Cat Mites

Mites are small parasites that burrow into a cat's skin. There they lay eggs and feed and the cycle continues. Mites are extremely contagious and can be easily passed from cat to cat. Because these parasites are under the skin, they can cause your cat to scratch at the skin until it is almost raw and bloody. If left untreated this can become infected. Any irritation such as mites is going to be very uncomfortable for your cat and make her unwell. They can be hard to diagnose and are sometimes thought to be an allergic dermatitis.

There are three main types of mites - ear mite, mange mite and cheyletiella mite.

Ear Mites

These are the most common infection of a cat's outer ear. They are noticeable as tiny brown waxy flecks in your cat's ear. Often the first sign of an ear mite infestation in your cat will be continual shaking of the head and scratching at the ears. This type of behavior always needs checking to find the problem. Ear mites can lead to secondary infection due to excess scratching. The mites live off dead skin and blood. If you suspect your cat has ear mites, take it to the vet as soon as possible so he treat it.

Mange Mites

Of the two main mange mites, the sarcoptic mite is much more serious than the demodex mite. Both are extremely contagious from animal to animal so it is extremely important to keep your cat away from an infected cat.

The demodex mite is usually present on the skin and doesn't normally become a problem unless the cat is unwell from infection, stress, old age or has some underlying condition such as feline diabetes. If the cat immune system is compromised in any way, the demodecit mite can cause a skin irritation which then causes itching, scratching and even red and raw sores. Dedmodecit mites are usually passed to kittens from their mother. Sarcoptic mites are passed from cat to cat and need to be treated by a vet. He will prescribe either an oral or injected medication. These mites actually burrow under the skin which causes an intense irritation which leads to scratching. This scratching often causes hair loss and possible infection. Sarcoptic mites are easily misdiagnosed as an allergic dermatitis as this is exactly what it looks like. This can then lead to incorrect treatment with a cortisone based cream which reduces the itch. Unfortunately cortisone allows the sarcoptic mites to reproduce at a faster rate while decreasing the cat's capacity to defend itself against the mites.

Cheyletiella Mites

Cheyletiella mites are sometimes known as 'walking dandruff' as they appear as small white flecks of dandruff on the cat's skin and throughout the fur. These mites do not burrow but live in the top layer of the skin. They move about rapidly on the host cat and you may notice your cat scratching and grooming more than is normal. Occasionally they attach to the skin and suck fluids from it. Your cat can develop some scaling and a slightly oily coat with cheyletiella mites. If you notice what looks like dandruff on your cat, contact your vet as he will prescribe a topical medication. The life cycle of cheyletiella mites is 21 days. Sarcoptic and cheyletiella mites are contagious to people so don't delay in contacting your vet for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

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