“Mange” is a loose name for skin disease caused by tiny mites. Several kinds can live on or in a cat’s skin, and they tend to bring on itching, hair loss and crusty, inflamed skin. Some of them pass easily from cat to cat, and a few can bother people too, while others mainly turn up in cats that are already ill. [1][2][4]
This guide covers the skin mites. For mites in the ears, see cat ear mites and ear problems.
Feline scabies (notoedric mange)
The mite behind feline scabies, Notoedres cati, is uncommon overall but is a local problem in a few regions. It is very contagious to other cats and spreads by direct contact. It can also give people short-lived skin spots. [1]
- The itch is intense, mostly around the head and neck. [1]
- Thick crusts, hair loss and small scabby bumps show up first on the ears, face and neck, and can later reach the feet and the area under the tail. Long-standing cases develop thickened skin. [1]
Unlike the scabies mite of dogs, this mite is usually easy for a vet to find in skin scrapings viewed under a microscope. [1] In a study of 50 cats with signs of notoedric mange, pressing clear sticky tape on the skin (a tape impression test) found mites as well as scraping did, and picked them up in 2 cats where scraping missed them. The authors noted the tape test is gentler and works on delicate spots such as the eyelids, lips and paws. [6]
Many insecticides are toxic to cats, so your vet will choose a treatment that is safe for them. The other cats in the home are treated as well. People in the household may get a passing itchy rash, which usually settles once the animals have been treated. [1]
Demodex mites in cats
Three kinds of Demodex mite can cause demodicosis in cats, and a cat can carry more than one. [2]
- Demodex cati lives in the hair follicles. Disease from it is usually tied to another health problem or a weakened immune system, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), diabetes or cancer, though in some cats no cause is found. [2]
- Demodex gatoi lives on the skin surface rather than in the follicles. It is contagious, and the cats it affects are usually young and otherwise healthy. [2]
- A third, unnamed Demodex species has been reported mostly in cats with another illness or recovering from one, especially shelter cats. [2]
With D. cati and the unnamed species, disease can stay in one patch or spread widely. Signs include hair loss or thinning, scaling, crusts, redness and darkened skin, and some cats have a sparse coat with greasy skin. A few cases affect only the chin and mouth area and look like acne, and some show up as a waxy ear infection. [2] See cat chin acne.
D. gatoi is typically itchy. It often shows as even hair loss on both sides of the body from overgrooming, with skin that does not look inflamed, and it can be mistaken for an allergy. [2] In a report of 10 cats with D. gatoi from 6 multi-cat homes in Finland, strong itching was the main sign, together with scaling, broken hairs, hair loss and scratch wounds the cats gave themselves. In one home, all six cats remained free of signs although one of them was found to carry several mites. [7]
Why Demodex can be hard to find
- The follicle mite D. cati usually turns up on deep skin scrapings. The surface mite D. gatoi is harder to find, because grooming removes it from the skin. Vets scrape wide areas, including places the cat cannot reach to groom, may check a stool sample for swallowed mites, and when suspicion is high may try treatment to see whether the cat improves. [2]
- A review for vets made the point that scrapings do not always reveal the mites, and that feline demodicosis can look like itching, small crusty bumps (miliary dermatitis) or hair loss from overgrooming. [8]
- The Finnish authors pointed out that the mites are nearly transparent and that cats groom very thoroughly, which can make the diagnosis difficult. [7]
- In a study of 100 shelter and feral cats in eastern Tennessee, 10 carried D. gatoi, but only 1 of those 10 had skin lesions. Nine were picked up only by a lab DNA test (PCR) on plucked hairs, while their skin scrapings were negative. The authors concluded that cats without signs can pass the mite to healthy cats, and that more than one test, including PCR, should be used. [9]
Cats that develop demodicosis in middle or older age, or that have another illness, should have full blood work, including tests for feline leukemia virus and FIV. [2] Ringworm can look similar and is one of the conditions a vet may need to rule out. [1] See ringworm in dogs and cats.
How long treatment goes on depends on the mite. For the follicle mites, vets usually continue until repeat scrapings come back clear. For D. gatoi, which is hard to find even when present, they go by how the skin and itch respond. [2]
Chiggers (trombiculosis)
Chiggers, also called harvest mites, are the larvae of mites whose adults live in damp, rotting plant matter. The larvae feed on the skin of many animals, people included. [3]
- The larvae are orange and can be seen with the naked eye. They favour skin that touches the ground: the belly, legs, paws, head (around the eyes and mouth) and the base of the ears. [3]
- Infestations usually happen in late summer and fall, often in cats that roam woods and fields. [3]
- The usual result is an itchy rash of bumps and crusts, but signs vary: in a study of 72 cats, fewer than half were itchy and the rest had no signs. [3]
Cats are likely to pick them up again unless they can be kept away from the places where the mites live. [3]
Fur mites (lynxacariasis)
The fur mite Lynxacarus radovskyi is common on pet cats in Brazil and can cause discomfort, itching and hair loss. Vets find the mites and their eggs by examining plucked hairs under a microscope. [10]
Other mites cats can catch
- Canine scabies. The sarcoptic mange mite of dogs is fairly species specific and rarely causes disease in cats. If a dog in the home has scabies, the cat is usually treated only if it shows signs. [5] See sarcoptic mange (scabies) in dogs.
- Walking dandruff (Cheyletiella). These mites spread very easily between dogs, cats, rabbits and people. The classic sign is dry white scale along the back, with itching that ranges from mild to severe. In cats it can also look like small crusty bumps or overgrooming hair loss, and some cats carry the mites with no signs at all. The mites are often hard to find, so vets may treat on suspicion. [4] For more on this mite, see dog dandruff and dry, flaky skin.
Treatment basics
- Treat contact animals. With feline scabies and walking dandruff, the other animals in the home are treated too. [1][4]
- Do not use an insecticide on your cat without your vet’s approval. Many insecticides are toxic to cats. [1]
- Follow the full course. Several of these mites are hard to find, so your vet may judge progress by repeat tests or by how the skin responds, and stopping early can let them come back. [2][4]
For other reasons a cat may itch or overgroom, see itchy cat and overgrooming causes.
When to see your vet
- Crusts and hair loss on the ears, face or neck, especially with intense itching [1]
- Itching, scaling or hair loss in a cat that lives with or has met other cats that itch [2][7]
- Patchy or widespread hair loss with crusts or sores [2]
- Tiny orange dots clustered on the belly, paws, head or ears [3]
- Skin signs in a cat that also seems unwell, since demodicosis from follicle mites is often linked to another illness [2]
- An itchy rash on people in the home at the same time as the cat’s skin problem [1][4]
FAQ
Is mange in cats contagious?
Some kinds are. Feline scabies, Demodex gatoi and walking dandruff mites spread readily between cats, and feline scabies and walking dandruff can also affect people. Demodex cati, by contrast, is usually linked to another illness in the affected cat. [1][2][4]
Can a cat carry mites without showing signs?
Yes. In the Tennessee study only 1 of 10 cats carrying D. gatoi had skin lesions, and in the Finnish report six cats in one home stayed free of signs although one carried mites. [7][9] Cats can also carry walking dandruff mites without signs, and many cats with chiggers do not itch. [3][4]
Why did my vet find no mites?
Several of these mites are hard to find on scrapings, so vets may use more than one test or try treatment to see whether the cat improves. [2][4][8][9]
The bottom line
Mange in cats covers several different mites. Feline scabies is uncommon but very contagious and starts with itchy crusts on the ears, face and neck. Demodex gatoi is contagious and can be carried by cats without signs, while Demodex cati usually points to another health problem. Because many of these mites are hard to find, a vet may need several tests, and only a product your vet approves should be used on a cat.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your cat has itchy, crusty or patchy skin, please see your veterinarian.
Sources
- Torres SMF. Feline Notoedric Mange. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/feline-notoedric-mange/
- Torres SMF. Feline Demodicosis. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/feline-demodicosis/
- Torres SMF. Trombiculosis – Small Animals. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/trombiculosis-small-animals/
- Torres SMF. Cheyletiellosis – Small Animals. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/cheyletiellosis-small-animals/
- Torres SMF. Canine Sarcoptic Mange. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 1. University of Minnesota, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/canine-sarcoptic-mange/
- Sampaio KO, de Oliveira LM, Burmann PM, Sousa Filho RP, Evangelista JS, Cunha MG. Acetate tape impression test for diagnosis of notoedric mange in cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2017;19(6):702-705. PMID 26879217. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26879217/
- Saari SA, Juuti KH, Palojärvi JH, Väisänen KM, Rajaniemi RL, Saijonmaa-Koulumies LE. Demodex gatoi-associated contagious pruritic dermatosis in cats: a report from six households in Finland. Acta Vet Scand. 2009;51(1):40. PMID 19843334. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19843334/
- Beale K. Feline demodicosis: a consideration in the itchy or overgrooming cat. J Feline Med Surg. 2012;14(3):209-213. PMID 22370863. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22370863/
- Baiz S, Frank LA, Drake ER, Kania S. Prevalence of Demodex gatoi in shelter and feral cats in a southeastern region of the United States. Vet Dermatol. 2022;33(6):572-575. PMID 36000585. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000585/
- Guimarães BMC, Tortoriello R, Christ LX, Manier CSML, Campos DR, Alonso LDS, Fernandes JI. Effectiveness of transdermal fluralaner in the treatment of Lynxacarus radovskyi (Acari: Listrophoridae) in naturally infested domestic cats. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2023;32(4):e011423 (CC BY). PMID 38018629. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10704874/