Scabies is a skin disease caused by ectoparasites (mites) that inhabit and penetrate the skin layers of animals and humans, causing, among other symptoms, much discomfort and itching.
Scabies in cats are very common and can manifest as dermatological signs and ear infections. Yes, cats can also have inflammation of the skin covering the ward and ear canal, as can dogs and humans. But don’t worry, the cat’s ear infection is curable and, if diagnosed and treated early, is easy to resolve.
- In this article we will explain mites in cats.
- What are the different types of scabies.
- Scabies in cats and what is the treatment.
- Read this Animal Expert article to learn more about this topic.
There is no predisposition to ear scabies, i.e. any cat of any age, sex or race can contract scabies.
Contagion occurs through direct contact with mite-infected animals, inside or outside the home. For this reason, if you think a cat has scabies, it should separate and immediately restrict access to the street.
Have you ever wondered if scabies are contagious to humans? The answer is that it depends. There is a type of scabies that can be transmitted to humans (zoonosis), however most scabies (otodectic and notoedrics, which we will discuss below) are not contagious to humans.
Após a visita ao veterinário e confirmado o diagnóstico, deve iniciar o tratamento assim como a desinfecção de todos os materiais e tecidos que o animal teve contato (mantas, tapetes, roupa de cama, etc).
Scabies is a disease that affects the skin and its structures, in which it is invaded by mites that cause a very uncomfortable itching. There are several types of scabies, but in this article we will focus only on scabies in cats that cause more otitis, i.e. eoddic scabies and notoedric scabies.
Otodecia gale is a scab of the ears caused by the mite type Otodectes cynotis. This mite naturally inhabits the ears of various animals, such as dogs and cats, and feeds on skin remains and secretions. However, in case of excessive proliferation, this mite will cause scabies and all the symptoms associated with it, among which are:
Generally, these problems are associated with secondary bacterial or fungal infections that aggravate the clinical signs described above. Diagnosis is made by:
Ivermectin for ear scabies is used as a topical gel/ointment or as a systemic treatment (oral or subcutaneous). As a topical treatment, it is also common to recommend selamectin (Stronghold) or moxidectin (Advocate) every 14 days, which are very good at treating scabies in cats.
There are also home remedies that you can apply at home to treat scabies, which can be used as a home treatment. It should be noted that home treatments are not always enough and that some may simply mask symptoms and not act on the cause itself, so it is so important to consult the veterinarian.
Notoedral scabies in cats, also known as feline scabies, are caused by the Notoedres cati mite and is specific to felines, being highly contagious among them. This mite adheres to the deep layers of the skin and may go unnoticed in less invasive diagnostic methods. However, it is very irritating and worries any guardian who watches their pet scratch constantly.
Symptoms are similar to those of otótica scabies, but there are some characteristic symptoms to consider:
Estas lesões apresentam localizações muito características como nas margens das orelhas, orelhas, pálpebras, face e podem afetar o pescoço. O diagnóstico definitivo é realizado através de raspados de pele, com observação dos ácaros.
The treatment is similar to that of otodectic scabies and, as we know, it can be difficult to clean and apply drops to the ears of the cat, so we recommend reading this article.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read scabies ear-like articles in cats, we recommend that you visit our Parasitic Diseases section.