is why indoors cats are least likely to develop notoedric mange. On the other hand, outdoors cats – that can come in contact with stays - are more likely to develop it.
What causes sarcoptic mange in cats?
Sarcoptic mange is found much more often in dogs than cats. But the cause of this mange is the same – regardless of whether it infests a dog or a cat. The culprit is a burrowing mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. It is called a burrowing mite because the female of the species burrows into a cat’s skin much as a prairie dog burrows into the earth. The female lays eggs as it burrows and can create a tunnel as long as several centimeters before it dies.
How do cats get sarcoptic mange?
The only way that a cat can get sarcoptic mange is by direct contact with another animal that has the disease. This means that cats that live in close proximity to dogs are more liable to contact sarcoptic mange – as dogs more often carry the Sarcoptes scabiei mite than cats.
What causes cheyletiella mange in cats?
Even though it is rare for a cat to develop cheyletiella mange, it is possible for a cat to have this form of mange. A mite named Cheyletiella blakei causes cheyletiella mange in cats. Unlike the other mites that cause mange in cats, this mite does not tunnel into the cat’s skin, nor does it live in hair follicles. Instead, it moves quickly on the surface of the cat’s skin in pseudotunels of epidermal debris. The mites live their entire life cycle on the host’s skin.
This form of cat mange is often called “walking dandruff” because the Cheyletiella blakei mites are large enough to be seen with the naked eye as they move around the cat’s skin scale.
How do cats get cheyletiella mange?
There are two ways that a cat can get cheyletiella mange. The first is through direct contact with an infested animal. Second, since female Cheyletiella blakei mites can live for several days off a host, a cat can contact this form of mange through environmental contamination such as infested bedding.
How do dogs get notoedric mange?
Although the parasite Notoedres cati, affects cats, it will occasionally infest dogs. Since these mites are spread mostly by direct contact, a dog must come in close contact with an infested cat to become infested and, subsequently, develop mange.
In short, the cause of mange in cats is just about the same no matter which type of mange infests your cat. That is, mites of some type cause all forms of mange in cats. And to become infested with mange, your cat will generally have to come in direct contact with an infested animal. This means that the simplest and easiest way to protect your cat against the awful itching and hair loss caused by mange is to keep your cat away from infested animals.
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