Mites in Cats

If your cat scratches itself noticeably frequently, has bald patches in its coat, or has eczema and crusts on its skin, it could be caused by a mite infestation. Now, read everything you need to know about mites in cats.

What are Mites?

Mites are one of the so-called ectoparasites. So they don’t live in their host’s body, but on the surface – in this case, the skin.

Mites are small arachnids that, depending on the species, are difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye. When they find a host, they feed on its blood and skin flakes.

Not only does that sound uncomfortable, but it is also an infestation. For example, it leads to itching, hair loss, eczema, and crusts. In addition, the parasites are potentially contagious to humans and other animals. For example, mite infestation in dogs is quite common.

What Types of Mites are There in Cats?

There are numerous types of mites that can affect your cat. We present the most important ones here:

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)

Ear mites are the type of mite most commonly found in cats. In the case of an infestation, one also speaks of ear mange. The transmission usually takes place from animal to animal.

These mites populate the cat’s ears. There they stab the skin to feed on body secretions. The cat’s body, in turn, reacts to the parasite’s saliva with inflammation. This means that ear mites are responsible for around 20 percent of all outer ear infections.

An infestation must be treated medically. Otherwise, the inflammation can spread to the middle ear and inner ear.

Autumn grass mites (Neotrombicula autumnalis)

Autumn grass mites usually appear in late summer and autumn, sometimes as early as early summer. Then the larvae of the mites, which actually live in the earth, hatch.

They wander up to the light on the blades of grass and wait there for their host, whom they need for their further development. Autumn grass mites usually only affect outdoor cats.

The mites feed on the cat’s blood and leave it again when their development is complete. The following symptoms indicate an autumn grass mite infestation in the cat:

• Itching and associated scratching,
• Reddening of the skin and crusts,
• Collection of orange mite larvae.

In contrast to most other mites in cats, the orange-colored autumn grass mites can be recognized quite well in all stages of development by their bright color.

Fur mites

Fur mites (Cheyletielle) live in the fur of the cat. This is where the female mites lay their eggs, which develop into adult fur mites within three weeks.

The transmission takes place from animal to animal. Most cats and dogs are affected. In most cases, the infestation does not have any serious effects, but it can cause skin irritation in some animals.

Hair follicle mites

Hair follicle mites or Demodex mites (Demodex cat) live in the hair follicles (hair follicles) as well as in the sebum and sweat glands of the cat. The hair follicle mites do not cause itching and do not cause any other symptoms of illness. They are usually not contagious either.

These mites only become a problem in cats when they multiply on a massive scale. In this case, the clinical picture of demodicosis occurs, which is very rare in cats. It is only associated with other conditions that weaken the cat’s immune system. These include, for example, diabetes mellitus, leukosis (FeLV), or cat aids (FIV).

Sarcoptes mites

Sarcoptes mites (also grave mites) are very rare in cats. This type of mite is called grave mite for a reason. Because the parasites dig tunnels in the cat’s top layer of skin. There they feed on keratin and tissue fluid.

In addition, the females lay their eggs in the tunnels. After only three weeks, new mites have grown out of the eggs and live in the tunnel system under the skin.

Diagnosis: How Can Mites be Detected in Cats?

The most common method for detecting mites in cats is by contact specimens or superficial skin scraps. To do this, the vet either sticks an adhesive strip on the suspicious areas of skin or scrapes hair and skin cells from the upper layers of the skin with a scalpel. The mites are then visible under the microscope.

If ear mites are suspected, the vet will take a swab sample from the ear canal. This is also examined under the microscope or sent to a laboratory.

Therapy: What Treatment Options are There?

In order to be as effective as possible against mites in cats, you should carry out multi-stage therapy. It usually consists of the following steps:

• special anti-mite drugs (acaricides)
• Treatment of all contact animals
• Cleaning of the environment (rooms, feeding places, sleeping places, etc.)
• Antibiotics and antiallergic drugs (for bacterial secondary infections and severe itching)

The treatment should of course only be carried out after consultation and on the advice of your veterinarian.

Prevention: How Do I Avoid Mites in Cats?

There are a few steps you can take to prevent mites in cats. The first priority is regular parasite prophylaxis. This is done using collars, spot-on, or in tablet form, and must be repeated at regular intervals.

In addition, hygiene is an important component. Regularly clean your cat’s sleeping areas, food and water bowls, toys, and fur care products.