Demodex Mites in Cats

According to Veterinarypartner.com, problems with demodex mites are not as common in cats as they are in dogs. In cats, demodex mite outbreaks are often associated with other diseases. There are different symptoms, depending on which type of demodex mite is prevalent in your cat. These mites are easy to treat when detected early.

  1. Causes

    • Demodex mites are often naturally present in cats, and are a problem if they reproduce in rapidly. In some cases, this is attributed to diseases such as feline leukemia, diabetes or the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Although all cat breeds contract demodex mites, Siamese and Burmese cats are the most susceptible, according to Peteducation.com.

    Types

    • There are two types of demodex mites in cats: Demodex gatoi and Demodex cati. Demodex gatoi is a short mite with a small tail and it resides on your cat's skin. Demodex cati is longer, with a more pronounced tail, and it lives in your cat's hair follicles.

    Symptoms

    • Demodex mites in your cat are either generalized or localized. Generalized mites are associated with diseases of the immune system and may cause irritated lesions on the skin. Localized mites are the most common in cats, states Peteducation.com, and produce symptoms like itchy lesions, hair loss and scaly skin of the ears, eyelids, neck and head.

    Diagnosis

    • Sometimes the symptoms of demodex mites in cats can be mistaken for allergic dermatitis or ringworm. A veterinarian makes her diagnosis based on a microscopic view of a skin sample that is scraped from your cat. If the skin sample does not reveal anything, your veterinarian may perform a skin biopsy.

    Treatment

    • In minor cases, your cat's skin is scraped regularly to dispose of the demodex mites. The veterinarian may recommend complementary treatments, such as lime sulfur dips, an oral treatment like ivermectin, or topical treatments like amitraz or rotenone. Your cat may contract a separate bacterial infection once treatment for demodex mites is complete. This can be cleared up with an antibiotic.

    Prevention

    • You cannot contract demodex mites from cats, since humans are not susceptible to the kinds that cats host, according to Peteducation.com. (Demodex folliculorum is the only type that affects humans). Demodex mites cannot be fully prevented, as there are a certain number that reside naturally in cats. Instead, call your veterinarian if your cat exhibits symptoms and you suspect that these mites are out of control.