Mange in Cats: Symptoms to Treatment

Introduction

The term “mange” brings thoughts of a scraggly, hairless, unthrifty-looking animal. These impressions are not wrong. Mange, a condition caused by several different types of skin mites, can wreak havoc on an animal’s skin and hair coat. Fortunately, mange is uncommon in cats. But when it does occur, it poses very serious health risks to kitties, and sometimes, to their human caretakers. 

In this article, you’ll learn all about the most common skin mites that affect cats, causing mange. You’ll also learn how mange is diagnosed, treated, and some homecare tips.

What is Mange in Cats?

Mange describes a condition where skin mites have caused an infestation on the surface of a cat’s body. In many cases, this leads to patches of fur loss, crusty scaly skin, and itching and scratching.

Mange can be caused by several different types of skin mites. We’ll cover the most common next. Fortunately, mange is uncommon in cats compared to dogs. But when a cat does acquire mange, the effects can be very irritating and debilitating. There are also some types of mange mites that can be passed from a cat to a human, introducing a public health risk as well.

Five Common Types of Mange Mites

A majority of mites are microscopic, meaning you can’t see them with the naked eye. While subtly different in appearance, many of them look similar with a stout round body, 4 pairs of short, stubby legs, and a small head. Mange mites are far more closely related to ticks and spiders compared to other insects.

There are seven different mites that can cause forms of mange in cats. We’ll cover the top 5 in more detail.

Notoedris cati

This is the most classic mange mite of cats, causing the condition notoedric mange. This is a mite that is specific to cats and is easily transmitted from cat to cat. 

Most countries in the world have reported it but fortunately, it tends to occur uncommonly in general. In the United States, small outbreaks have been reported in the Florida Keys.

Because Notoedris cati is transmitted from cat to cat, it is unusual to have a single cat with the condition. Outdoor cats interacting with other colonies of cats have the highest risk. Small, isolated outbreaks may occur within cat colonies.

Signs of disease usually start at the ears, head, and neck, then spread over the whole body. Notoedric mange is extremely itchy, causing scaling and crusting of the skin.

While it may cause an itchy rash on a person from contact, people cannot be truly infested by this mite.

Sarcoptes scabei

This mite is also called the dog mange mite. But unlike Notoedris cati, Sarcoptes scabiei can readily infest many other animals. Humans can also be affected too.

It is rare for a cat to get sarcoptic mange. Living in the same household as a dog with mange is the most common source. In the wild, foxes, coyotes, and wolves can be affected. Outdoor cats that may interact with foxes or share their environments (dens, sewers, etc.) may be at risk.

Sarcoptic mange starts on the ears, developing hair loss around the elbows and ankles. Fur loss progresses with severity.

As mentioned, people can get infested by Sarcoptes scabiei, usually when their family dog acquires it from another dog or fox in the area. While rare, I have encountered whole families affected by sarcoptic mange. It’s not pleasant!

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)

While not affecting the skin, ear mites do still cause a huge problem, termed otodectic mange.  They are the most common type of mite we see in cats. 

Fortunately, they tend to occur most often in cats less than a year old and are not too difficult to get rid of. 

Transmission between affected cats is usually through direct contact. This is why we’ll most often see ear mites in stray kittens or cats from colonies where ear mites have spread through close contact. Ear mites affect dogs less severely and cannot be transmitted to people. 

Ear mites can be very itchy, but many cats will not show outward signs of itching unless you touch or massage their ear. You’ll then start to see an almost involuntary twitching of a back leg, needing to scratch.

Ear mites are the only mites in this list that can be seen without a microscope. In cats with a large infestation (there can be over 1000 mites in one ear!) the movement of them can be seen. A vet can easily see them moving around with a low magnification otoscope. 

The debris ear mites cause often has a granular, almost coffee grounds-like appearance and is very dense. In adult cats with brown debris in their ears, ear mites are far less common. Most of these cats will instead have growth of a common fungal organism, Malassezia, which can cause a similar appearance. 

Walking Dandruff (Cheyletiellosis)

The hairclasping mite Cheyletiella, gets the name “walking dandruff” because it is the only other mite that you can sort of see with the naked eye.

Unlike other mites like Sarcoptes and Notoedris, Cheyletiella does burrow into the skin, but only feeds on the surface layer. This causes a flaky, irritated appearance, usually along the back. The “walking dandruff” appearance you can see is not the mites themselves moving, but their movement causing broken flakes of skin to move around as they do.

Cheyletiella is uncommon, but puppies from large breeding facilities appear with it most often. A cat may acquire this mite from an infested dog. This is also a mite that can infest people, just like Sarcoptes scabiei can. 

Demodex

There are two types of demodex mites that affect cats, causing demodectic mange. The first, Demodex cati, is a common and normal organism that lives on the skin. Demodex gatoi is highly contagious among cats, occurring more in younger kitties and causing severe itching.

Demodex cati usually only causes a problem in unhealthy cats, where an issue with the immune system allows the mites to grow unchecked. This can lead to hair loss but is less often an itchy mite. Cats with underlying illness, like feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), diabetes, or other serious health conditions are more susceptible.

Demodex gatoi causes more severe itching. It may also sometimes contribute to ear infections if it gets into the ear canals.

Demodex mites look different from the other mites we’ve covered. Under the microscope, they have more of a long, cigar-shaped body with their four pairs of legs at one end. Demodex gatoi is shorter and stubbier than Demodex cati.

Signs and Symptoms of Mange in Cats

In general, mites feed on the skin. Some burrow more deeply like Sarcoptes scabiei, while others are more on the surface like Cheyletiella and Demodex gatoi. 

Regardless, hair loss, itchy irritated skin, and scratching are the most common signs of mange. Some mites prefer certain locations on the body to start out, (included with the descriptions above). Over time however, signs of hair loss and skin irritation can affect the entire body.

It’s important to realize that many other skin conditions may appear similar to mange, and are far more common. Fleas, allergic dermatitis (allergic skin disease), and the fungal infection ringworm are great examples.  

Cats with itchy, gunky ears are more likely to have an infection caused by yeast or bacteria than ear mites.

However, in any case of mange, bacterial and fungal infections may also occur because of broken damaged skin. 

How is Mange Diagnosed in Cats?

Evidence of some mites may be directly visible. This includes ear mites, which your vet can see with an otoscope, and Cheyletiella, where their movements on the skin can be seen as the “walking dandruff”. 

In other cases, mites have to be searched for if their presence is suspected. A vet may suspect mange based on the pattern of hair loss and the risk for a cat acquiring mange. 

For skin mites like Demodex, Notoedris, and Sarcoptes, your vet can perform a skin scraping over areas of crusting and fur loss. This is where the side of a dulled scalpel blade is used to scrape (not cut) the skin until a small amount of redness and oozing is seen. This ensures they’ve gotten down beneath the outer layer of skin where the mites like to burrow.

Your vet then places this sample on a microscope slide and looks for the mites themselves. Most of the time, this can be performed during a regular exam visit. Sometimes, especially in painful or irritated cats, sedation may be needed for good skin scraping samples. 

Some mites, like Sarcoptes and Demodex gatoi, are very difficult to find, even if present on the skin. In these cases, if your vet has a high suspicion of mange, they may consider just starting treatment for mange. If your cat’s condition greatly improves in a couple weeks, this can be a way of indirectly diagnosing mange.

How Mange is Treated in Cats

Because they are closely related, most mange mites can be treated with similar products. Not all products listed are approved in cats to treat mites, but are found to be successful treatments when used off-label. 

· Lime sulfur dip (a topical shampoo/ointment type of treatment)

· Selamectin (Revolution)

· Fipronil (Frontline)

· Isoxazolines (lotilaner/Credelio, esafoxolaner/NexGard, flurilaner/Bravecto)

Your vet will help advise you on the most appropriate medication to use to kill the mites themselves.

Your vet may also prescribe other medications to treat secondary effects of the mite infestation. This may include a steroid for itching and skin redness, and antibiotics for secondary infection.

It’s very common for ear mites to need a cleaning and ear treatment in addition to using a product like fipronil or selamectin to effectively kill the mites.

Your cat will also benefit from topical products that can help support the skin and coat through this itchy, irritating condition while it’s being treated. The effects of mange mites can also persist even after they’re killed by medication, necessitating the need for continued skin support.

Supporting the skin’s healing is just as important as killing the mites themselves.

A topical spray like Puainta Quantum Silver Skin Spray can be applied to areas of the skin affected by hair loss, redness, bumps, and flaking. This can bring needed relief to itching, avoiding further skin trauma. It can also support faster skin healing of these affected areas.

For cats amenable to bathing, a shampoo like Puainta Banov Shampoo can provide a more full body approach, especially for cats with more widespread mange lesions on their skin. Shampoos like Banov allow cleansing of the fur, and help removal of mites, eggs, skin flakes, and other debris. 

Full treatment for mites can take a couple weeks up to a couple months depending on the mite type and how bad the infestation is. Your vet will advise periodic rechecks to monitor treatment.

Prevention of Mange in Cats

Fortunately, mange is not very common in cats, especially those that reside indoors. Always be cautious when bringing a new cat or kitten into the home with other cats, especially a stray, feral, or rescue kitty. It’s a good idea to keep the new kitty separated from the other cats until they have an exam with your vet to rule out any contagious conditions like mange.

For cats who roam outdoors and especially those having contact with other outdoor cats, protection with a common flea/tick preventative, like those discussed above for treatment, is the best prevention. Your vet can discuss the best product option with you depending on your cat’s risks. 

References

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