Although mange in cats is fairly infrequent, it is something you should know about if you have cats. Mange is a very contagious condition of the skin caused by mites and parasites. It’s victims are usually outdoor Cats. If left untreated, the cat may become very ill and lose its fur.
The symptoms include itching, discomfort, and scratching. If your cat is loosing fur, you should always to take your cat to the vet. Other diseases and problems other than mange can cause hair loss. A vet can look at a sample of the cat’s skin or fur under a microscope to determine whether or not your cat has mange.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are seldom considered mange, but the parasites that are associated with in ear mites can also cause mange. Ear mites can usually be treated with injections or prescription ear drops. When a feline has ear mites, the inside of their ears will look dirty. Black oily-looking dirt will cover the inside of the cat’s ears. These are not the actual mites, but are the dropping left behind from the mites.
Demodex Mange or Red Mange
Demodex Mange, also called “red mange”, is not contagious. Cats and dogs do not pass this type of mange to each other. Most cats and dogs have small amounts of these mites living on their skin. This form type of mange does not often bother the cat unless it becomes inflamed. It might be revealed as small patches of hair loss. In more serious cases, it can result in a bacterial rash on the skin.
The skin can become inflamed, red and itchy, thus the name “Red Mange”. Demodex Mange usually starts causing problems in cats that are immuno-suppressed or that are aging. Poor nutrition, hormones and stress might cause this type of mange. It can be seen in pregnant and nursing cats or male cats that are not neutered.
There are treatment options for this Demodex Mange. This will rule out autoimmune diseases and other varieties of parasites such as worms. An oral medication called Ivermectin can be used. Although this drug is not approved by the FDA to use for mange, numerous vets find this treatment highly effective.
Another treatment option is dipping your cat in a prescribed pesticide. This is very effective, but it can cause problems like vomiting and seizures in cats. Additionally, it is poisonous, and it should not be implemented with pregnant cats or by people who are pregnant. This dip is generally done weekly for up to six weeks.
Sarcoptic mange
Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious and very difficult to treat. Cats that are affected by this form are extremely itchy and the scratching can cause serious inflammation and sometimes bleeding of the skin. Mites will burrow into the skin and leave the eggs. The excessive scratching can also cause scabbing and infections on the skin.
If your vet determines that your cat has Sarcoptic mange, she will probably wash the cat with a medicated shampoo and then treat the cat with a pesticide dip. Just as with Sarcoptic mange, this pesticide treatment is very potent and extreme caution has to be used when treating your cat.
Home Remedies
It is NOT a good idea to use “home remedies” for mange. They can be extremely dangerous. Also, in many cases, your cat’s hair loss will not be mange. Hair loss can be caused by allergic reactions to foods, plants or even medications. Allergic reactions are treated much differently than mange therefore it is very important to get medical care for your feline. So it is critical that you take your cat to the vet and NOT try to treat them yourself.
If you suspect your feline has mange, take your cat to the vet immediately so she can determine IF it is manage and if it is, what type, and how to treat it.
Purrs, Frankie
Kira here. I get the willies just thinking about mange. After reading about it, I itch all over. Good grief. I didn’t need that. I’m glad me and my brothers and sisters are indoor cats. No one should get this icky disease! Kira out.
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Kira here. I don’t like going to the vet’s office. She’s real nice to me but all that pushing and prodding is irritating. I laugh when it’s Lee’s turn though. He’s pretty lame and falls for the open crate trick all the time. But not me. I’m too smart. Kira
Teach your child the importance of keeping his cat indoors to avoid potential dangers outside. If you decide to have an indoor-outdoor cat, make sure you child understands how to mitigate some of the dangers cats face outdoors that they don’t face indoors, such as dogs, other cats, mean people and kids, to name a few.
