Cat with Scabies Has a Unique Look
Rouge was discovered with an advanced case of feline scabies which left her ears shrunken down and after she lost the hair on her head, it grew back white leaving Rouge with a unique look.
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in Burlingame, California took in this two year old female as a stray and treated the most advanced case of mange they had ever seen.
“She is an exceptionally sweet 2-year-old cat who wants a home where she can be an indoor cat and have lots of love and attention,” humane society spokeswoman Buffy Martin Tarbox said in a statement. “The extent of disfigurement means Rogue was probably suffering for a long time with mange.”
FELINE SCABIES IS A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS PARASITIC SKIN DISEASE caused by the obligate parasite Notoedres cati, a mite that can only survive a few days off the host. It has a worldwide distribution but is generally considered to be rare.
Types of Scabies
- Canine Scabies (Sarcoptic Mange): Despite the word “canine” in the name, these mites can affect cats as well. Cats usually get them from an affected dog living in the same house. They cause sores, hair loss, and itching.
- Feline Scabies (Notoedric Mange): Feline scabies are a different parasite than canine scabies, but the symptoms they cause are similar.
- Ear Mites (Otodectic Mange) : Ear mites burrow inside your cat’s ears. They tend to be found inside the ear canal, but they can also affect the outer ear. They cause itching and can result in damage to your cat’s eardrum.
- Walking Dandruff (Cheyletiellosis): These mites get their name because they are small and white and move around a pet’s body. They affect many types of house pets and can also affect humans.
- Trombiculosis: These mites are more commonly known as chiggers. They attach themselves to your cat’s skin and feed on blood before dropping off. They look like small, orange ovals, and they may appear on your cat’s head, paws, or belly.
Does My Cat Have Scabies?
If your cat has scabies it is scratching constantly, biting, licking or rubbing infected areas. The scratching makes it worse and more infected. This causes scabs, hair loss, and sores. As the condition worsens the symptoms become more obvious.
Treatment
Your vet needs a skin sample to examine under a microscope to diagnose scabies and will then prescribe treatment. This may include a medicated shampoo. The mites can remain in bedding, carpeting and furniture so a good cleaning is needed. Use a dilute bleach solution (1 ounce of bleach mixed in 1 gallon of water). Have all animals in the house examined.
