Mange is a skin condition caused by microscopic mites that infest a cat’s skin, leading to severe irritation, hair loss, and discomfort. These tiny parasites burrow into the skin or hair follicles, causing inflammation. While mange is often contagious, it is a treatable ailment that requires prompt veterinary attention. This guide details the signs, the professional steps necessary for confirmation, and the treatment plan required for recovery.
Identifying Feline Mange
The earliest and most common sign of mange is intense, persistent itching, leading to excessive scratching, licking, or biting of the skin. This relentless irritation is caused by the mites’ activity or a sensitivity to their droppings. Owners may observe restlessness or notice their cat focusing on specific areas to relieve discomfort.
As the condition progresses, constant scratching leads to noticeable physical symptoms, including patchy hair loss and red, inflamed skin. Skin lesions, such as rashes, small red bumps, or crusty, scaly patches, often appear around the face, ears, neck, abdomen, and legs. For instance, Notoedric mange, or feline scabies, frequently results in thick, crusty skin around the head and neck.
Specific mite types lead to highly focused symptoms. Cats with ear mites (Otodectic mites) may shake their heads frequently or hold their ears flat due to discomfort in the ear canals. This infestation often presents with a noticeable buildup of dark, waxy residue inside the ears. Observing these localized signs is helpful, but since conditions like allergies or ringworm can mimic mange symptoms, professional diagnosis is required before treatment can begin.
Veterinary Diagnosis and Prescribed Treatments
Confirming a mange diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination and a review of the cat’s health history, which helps the veterinarian rule out other skin disorders. The specific type of mite must be identified, as treatment protocols vary depending on the species. The most definitive diagnostic step involves microscopic examination of samples taken directly from the affected areas.
To collect a sample, the veterinarian may perform a skin scraping, where a small amount of skin and debris is collected using a blunt scalpel blade. For suspected ear mite infestations, an ear swab is taken to collect discharge from the ear canal. These samples are analyzed under a microscope to confirm the presence and species of the mites or their eggs.
Once the specific mite is identified, treatment focuses on eliminating the parasites and managing secondary symptoms. Prescription-strength antiparasitic medications are the mainstay of treatment, often administered systemically through oral or injectable routes. Medications containing active ingredients such as selamectin, moxidectin, or fluralaner are commonly utilized, often in a topical spot-on formulation applied directly to the skin.
These systemic treatments work by circulating through the cat’s bloodstream to kill the mites. In some cases, injectable medications like ivermectin or doramectin may be used, with doses typically administered weekly or bi-weekly depending on the severity of the infestation. While there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments specifically for mange in cats, veterinarians frequently use these highly effective products in an off-label capacity.
Topical treatments are integrated into the protocol to address immediate skin irritation and mite load. Medicated shampoos are used to cleanse the skin, remove crusts, and soothe inflamed tissue. Lime sulfur dips are another highly effective topical option, generally applied once or twice a week for several weeks, as they have minimal side effects. Secondary bacterial or yeast infections, which develop from breaks in the skin caused by scratching, require additional symptom management. Oral antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed to clear these infections and reduce swelling, ensuring the cat is comfortable while the primary treatment eliminates the mites.
Managing Recovery and Environmental Sanitation
A successful treatment outcome hinges on commitment to the full prescribed course, which typically lasts several weeks, even if symptoms improve quickly. While itchiness may subside within a week of starting medication, the skin may take longer to heal, and hair regrowth can require four months or more. Follow-up veterinary visits are scheduled to re-evaluate the cat’s skin and perform additional testing, such as repeat skin scrapings, to confirm that all mites have been eradicated.
Preventing re-infestation requires thorough decontamination of the cat’s immediate environment, although the mites cannot survive long off a host. All bedding, blankets, and towels should be washed in hot water and dried on a high-heat setting to destroy any lingering mites. Carriers, scratching posts, and grooming tools should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Mange mites are highly contagious, especially those that cause Notoedric mange or Cheyletiellosis. It is important to isolate the infected cat from other household pets during the initial infectious phase. Any other animals who have been in contact should also be examined by a veterinarian, as they may be asymptomatic carriers and could be a source of re-infection. Long-term prevention involves utilizing year-round parasite control products prescribed by a veterinarian, as many of these medications are effective against future mite infestations.