Scabies in cats is a dermatological disease caused by external parasites and easily transmitted between cats - and in some types, the cat also transmits scabies to other species and humans... But don't worry! Treatment for scabies is considered simple and there are also ways to prevent this skin problem in cats. The first step in treating cat scabies is to know how to identify it....This is because there are some variations of the disease - so we have gathered everything you need to know about this disease: how it happens, how to do prophylaxis, how to know if the feline really has scabies and what is the best remedy for treatment.

Scabies in cats: What is it and what are the symptoms?

Scabies in cats is a dermatological disease, just like feline acne and ringworm. Scabies in cats is caused by mites and can manifest itself in the species in several ways:

1. otodectic mange

Also known as ear scabies, otodectic mange is caused by the mite Otodectes cynoti. It is not transmissible to humans, but it can be transmitted to dogs, so it is important to keep a kitten with ear scabies separate from others to prevent them from catching the disease. The main symptoms of this type of mange are itchy ears and excessive wax production. If youIf you notice that your kitty is scratching his ears too much and the outer part of the ear canal has excess wax, it could be otodectic mange.

2. demodectic mange

Demodectic mange, also popularly called black mange in cats, is a version of the dermatological disease caused by two different mites: Demodex cati or Demodex gatoi. It is not transmissible to humans and the main characteristic is intense itching in cats. This type of mange usually affects the head, ears and paws, where it manifests itself in the form of dark spots and black spots.This is the only scabies that can be considered non-transmissible, as the mites normally exist on the skin of cats. However, it only manifests itself when the feline has low immunity.

3. notoedric scabies

Notoedric mange - or feline scabies - is a type of cat mange that is highly contagious and can be transmitted to other animals and humans. It is caused by the mite Notoedres cati and causes sores, itching and hair loss in the cat. The lesions appear in the form of reddish plaques, which appear in the head area and can spread to the rest of the body. In this type of mange, the mite "digs"tunnels in the deeper regions of the skin, which causes a very strong itch and makes the kitten very uncomfortable.

Cat mange remedy: what are the options?

If you suspect that your kitten has mange, the first thing to do is to take it to the vet to be examined. This is because each type of mange described above has a different treatment. With the diagnosis, the professional will advise on how to treat mange in cats. Usually, the remedy for cat mange is an antiparasitic, which can be found inin the form of a soap, tablet or pipette.

Although the treatment for scabies in cats is simple, it must be followed to the letter, since if done incompletely it does not have the expected effect and can still generate complications for your kitten. The wounds on the cat's skin caused by excessive itching can become infected and cause even larger and itchy lesions. Therefore, follow all the instructions that the veterinarian gives.

How to prevent mange in cats?

There are some habits that can help prevent your kitten from getting mange:

- Prevent your feline from having access to the street, so he will not have contact with other cats and will have the chances of catching any type of mange drastically reduced. Indoor breeding even increases the pet's life expectancy.

- Keep your cat's living space clean to make it more difficult for scabies-causing mites to proliferate in the environment. Regularly sanitizing your kitty's bed and keeping the litter box clean will go a long way towards prevention.

- Use an antiparasitic regularly to prevent any type of parasites in cats , both mites and fleas and ticks.

- Take your cat to the vet regularly for a check-up to make sure your cat is healthy and immune-regulated.