A Guide To Common Cat Illnesses
If your cat spends a lot of time scratching and pulling out his hair, the chances are good that he has feline mange. All types of mange in cats and dogs are caused by mites and parasites. Both canine and feline mange have similar symptoms--itching becomes so bad they chew their fur off and then the skin becomes scabby and can get infected.
Because other diseases can cause mange-like symptoms, always take your cat to the vet to get the correct diagnosis. Mange is not usually life threatening but it can make your pet very itchy and very unhappy. Two types of mites are involved--those that burrow and those that don’t.
Burrowing mites work their way right into your cat’s skin. They lay eggs there and then mites become larvae and eventually adult mites, who start the process all over again. These burrowing mites, when left alone, live in tunnels under skin for their entire lives. Non-burrowing mites stay on top of the skin but they are just as nasty. They eat the skin cells that flake off of your cat. In addition, some of them suck blood or fluids out of skin tissue.
No matter which type of mites are causing feline mange, your cat will feel very itchy and start scratching, digging and chewing his fur. Red, scabby spots will develop and eventually these will become open sores which crust over. Your cat will start to have only patches of hair and a lot of crusty skin which looks very bad.
There are several different types of feline mange and some are contagious. Other kinds can be passed from cats to dogs and vice-versa. If you have several cats and dogs, chances are you will have to treat all of them to get rid of mange for good. Luckily, not every type of mange that exists affects cats.
The two types of feline mange cats experience most often are notoedric mange and otodectic mange. Notoedric mange is also known as cat scabies. It is very much the same as scabies in people and scabies in dogs. These tiny mites that cause notoedric mange are the burrowing type. They cause your cat severe itching, which leads to constant scratching and hair loss. Scabs form and become crusty. Notoedric mange is contagious to people and to other animals.
The other common form of feline mange is otodectic mange. The mites causing this type of mange are not burrowers but eat skin cells. They also enter the ear canal and cause inflammation and oozing and have become known as ear mites. Ear drops you get at the vet are very effective at getting rid of ear mites and clearing up the inside of the ear.
While sarcoptic mange is one of the most common forms of mange in dogs, it rarely bothers cats. Humans can also acquire this mange. It is spread by a non-burrowing mite, known as sarcoptes scabiei. Cheyletiella mange is another rare type of feline mange. It is caused by red mites which live on the animal (or human) and leave debris on the skin. The final type of feline mange is démodéctic mange. It starts out as tiny inflamed patches of skin and then spreads over the cat’s entire body. It can cause a bacterial infection.
If you suspect your cat has any form of feline mange, a trip to the vet is necessary. Sometimes mange is treated with baths and dips and at other times with injections. Sometimes cortisone is given to the cat for the incessant itching. You may have to bathe your cat in special medicated shampoo for several weeks.
The good news is that whatever type of feline mange is present, your vet can help you treat it successfully and relieve your cat’s suffering.