Itching is often the first sign of mites in cats.
What Are Mites?
Mites are among the so-called ectoparasites. This means they do not live inside their host’s body, but on the surface – in this case on the skin.
Mites are tiny arachnidsthat, depending on the species, may be difficult or impossible to spot with the naked eye. Once they have found a host, they feed on its blood and skin flakes.
Can Mites from Cats Be Transmitted to Humans?
Not only does it sound unpleasant, it is unpleasant too. An infestation can lead to itching, hair loss, eczema and crusting, for example. In addition, the parasites are potentially contagious to humans and other animals. Mite infestations in dogs, for example, are fairly common.
What Types of Mites Affect Cats?
There are numerous types of mites that can infest your cat. We introduce the most important ones here.
Ear Mites
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are the type of mite most commonly found in cats . An infestation is also known as ear mange. Transmission usually occurs from animal to animal.
These mites are found in the cat’s ear. There, they pierce the skin to feed on bodily secretions. The cat’s body, in turn, reacts to the parasites’ saliva with an inflammation. Ear mites are therefore responsible for around 20% of all outer ear infections.
An infestation must always be treated medically. Otherwise, the inflammation can spread to the middle and inner ear.
Harvest Mites
Harvest mites (Neotrombicula autumnalis) usually occur in the late summer and autumn , sometimes even in early summer. This is when the larvae hatch from the mites, which actually live in the soil. They climb up blades of grass towards the light and wait there for their host, which they need for further development.
Harvest mites usually only affect outdoor cats. The mites feed on the cat’s blood and leave again once their development is complete.
How Do Cats Behave When They Have Mites?
The following symptoms indicate a harvest mite infestation in cats:
- Itching and associated scratching
- Reddening of the skin and crusting
- Clusters of orange mite larvae
How Can I Tell if My Cat Has Mites?
Unlike most other mites in cats, the orange harvest mites can be identified quite easily at all stages of development by their bright colour.
Fur Mites
Fur mites (Cheyletiella) live in the cat’s coat. There, the female mites lay their eggs, which develop into adult fur mites within three weeks.
Transmission occurs from animal to animal. Usually cats and dogs are affected. In most cases, the infestation has no serious effects, but in some animals it can lead to skin irritation.
Hair Follicle Mites
Hair follicle mites, also known as Demodex mites (Demodex cati), live in the hair follicles as well as in the cat’s sebaceous and sweat glands. Hair follicle mites do not cause itching and also result in no other symptoms of illness. They are generally not contagious either.
These mites only become problematic in cats when they multiply excessively. In this case, the condition known as demodicosis develops, which is very rare in cats. It only occurs in connection with other illnesses that weaken the cat’s immune system. These include diabetes mellitus, leukaemia (FeLV) or feline AIDS (FIV).
Incidentally, Demodex mites also occur in dogs.
Sarcoptes Mites
Sarcoptes mites (also known as burrowing mites) are very rare in cats. This type of mite is called burrowing mites for good reason. The parasites dig tunnels into the upper layer of the skin of the cat. There, they feed on keratin and tissue fluid.
In addition, the females lay their eggs in the tunnels. After just three weeks, new mites have developed from the eggs and live in the tunnel system beneath the skin.
Diagnosis: How Can Mites in Cats Be Detected?
The most common methods used to detect mites in cats are tape strip preparations or superficial skin scrapings. For this, the vet either applies adhesive tape to the suspicious areas of skin or uses a scalpel to scrape hairs and skin cells from the upper layers of the skin. The mites can then be seen under the microscope.
If ear mites are suspected, the vet takes a swab sample from the ear canal. This is then either examined under a microscope or sent to a laboratory.
Treatment: How Do I Get Rid of Mites in Cats?
To combat mites in cats as effectively as possible, you should carry out a multi-stage treatment. This usually consists of the following steps.
What Do Vets Recommend for Mites?
- special medication against mites (acaricides)
- Treatment of all animals in contact
- Cleaning the surroundings (rooms, feeding areas, sleeping places etc.)
- Antibiotics and anti-allergy medication (for bacterial secondary infections and severe itching)
Can Mites Be Treated Without a Vet?
Treatment should, of course, only ever be carried out after consulting your vet and following their advice. Unfortunately, there are no effective home remedies for mites – even though you may often read that apple cider vinegar, lemon or coconut oil are suitable for getting rid of the pests.
Please avoid such measures. The strong smell of these home remedies can irritate sensitive feline noses. Instead, take your cat to the vet so the mite infestation can be treated properly.
Prevention: How Can I Prevent Mites in Cats?
You can help prevent mites in cats with a few measures. The most important is regular parasite prevention. This is done using collars, spot-ons or tablets and must be repeated at regular intervals.
In addition, hygiene is an important factor. Regularly clean your cat’s sleeping areas, food and water bowls, toys, and grooming products.
Conclusion: My Cat Has Mites – What Should I Do?
Whether it’s bald patches on the ears or itching on the chin: suspected mites in cats are always a case for the vet. Only a professional can determine with certainty whether the tiny arachnids are actually causing the symptoms – or whether, for example, fleas are to blame instead. Once the vet has diagnosed a mite infestation in your cat, they can recommend an effective treatment.
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This article was translated using Artificial Intelligence from the original German zooplus Magazine. While the original content was authored by industry experts and reviewed by our editorial team, this automated translation has not been human-edited and is provided for informational purposes.
