How To Treat Mange In Cats

Mange is a skin disease caused by several species of tiny arachnids called mites. Mange is actually more common in dogs, but it can occur in cats. Scabies is a type of mange seen in humans and is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabei. When this mite parasitizes a cat, the result is called feline sarcoptic mange. Other mites that affect cats include Notredes cats, Demodex gatoi, and D. cati. An affected cat will typically show such symptoms as restlessness and itching. They will scratch themselves to try to relieve the itching and develop hair loss. Mange usually affects the cat’s face and ears but can spread to the rest of their body.

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Isolate Affected Cat

After the vet has diagnosed mange, the first step is to isolate the affected cat to make it certain it doesn’t transmit the disease to other pets – or to you. You will thus need to set up a safe room that is both cat-proofed and can be closed off from the rest of the house. You should then furnish the safe room with everything your cat needs – after cleaning or replacing them, that is. The safe room should thus include your cat’s bed, litter tray, food and water dishes, toys, and scratching post. Your cat should stay in the safe room until the vet says they can be released. The vet will monitor the cat’s progress during treatment by taking skin scrapings every one or two weeks. The cat is usually considered cured if two consecutive scrapings produce no evidence of mites. If your cat had a severe case, the vet may recommend a week or two of further treatments to be on the safe side.

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Administer Mite Medication

In many cases of mange in cats, the vet will prescribe anti-mite medication. You can administer the medication through injection or by applying it to the skin. The exact treatment regimen will depend on the mite species involved, the severity of the mange, and on whether the cat has developed any secondary infections. Examples of anti-mite medication include selamectin, doramectin, amitraz, and ivermectin. The last can be given orally or through injection. Doramectin is given through injection, while amitraz and selamectin can be applied to the skin. Moxidectin is another medication applied to the skin; it is used to treat demodectic mage. Alternatively, vets may recommend dips as anti-mite medication to treat mange in cats. Dipping a cat involves partially immersing them in a special solution, often a lime-sulfur solution, that kills the mites and other pathogens. The vet will pour the solution over the exposed parts of the cat’s body except their head to thoroughly soak them and ensure the dip reaches their skin. The cat will usually need to be dipped at least once a week for the next six to eight weeks. If you have dogs that have been treated for mange, talk to the vet before using those treatments on your cat. Some mange treatments for dogs are actually poisonous to cats (and vice versa). While other treatments work, cats will need a smaller dosage.

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Antibiotics

Mange is often a sign of a weakened immune system, so the vet will often prescribe antibiotics to prevent your cat from developing any secondary bacterial infections. Depending on the type, these medications can be given orally, administered through injection, or applied directly to the skin. Common antibiotics for cats with skin infections include amoxicillin and enrofloxacin. The vet may also recommend treatments or therapies to strengthen your cat’s immune system to help them fight off mange. Many healthy cats have small populations of mites living on them. If the cat’s immune system is weakened, the mite population can grow abnormally large and cause mange. One common therapy is a change in diet to give the cat foods high in nutrients like antioxidants and amino acids to boost the immune system.

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Use Antibacterial Shampoo

The vet may have you use antibacterial shampoo on your cat to reduce or prevent secondary skin infections. There actually several types of shampoo used to treat cats with mange. Some of these shampoos contain sulfur that affects the nervous systems of the mites and thus kills them. The vet may also recommend a dandruff shampoo to stop the itching. You should only use the shampoos your vet recommends, as other shampoos may actually harm your cat. You should also follow the vet’s instructions in shampooing your cat for the best possible results.

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Wash All Of Your Cat’s Belongings

You will need to wash all of your cat’s belongings to treat mange and keep it from recurring. You should, for example, wash your cat’s bed in hot water with detergent regularly when treating mange and definitely after the case appears to be over. You should also vacuum the house regularly to get rid of the remaining mites and their eggs. You will also need to clean or replace other items belonging to your cat like their food and water dishes, collar, and toys. The vet may also recommend spraying the items with a pesticide to kill any mites. You will have to clean your cat’s belongings at least once every fourteen days during their treatment, and you should throw away anything you can’t disinfect properly.