Skin Mites

Hi there... fur loss could be a result from several possible disorders such as feline miliary dermatitis or Notoedric Mange. Feline miliary dermatitis includes skin fungal (yeast) infections, parasitic infections, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivities/allergies to foods they eat which usually contain the ingredients corn, corn meal, byproducts, etc. Notoedric Mange and Ringworm are other possibilities, however both are generally contagious to all other pet animals and humans (ringworm) as well and you didn't indicate your other pets having similar conditions so this is unlikely. All requires an evaluation by a veterinarian in order to be treated respectively. Feline Miliary Dermititis: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1332&articleid=150 Notoedric Mange: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1334&articleid=737 Source: 27 year friendship with a veterinarian

vets can be expensive but there are many types of mites or your cat can be suffering from ringworm or an allergy. See if this site helps you www.thepetcenter.com...if not please consult the vet as thats the only other option. gosh i didnt know cats could have so many problems

It sounds a lot like non-contatgious mange. Basically the mites that are normally on the skin of the animal for some reason are over breeding. There are baths and treatments for them but you should check with a vet especially the first time. They also sometimes need an antibiodic to help with any infections caused from over scratching. Our dog suffers from this. Usually things like going into heat or stress can cause the mites to grow beyond control. Keeping them clean does help but you might need something more designed for it then just regular cat shampoo. Check with the vet and see what they say.

I think my cat might have them too. Either that or nerves because ever since we got a new cat, she has lost quite a bit of hair. It's growing back now, but I don't know if it was the cat or if she was allergic to flees. And my dog got it too, so it might have been an allergy...

Hello I have a cat who is allergic to dust mite. Like you the vets thought it was fleas but he didn't have fleas. The symptoms are the same as for your cat. I found out he was allergic to dust mite by getting him allergy tested. It cost me about £200 in total, expensive, but it was so worth it! They took some blood samples, sent them off, and got him tested for certain categories first, ie, mites (inc. fleas, dust mite, storage mite etc) and pollen and other outside things such as certain grasses etc and certain foods. When the results came back it was narrowed down to "mites" so I then got him tested for all different mites and it turned out he was allergic to storage mites and dust mite. The first vet I saw tried to put me off having allergy tests saying it was expensive, you may not find out what he is allergic to and he will probably still be on steriods anyway but it was SO worth it. I know what it is now and so will not waste lots of money on products which don't work. It's such a relief knowing what it is and that I can help him. Now I try to elimate as much dust mite as poss from the house (eg. I put his bed in the freezer for 48 hours every week (which kills dust mite) and then wash it and I have a bed I can wash at 60 degrees (which kills dust mite) and I have put dust mite proof covers on the pillow and under quilt cover on bed. I also try and encourage him to go outside as much as poss and vacuum with a HEPA vacuum cleaner (which i had anyway). My advice is don't bother with shampoo etc as you are not supposed to wash cats. My cat still has to be on steriods (he has 2mg every other day in tablet form) and I also give him anti-histermine tablets. It's hard giving tablets but you get used to it and I give him a few treats afterwards so that he swallows them. I try and leave a day in between the tablets if I can (if he is not itching too much) as steriods effect your immune system so it gives his immune system chance to kick in. I also put his dry food in air tight storage containers as he is also allergic to storage mites (which get into food in your cupboard). In the long run, if you get him allergy tested it will work out cheaper than trying various products that don't work and it will be a relief, for you, and for him (as he will be treated properly) if you get it done. At the end of the day, over his lifetime a few hundred pound isn't a lot. I would recommend saving for it. My husband thought I was mad at first but now he is glad we spent the money. It's money well spent in my view. Alternatively, to see if it is dustmite, try and eliminate as much dust mite as poss (look on internet how to eliminate it) and see if he gets a bit better. You would have to put his toys in freezer also have 48 hours and put his dry food in storage containers. You can buy a plastic bed and then put a towel in it which is washed every week at 60 degrees. The bedroom is the worst place for dustmite. Oh and by the way, my cat stratches mainly on his head, behind his ears and under his arm pits (or leg pits?!). That's where it is warm for the dust mite.