How To Treat Mange in Feral Cats: 5 Vet Approved Methods
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Have you noticed a feral cat in your neighborhood scratching and biting itself like crazy? If your wandering feline neighbor is itching up a storm and losing hair, they may be suffering from mange, a skin condition caused by mites. Mange can cause intense itching, hair loss, and scabby skin, and it can become even more dangerous for feral cats. They can easily develop secondary infections if their sores become infected. With their rough and tumble lives, they encounter far more dirt and disease than pampered house cats.
Unfortunately, treating mange in feral cats is not a simple process. We have some ideas to help you help them—but we warn you—it’s not going to be easy.
Before You Begin
In order to provide the best treatment for mange, a veterinarian must diagnose the underlying cause. This is because mites are not the only cause of mange. Alongside various mite types, fungal infections also are common causes of mange. You have to know what you are dealing with to be able to treat it. This means trapping a feral cat is the kindest and quickest route to treating them.
- Cats are most commonly affected by Notoedres cati. The mites can cause intense itching, hair loss, and crusty, scaly skin, in addition to intense itching.
- Dogs, foxes, and other wild canids suffer from sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Humans and cats can also be affected by this type of mange.
- Dogs and cats, among many mammals, carry Demodex mites in their hair follicles. It is possible for demodectic mange to occur when mite populations grow out of control.
- Cheyletiella are mites that cause walking dandruff in cats, dogs, and other animals. While this type of mange is less severe than other types, it can still cause itching, hair loss, and skin irritation.
- It is also possible for ringworm to mimic mange, a fungal infection that affects cats, dogs, and humans. It is possible to mistake ringworm for mange due to its skin lesions and hair loss.
How To Treat Mange in Feral Cats
1. Partner With Local Organizations
Treating feral cats with mange can be a daunting task, and it’s not something you should ever have to do alone. Partnering with local animal welfare organizations can help you access resources and support, including medical supplies, traps, and veterinary care. Many organizations also offer trap/neuter/release (TNR) programs to help reduce the number of feral cats in your area.
2. Trap the Feral Cat
Many treatment options for mange require repeated administration and are not ideal for free-roaming cats. This is a tricky situation. It is hard to treat free-roaming cats with topical treatments, but trapped cats can be treated. This is stressful for them. Making sure the cat is treated humanely will be easier if you choose an appropriate trap size. The cat should be able to fit comfortably inside the trap, but it should also be small enough that it cannot escape easily. They are going to be highly motivated to break out.
It is also crucial to use humane traps that are designed not to injure the animal, like those made of soft mesh or plastic. Food or treats can be used to bait your trap once it’s set up.
3. Take the Cat to the Vet
Once the cat has been trapped, it’s time for them to get veterinary attention. Don’t delay. The feral cat is highly stressed. Treatment usually consists of medications such as anti-parasitics, medicated shampoos, topical creams, and/or antibiotics as prescribed by a veterinarian. Make sure your vet is prepared to handle a feral animal. Fortunately, there are organizations such as animal shelters that provide assistance with trapping feral cats so they can be treated for mange by a qualified veterinarian.
4. Provide Supportive Care
Feral cats with mange often have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to other illnesses. Feral cats need a safe and secure shelter to recover from mange. Providing them with shelter will help them heal faster. A healthy diet is essential for any living creature, and feral cats are no exception. Feeding them regularly will keep them healthy and help them fight off mange. Providing supportive care like food, water, and shelter can go a long way in helping these cats recover.
5. Use Preventative Measures
Prevention is always better than treatment, and there are a few things you can do to help prevent mange in feral cats. In addition to medication, environmental management, including thorough cleaning and sanitation of the area where the cat was living, will help prevent re-infection. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting feeding and watering stations can help reduce the spread of mange and other illnesses. Of course, this can be tricky if not impossible with feral cats—unless you know where they live.
FAQ
Can Environmental Treatment Alone Help?
Unfortunately, environmental treatment is not likely to help since the mites need a host to survive. In order to eliminate the mites, the host cats themselves must be treated. It’s not enough to just keep the area they frequent clean.
Can I Personally House Feral Cats for Treatment?
Housing a feral cat in captivity is extremely stressful, and not many people are equipped to do so in even a relatively humane manner. In the circumstance of a cat with severe mange, a reasonable approach is to take them to an organization that can treat them humanely and house them short-term until they’re healthy enough to be released. This is much easier to do with kittens than with cats.
Can’t We Do More to Help Them?
There are no easy answers but increasing TNR efforts to minimize the number of kittens born and treating cats as they come through for surgery may be the best solution we have at this time. Mange is endemic in cats. It will crop up again and again in the feral feline population. TNR really is probably the best tool we have. The life of a street cat is rarely a happy one, and millions of new kittens are born each year. The best we can do is prevent them from being born into a life of hardship.
Conclusion
Treating mange in feral cats requires expertise and support. This is not a job for one solo, motivated cat lover. It’s important to remember that these cats are living creatures that deserve our care and attention—and at the same time—if you’re not sure how to treat mange in feral cats, don’t hesitate to reach out to a veterinarian or animal welfare organization for assistance. Remember, helping feral cats with mange requires patience, compassion, and a lot of hard work.
With the right resources and support, you can make a difference in the lives of these animals and improve their quality of life. Together, we can make a difference in the health of these furry friends.
Featured Image Credit: Suharji Esha, Shutterstock
