Symptoms of Sarcoptic Mange in Cats

Sarcoptic mange, or scabies, is a skin disease caused by the Sarcoptes scabei mite. Mites are tiny arachnids, closely related to spiders. Dogs most commonly get sarcoptic mange. Although the highly contagious mites can also infect cats, according to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, the condition that many people, including some veterinarians, call sarcoptic mange in cats is usually an infection by Notoedres cati, a mite closely related to Sarcoptes scabei. However, notoedric mange and sarcoptic mange in cats have similar symptoms and the same treatment.

  1. Crusts and Scales

    • The first sign of mange in cats is usually crusts and scales around the cat's ears. The crusts and scales then progress to the face and, without treatment, to the cat's entire body.

    Intense Itching

    • The crusts and scales itch intensely. The cat's scratching often irritates the skin, which may cause secondary infections.

    Patchy Hair Loss

    • The cat starts to lose hair around the ears, then on the face and neck. Hair loss then usually spreads to the feet and lower abdomen. Drs. Foster and Smith's Pet Education website suggests that this pattern of spreading hair loss is due to the way cats groom themselves and sleep curled up in a ball.

    Papules

    • Papules may appear. A papule is a small, solid and raised skin lesion.

    Advanced Symptoms

    • If the mange remains untreated, the cat's skin becomes thickened, wrinkled and covered with grayish-yellow crusts. Also, the surrounding lymph nodes may become enlarged.