Know It All Guide On Cat Mange To Keep Your Tiny Furball Safe
Is your little furball uneasy and is scratching too much? If it is, then it is time to take your cat to a veterinarian. Mange is the sole reason for cats to scratch themselves. If it is not treat in the early stages, then it will leave your feline furball furless with damage skin. Mange in cats is not as common as mange in dogs. But cats with compromise immune systems can easily be infect by mange. Cat owners who have malnourished cats should know that their cats are expose to these microscopic monsters which frequently appear as a secondary condition to a more severe disorder.
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What is Mange?
Mange is a skin condition cause by parasitic mites; this is also known as mite infestation, which usually causes hair loss, scratches, and scales on the skin. While this might be an unsettling thought for you, but there are always invisible mites sitting on your cats’ skin, they are not at all harmful if your cat is healthy.
On the other hand, if your cat bears a low immune system, then these mites will mate on their skin, and the female mites will burrow underneath the cat’s skin. Mange is highly contagious as it can spread from cat to other animals as well as humans.
Different Types of Mange
Different mange is cause by different mites on cats’ skin. There are three different types of mange that give your cat an inflame and scratchy skin.
Demodectic Mange
Demodectic mage is cause by Demodex mites; there are two Demodex mites call Demodex Cati and Demodex Gatoi. Although a third species is recently discover which is yet to be name, this specie is biologically similar to Demodex Gatoi and responds to the same treatment.
Demodex Cati lives in the hair follicles of the cat and resembles a short-nose alligator with its long yet slender structure. Demodex Gatoi lives superficially in the cats’ skin and is known to have a short and stubby structure.
Sarcoptic Mange
Feline sarcoptic mange is also call scabies, and they are very uncommon in cats. Scabies Sarcoptes mange is cause by mites call Sarcoptes Scabies which are light-color, oval-shape microbes. Although this is extremely infrequent if it infects the cat, then it can cause some serious damage.
Notoedric Mange
Notoedric mange is also referred to as feline scabies and is caused by the mites called Notoedres Cati; this mange is very similar to Sarcoptes mange. These monsters easily attach themselves to your cats’ skin and can cause severe as well as a highly contagious skin infection. The infection usually starts on the face, in and around your cats’ ear and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Symptoms of Mange
Mange usually affects the specific areas on your cat’s skin; the symptoms of mange can usually be seen one week after the exposure and should be treated immediately. Mite infestation in cats usually results in skin dryness, swelling and skin licking. Your cat will also start to behave differently due to the restlessness caused by itching. Due to excessive scratching, the cat will develop red papules that, look identical to pimples. These papules will eventually crust over, leaving thick and wrinkled skin in its wake. Mange also causes scaling, skin discoloration, greasy face, and excessive hair loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Mange
To treat the mange, the vet will have to figure out what kind of mite is causing the mange as some mites settle themselves underneath the skin so the vet will take a sample of the affected skin by scraping. The vet will take a sample from your cat’s ear with a cotton swab as some mites are found in and around the ear. After running some tests, the doctors will settle upon a mange treatment.
Depending on the type of mange affecting your cat, the vet will prescribe you a suitable shampoo and dip or injections to kill the mites. Additionally, they will also suggest cleaning and vacuuming your cat’s bed regularly.
Prevention of the Mange
It is better to be safe than sorry; you should look after your cat’s health and try to boost their immune system so that your cat can easily fight infections. Here are some tips which might be helpful to keep your cat healthy and put a halt to all the health crisis.
Healthy Diets
A healthy diet is the foundation of a cat’s health, make sure you provide her a regime that fulfills all the nutritional needs. Include protein-rich food with fats in your cat’s intake, use a minimal amount of carbs in their diet as their bodies can’t process such ingredients. Whatever you give them to make sure it contains nourishing ingredients and is tolerable by your cat.
Clean Environment
An unclean environment can be home to numerous mites, so make sure that your cat has a sanitary environment. A cat living in an indoor environment is much safer from pests and mites. If you have multiple cats make sure to clean their bed and litterboxes every day before leaving your home.
Immune Boosting Supplements
A robust immune system will help your cat fight off all the infections effortlessly. Neem bark has healing power, and it accelerates the body’s response to pathogens and provides antioxidants. To boost your cat’s immune system, you can use the powder of neem bark and mix it daily in your cat’s food.
Conclusion
Cat mange is a challenging skin condition for cats and causes them a lot of soreness and restlessness. As soon as you notice the symptoms of mange, you should immediately take your cat to the vet and get the condition treated.
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