Different Kinds of Mange in Cats

Different types of mites -- tiny, eight-legged parasites -- cause mange in cats. When your cat comes into contact with another cat infected with the mites or with bedding and grooming tools used with an infected animal, it too can become infected. Treat your cat for mite infestations if your cat suffers from itchy skin or hair loss to give your cat relief from these symptoms and prevent secondary infections.

  1. Demodectic Mange

    • Although more common in dogs, demodectic mange can also affect cats. This disease is caused by either the Demodex cati or D. gatoi mite and can affect all ages of cats, according to PetEducation.com. Although it can infect all types of cats, it occurs most often in the Siamese and Burmese breeds. The parasitic mites cause itchy, red lesions on the eyelids, head, ears and neck in localized cases and the body and feet in generalized cases. Immune-suppressing diseases can cause the condition to worsen, such as feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus or diabetes. A veterinarian will diagnose the condition with a skin scraping to examine under a microscope.

    Notoedric Mange

    • The Notoedres cati, another type of tiny mite, causes notoedric mange, also called feline scabies. The female mites live on the skin of the cat, burrowing holes into the skin to deposit eggs. Once the eggs mature, the mites mate, and the entire life cycle of the mite lasts two to three weeks. The disease affects the cat's eyelids, face, neck, feet and abdomen, causing grayish crusts to form and the skin to thicken. Because of the itching the mites cause, the cat will scratch incessantly and in some cases cause a secondary skin infection to form. Like other forms of mange, a skin scraping by a veterinarian will determine if the cat has notoedric mange.

    Sarcoptic Mange

    • The Sarcoptes scabiei mite causes sarcoptic mange in cats, which, like notoedric mange, is also commonly called feline scabies. While sarcoptic mange can occur in cats of all ages and breeds, it usually affects younger cats. The mite that causes the disease is passed from infected cats or dogs to other animals by direct contact because the mite does not survive very long off of its host. After exposure, the mites mature after three weeks, causing extreme itching, lesions and small red bumps on the ears, face, elbows, chest, ankles and abdomen of the cat. If left untreated, the lesions lead to thickening, wrinkling and darkening of the skin.

    Considerations

    • If mange is diagnosed, a cat needs to undergo veterinary treatment to get rid of the mites causing the disease. Usual treatment for all types of mange includes shaving the cat's hair, bathing it with a gentle shampoo and covering its skin with a 2 to 3 percent lime sulfur dip daily for seven days. You may have to reapply the dip for up to six to eight weeks. Other off-label (not approved) treatments include the use of ivermectin or topical flea repellent, which requires the supervision of a veterinarian. In addition to treating the mites, your veterinarian may recommend antibiotics to treat any secondary skin infections. Handle cats with mange carefully, as both sarcoptic and notoedric mange can spread to humans, although the disease will usually only last 12 to 14 days on people, according to PetPlace.com.