Mite Diseases on Cat Skin

Symptoms

• A cat that has a skin problem because of mites will almost always show some symptoms. The most common symptoms include dry, red or flaking skin, hair loss, a dull coat, skin with red patches, scaly skin or round, raw patches on the head, hips and chest. A cat with a mite-driven skin problem may also lick or scratch the skin much more than normal.

Diagnosis

• Owners who think a pet might have a mite infestation-caused skin disorder should take the animal to the vet for diagnosis. The vet will examine the skin, looking for fleas, mites or another parasite. If the diagnosis is unclear after the examination, further tests can include a biopsy, examining the skin under a special light called a woods light that identifies fungus or a blood test. Problems with mites or other bugs are easily diagnosed because most of the time the parasite is visible.

Fleas

• Fleas are probably the most common bug that causes cat skin disorders. Fleas bite the skin and cause inflammation. Symptoms of flea infestation include red bumps on the skin, inflamed skin and scratching much more than normal.

Ear Mites

• Cats can commonly have problems around the ears. Ear mites are the most common disorder. The cat will have highly irritated ear skin and a thick red crust or waxy-like substance in and around the ears. Treatment for ear mites can include ear drops, antibiotics or dips.

Mange

• Another infestation is mange. Though it is fairly uncommon in cats, it is caused by mites under the cat's skin. Also called scabies, this disorder happens as a result of infestation of two types of mites: burrowing mites and non-burrowing mites. Burrowing mites lay eggs under the cat's skin, while non-burrowing mites feed on the cat's skin. Symptoms include hair loss, scabby skin and excessive itching. A veterinarian will diagnose the disorder by doing a skin scraping and putting the sample through a number of tests to look for mites. Mange is treated with an antibiotic dip and medication.