Scabies affects many different animals, from cats and dogs to even humans! While many people mistake it for a disease, scabies (called mange in animals) is actually an infection caused by parasites in the skin. Knowing the signs is the best way to help and heal your furry friend!
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Mange in Cats
Some types of mange are caused by mites that live under cats’ skin naturally, but others are due to mites that are considered parasites.
Demodectic Mange
Demodex mites are naturally existing mites that can cause demodectic mange when their population gets out of control. This mostly happens when the cat’s immune system is compromised, and they are unable to fight the mite population as it grows rapidly. However, this type of mange is uncommon in cats, and you will more often find it in dogs. If you have a dog, you can learn more about how to get rid of dog mange here.
Demodectic mange is also not contagious, so there is some question around how cats happen to get this type of mange to begin with. For the most part, it is considered that it occurs naturally.
Sarcoptic Mange
What is considered ‘scabies’ in dogs and humans is typically sarcoptic mange – usually called canine scabies as it is common in dogs, but cats can also get infected. This type of mange is caused by parasitic mites that are very small, oval in shape and light colored. You wouldn’t be able to see these mites, but you would be able to see their effects on your cat’s skin.
Sarcoptic mange is contagious, so if a dog in your house has mange, there is a high likelihood that your cat is also infected.
Notoedric Mange
Another type of mange in cats is notoedric mange, which is called feline scabies. It is similar to sarcoptic mange in that it is a parasite (the Notoedres mite) that causes severe skin infections. Feline scabies has many of the same symptoms as sarcoptic mange and is also highly contagious to other cats. If you have more than one cat in the house and one of them happens to get infected, it is best to separate them from the rest.
Symptoms of Mange: How Do You Know If Your Cat Is Infected?
Again, mange and scabies in cats is relatively uncommon, so many cat owners don’t know what the symptoms are, and are thus unable to identify the problem.
So how do you know if your cat has scabies?
Generally, most cat owners suspect there may be a problem because they see their cat scratching themselves more often. Because scabies is a skin infection, it makes the infected part itchy and uncomfortable, and your cat is likely trying to find relief by scratching. They may also try to soothe themselves by biting or licking the itchy spots. However, giving in to the urge to itch will backfire on your pet. Because the skin is already irritated, scratching or biting it may make the condition worse and end up irritating it even more.
Signs that your cat may have scabies include:
- Restlessness due to being uncomfortable
- Intense scratching due to itchiness
- Excessive grooming and licking
- Hair loss in patches that may start from the face and extend down the rest of the body
- Scaly skin
- Swelling or bumps on skin
- Cat scratching their ear
Alongside the mites, the scratching and biting will also start causing inflammation in the skin. This results in hair loss since the follicles underneath will likely be weakened, and you are likely to see scaly patches on the cat’s skin. There may also be sores and scabs that look uncomfortable, and sometimes also pustules, which are bumps filled with pus or fluid. If your cat’s ears are infected, there will be a lot of earwax and mite residue, and your cat may try to relieve the pain by laying their ears flat or shaking their head. Mites sometimes start as a cat ear infection and then travel down to the rest of the body.
Another, more noticeable sign is mite bites appearing on your own skin. This is because sometimes the mites will jump onto you and start biting you as well.
You will probably feel itchiness and swelling in the infected spot. This is not much of a problem, aside from the annoyance, since mites are unable to breed in humans so you can easily get rid of them.
It’s a lot more difficult to get rid of mites on pets, though, so it is best to know the signs and symptoms of mange and scabies. By knowing them or at least being able to identify them, you can make sure you get your cat treated in time.
Treatment for Scabies in Cats
Mite eggs can linger, even if adult mites are killed, and these eggs will hatch after some time and cause flare ups. While the mites are easy to kill, it will take some time to remove the eggs. You’ll most likely notice the skin healing and fur growing back about a month after you start treatment.
There are also some home remedies for scabies, such as using diluted apple cider vinegar on the cat’s skin. The acidity in the vinegar helps get rid of parasites, but it’s not too strong that it’s dangerous for the cat. This is just a temporary fix, and you will still need to get your cat proper medication and treatment if you want them to get better for good.
Cats have very sensitive skin, so make sure to stay away from harsh pest control products like insecticides and sprays. Instead, you can try over-the-counter remedies that can help relieve the itch and get your cat feeling better.
BestLife4Pets Mange Relief for Cats is all-natural and side-effect free, so you can focus on keeping your cat happy and healthy. As a reminder, while your cat is undergoing scabies treatment, you should keep them isolated from other pets in the house and clean up everything they’ve come in contact with, like their litter box or bed. This is to make sure that there’s no chance of reinfection or mites spreading to other cats.
Preventing Scabies in Cats
A cat with a strong immune system is less likely to get mites. Giving your cat BestLife4Pets Immune can help make them stronger and better at fighting off mites, so they stay healthier overall. It’s also really important to keep your cat’s home clean.
Mites usually come from outside, so keeping things tidy in their living space helps a lot. Make sure to wash their bedding often and clean their litter box regularly. Indoor cats usually have fewer problems with pests, but sometimes, mites can still sneak in from outside. Scabies will usually only make your cat itchy and uncomfortable, however, left untreated, it may become dangerous.
To help, you can wash your cat’s skin with warm, soapy water, or try using natural remedies like apple cider vinegar. Just make sure to stick to the treatment plan so it doesn’t come back. If you catch scabies early, it can be treated easily.
The key is to know the signs and start battling the mites as soon as possible. With the right treatment and a little patience, your cat will feel better soon!
