Cat Mange: Symptoms, Cause, Treatment And Prevention

Cat mange is a disease to be taken seriously. There are also different types, this is the reason why we speak rather cat mange. They are very contagious and require treatment because in the absence of care, complications can seriously impact the state of health of the cat. Let’s do a check in.

The different types of mange in cats: cause and specific symptoms

There are several kinds of cat mange.

• sarcoptic mange.
• THE body scabies to know :
• There ear mites.

Each is responsible for a mite quite particular.

Body Scabies

Regarding the notohedral eats, it is a form of mange that mainly affects cats living in communities. In our country, it is not very common. It is caused by the mite Notoedres catii.

About the sarcoptic mange, much more frequent than the previous one, it can have repercussions on the general condition of the animal. The mite in question is Sarcoptes scabieie.

These scabies on the body are the cause of itching which agitate the cat considerably. He licks, nibbles and scratches himself intensely, thus creating skin lesions who end up superinfecting themselves. On the affected areas, the skin becomes inflamed, becomes pink or reddish, thickens, becomes covered with pimples, scabs form. There is also desquamation, and the appearance of a eczema is possible.

Ear Mites

This parasitosis is also called otacariasis, scabies otodectic, auricular otitis, ear mites. It’s from afar most common scabies in cats. She is responsible for the parasite Otodectes cynotis. This tiny mite, from the family of Epiderm optidaesettles in the ear canal of its host where it feeds on earwax, scales, and causes skin lesions.

ear mites leads to very moderate outward manifestations. Itching (pruritus) is essentially triggered by cleaning the affected ear with a cotton swab. We can then observe rapid movements of a hind leg. It is pruritus that is at the origin of this reflex reaction called auditory-foot reflex. This form of scabies is also identifiable at the smell foul smell coming from the affected ear and the frequent shaking of the cat’s head.

It is absolutely fundamental to process as soon as possible otodectic mange. Without treatment, this disease progresses to itchy otitis identifiable by earwax covered with reddish-brown crusts. The inner ear is then seriously damaged, which inevitably leads to loss of balance in the cat. The animal risks a perforation of the eardrum.

Ear mites are very transmitted from cats to humans in whom it is however benign.

Cat Mange: Treatment

If in doubt, you should consult the veterinarian and above all do not opt ​​for self-medication. Examinations such as blood test and one skin sample are often necessary for cat mange to be diagnosed with certainty.

A treatment is then prescribed, of course case by case depending on the type of scabies. These are drugs, even skin injections. This is essential to eradicate the mites in question. This internal processing can be combined in the case of scabies of the body with skin care and coat such as shampoo, lotions… Infected skin areas are usually shaved.

Other consultations must be planned so that the veterinarian can follow the evolution of the disease especially if the cat has ear mites which can have very serious consequences on its state of health.

At the same time, the cat affected by one form or another of mange must imperatively be put in solitary confinement, so that it does not contaminate either other animals in the home or humans. The animal’s environment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Cat Mange: Prevention

The prevention of scabies goes through the ongoing maintenance of the cat’s environment and the regular checking of the ears, the state of the skin and the hair of the animal, even more so if it has been in contact with an animal likely to be touched for a form of scabies or another. Finally, it is very important that the cat can benefit from a pest protection as strongly recommended by veterinarians.