Mary Allen
If your cat suffers from itching, bald patches, eczema, and crusting, mites can be the cause. Here’s everything you need to know about mites in cats.
SOS: Cat Mites First Aid Tips – How to Treat Mites in Cats What can I do myself and when do I have to go to the vet?
If you discover any changes on the skin or fur of your velvet paw, you should have them checked by a veterinarian. Mites in cats should always be treated as soon as possible.
Prevention: The best way to prevent mites is with hygiene in the house – especially on upholstered furniture.
Light mite infestation: The best way to combat a light infestation in your cat is to use rub-in preparations or special shampoos recommended by your veterinarian.
Severe mite infestation: It is best to treat a severe infestation with medication. For this purpose, the veterinarian prescribes special medicines or means for rubbing.
What are mites in cats?
Mites are microorganisms and belong to the arachnids. Along with ticks and fleas, they are the most common parasites in cats. In addition to the harmless mite species such as house dust mites, there are also mite species that infect humans and animals. These attach themselves to the cat and use it as a host by sucking out its blood and also feeding on its skin cells. The parasites are sometimes contagious for other animals and humans and lead to itching, hair loss, eczema, and crusting, for example.
What types of mites are there in cats?
Notoedres mites
Notoedres mites are predominantly found in cats and only rarely infest other pets and humans. They are considered highly contagious and are mostly transmitted from cat to cat. Typical symptoms of Notoedres mites are severe itching and scaly, crusty skin changes, especially on the ears, face and neck. Sometimes they also appear on paws or other parts of the body.
Ear mites (Otodectes mites)
Ear mites affect both cats and dogs in the external auditory canal. Therefore, an infestation leads to inflammation of the ear canal. As a result, affected animals suffer from severe itching and frequent shaking of the ears. Brown, coffee grounds-like deposits form in the ear canal and the ear mites themselves can be recognized as small black dots.
Fur mites (cheyletia)
Fur mites live in the fur of cats and can be identified as small white dots. Dogs can also get it, and in most cases, animals infect each other. The result is scaly skin and itching.
Grave mites (Sarcoptes mites)
Grave mites mainly affect dogs and are very rare in cats. The mites dig tunnels in the upper layers of their host’s skin and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Skin changes usually occur on the ears, face, stomach, elbows, and ankles.
Grass mites/autumn grass mites
Autumn grass mites affect both cats and dogs, especially in early and late summer. However, they do not migrate from animal to animal but are in the countryside, e.g. B. in meadows. From there they migrate to their host. Areas of the body close to the ground such as the paws, chest, and stomach are particularly affected. A typical symptom is severe itching on these parts of the body.
Hair follicle mite (Demodex mite)
Hair follicle mites are rare in cats. If an infestation occurs in the cat, it is usually in connection with diseases that weaken the cat’s immune system – such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, leukemia, or an infection with the immunodeficiency virus FIV.
Mites in cats: causes – how does the disease come about?
How the cat becomes infested with mites depends on the type of mite. The ear mite, which is most common in cats, is active year-round and is transmitted through direct contact with other infected cats or dogs. Young velvet paws are most often infected by their mother. Cats can catch grass mites outside in the garden or on forays into nature – especially in the summer and late summer months. Predatory mites are transmitted by other infected conspecifics or by contaminated objects – just like the Notoedres mite.
Mites in Cats: Symptoms – How do mites in cats become noticeable?
Depending on the type of mite, the symptoms of an infestation can express themselves differently. The most common symptoms of a mite infestation in cats include:
- Itching
- Allergic reactions such as redness and inflammation
- Pustules or crusts on the skin
- Hair loss
- Coffee grounds-like deposits in the ears
- Excessive buildup of earwax
- Shed
- Some mites can be seen with the naked eye
Mites in cats: the diagnosis – how can mites be detected in cats?
The vet will detect mites in the fur or skin with a sticky tape or a skin scraping. The vet scrapes off a little skin with a scalpel and looks at it under the microscope.
Autumn grass mites and fur mites can be seen with the naked eye. The vet can detect ear mites by looking into the cat’s ear with an otoscope.
Mites in Cats: History – How Dangerous are Mites in Cats?
Although mites do not transmit pathogens, a mite infestation can have unpleasant consequences for cats and humans. Depending on the type and number of mites, this can lead to inflammatory skin irritations, which become extensive wounds when scratched.
The most serious disease that mites can cause in cats is mange, also known as head or ear mange. It is caused by infestation with mange mites and is accompanied by bloody scratches and severe crusting. If the mange is treated in time by a veterinarian, it can be cured easily.
Mites in cats: treatment – what treatment options are there for my cat?
How can the vet help my cat?
To treat the infection with mites, cats receive special medication such as anti-allergic drugs and antibiotics from the vet. Depending on the mite infestation, the vet also administers so-called “spot-on preparations”. These are liquid medications that are dropped onto the cat’s skin, absorbed, and then distributed throughout the body. To treat ear mites in cats, ointments are suitable. The doctor decides which therapy is the right one after a thorough examination of the cat.
Important: Not only the affected cat itself but also all cats and dogs with which the affected velvet paw has had contact should be examined urgently and treated if necessary.
How can I help my cat? – These home remedies help with cat mites
There is no effective home remedy for mites in cats. Even if persistent rumors persist that e.g. B. certain oils or lemon as home remedies to help against mites in cats, this is by no means scientifically proven. Mites in cats should always be treated by a veterinarian.
Homeopathy for cat mites
After a successful treatment of cat mites, homeopathic remedies can help to strengthen the velvet paw’s immune system. They can also be used to strengthen the cat’s immune system and thus prevent a possible infestation. Propolis D12 globules and Silicea D12 globules, which are placed directly under the tongue, are suitable for this.
Natural anti-mite sprays with ingredients such as geraniol or neem can be applied to the cat’s coat to prevent mite infestation.
Veterinary costs for cat mites: what do you have to pay for yourself?
The costs of all veterinary services are determined by the “Fee Schedule for Veterinarians” (GOT). This schedule of fees is publicly available at www.bundestieraerztekammer.de/tieraerzte/beruf/got/. Based on this, veterinarians can calculate the single, double, or even triple rate for the examination. The billing rate always depends on the effort. In the emergency service, for example, up to four times the rate can be billed.
If your cat is infested with mites, there will be costs for the general examination and medication. If your cat’s condition does not improve or even worsens, further examinations or treatment by the vet may be necessary. Thus, the costs also increase.
Prevent mites in cats
Possible measures to prevent mites in cats are:
- Regular check-ups of commonly affected parts of the body such as the legs, abdomen, head, and ears;
- Regular cleaning of the sleeping places;
- Wash textiles at high temperatures;
- Avoid moisture in blankets, lying areas of scratching posts, cat caves, etc., as mites feel most comfortable in a damp environment;
- Always clean grooming products such as combs and brushes after use;
- Prevention by special collars;
- Cleaning the ears with special ear cleaners or a soft cloth.
FAQs about cat mites
Can mites be transmitted from cats to humans?
Some mite species are also contagious to humans. Humans can become infected with fur mites or notoedres mites from cats. Ear mites, hair follicle mites, and burrow mites in cats are not contagious to humans. Grass mites can also cause problems in humans. However, they do not reach humans from animals, but directly from the environment.
What is cat mange?
Cat mange describes a disease that occurs as a result of an infestation with mange mites. The mites settle in the ears, head, and neck, but can also spread over the whole body. They reproduce by burrowing into the cat’s skin and reproducing there. Cat mange is highly contagious. In the event of an infection, the affected cat suffers from very severe itching, inflammation, and crusting of the skin.
How to avoid mites in cats?
You can prevent mites in cats with regular parasite prophylaxis. This prophylaxis is carried out using collars, spot-on preparations, or tablets and must be repeated regularly. You should also regularly clean your cat’s sleeping places, food and water bowls, toys, and grooming products.
What does a mite look like?
Mites have eight legs as adults and six legs as larvae. They have a rounded body and are not always visible to the naked eye. Depending on the species, the mites appear from milky white to orange.
All statements are without guarantee.