Please help me find some answers for my cats. :( - Mange ? demodicosis ?

hddarcy

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I'm a newbie to your site, and glad I have found fellow cat-owners!  I am having some mystery itching going on with my cats.  The history is that I rescued a barn cat in JANUARY.  From day one, she was itchy, and also had a very bad case of ear mites.  I treated her for like 6 weeks with the ear mite medicine (eradmite), per the vet's orders.  Shortly after I started treating her, she got scabs on her neck from itching (think it was from itching).  The vet said it was just from her getting herself while trying to itch her ears....I also noticed from day one she was itching other places as well.  The vet said that mites can live on the hay, and won't live on her, but she probably has some bites that are making her still itchy. After eventually getting nowhere with vet #1, I switched vets to find the answer to her scabs and itching.  I always thought the scabs were from her itching, but maybe they are coming first, and then she's itching??  I really have no idea what's happening first.  Vet #2 found a yeast infection and bacterial infection in her ears.  She was treated for that, and her ears are 100% fine now.  However, the itching and scabs remain.    :(  I also have another cat (whom I rescued after her), and she is also itching  her neck and face all the time.  However, there are no lesions on her.  They have both had two months of Revolution.  They have both been dewormed (believe it was drontal), and the new vets (two at the office have seen her), are at a loss as to why they are itching.  I'm also battling some upper respiratory with them as well.  Luna (second cat), has now had three rounds of antibiotics as it keeps returning when taken off (and now has her third eye lid showing since last Saturday), and Bella (the one with the lesions) has had two does of antibiotics.  I have never have had such health issues with any cats in my life.  I'm so frustrated, and not sure what to try, or what to do next.  The vet said she could put Bella (the one with the scabby neck) on prednisone...  However, that doesn't seem logical to me, or help Luna, whom is itching as well.  Are there mites out there that Revolution does not get?  Ringworm and mange has also been mentioned.  However, the fact that only one cat has lesions, and nobody else (including dog) makes it seem unlikely?  Allergies have also been brought up, but what are the odds that they would BOTH have that?   Any other ideas at all???  I would appreciate ANY new thoughts at this point. Thank you if you've read this far!  
 

pharber-murphy

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Doesn't it take several rounds of Revolution to get rite of pests? When Mr. Grismby and Bertha, who have never been outside in their lives, moved into our rental property, they got fleas from the previous owner's cats. The vet told us to treat them regularly with Revolution and, if we couldn't vacuum a minimum of every week, to expect the scratching to continue for six months (the life cycle of a flea). Still, if you dog isn't itching, then maybe fleas aren't the problem.

I've read that 80% of cats are allergic to fish. If you're feeding them a fish-based product, that might cause the scratching. Try a cat food with no fish or grain (or a limited ingredient diet if you can find one) for a while to see if that eases the problem.

The fact that one has lesions and the other doesn't may just be a reflect that one cat itches more than the other. Poor Bertha still has some bare spots on the backs of her hind legs from the fleas, although she's not scratching so much.

Good luck with the scratching!

Best regards.
 

stephanietx

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I'd try another round of Revolution when it's time and in the meantime look at environmental causes, mainly food and litter.  What are you feeding?  What kind of litter are you using?  Are the kitties indoor only, indoor-outdoor, or outdoor only. 
 

mkat02

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Welcome.

I don't know why the vet would say prednisone because that is a anti- inflammatory.

 I also believe that you should check the food and other factors.

But I have had cats with sores on their necks from fleas and it can take months to stop itching and the sores to go away.

 maybe you could ask the vet for triamcinulone or any other corticosteroids to help stop the itching, redness, and sores. They help with skin conditions.

 Hope something helps soon and bless you for taking in and caring for them. 
 
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hddarcy

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She didn't have anything wrong with her neck until after she came to me, and we treated her with the mites.  I'm nearly positive it has nothing to do with fleas.  She also didn't have any fleas when she came to me either.  The ear mites were very bad though.

I am feeding them 4health grain free.  The vet said to try a grain fee food.  I just find it so odd that they would both have allergies against the food or the litter?  They are 100% indoor only cats.

Also, an update is she now has some spots on her belly too.  They aren't scabs right now, but they are rough right there, that also looks thin, and feels kind of crusty maybe?,  :(  I am at my wits end!  Mange was ruled out because Luna doesn't have any lesions, however she's itching JUST AS MUCH.  Could it be mange, but she hasn't gotten, or doesn't get the lesions?  As much as I hate to, I think I will try another vet.  I liked the vet I was working with, but she really got me nowhere, and doesn't seem to concerned to help me fine answers.

I'm just truly so flippin' beyond frustrated.  :(
 
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hddarcy

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I have shared a longer thread on the history of my two cats are itching ALL THE TIME.  I/we ruled out mange because only one has the lesions / scabs on her.  My questions is - can you have mange without the lesions and scabs?  I have two very very itchy cats.  One has scabs on her.  Started on her neck, and now she's even getting them on her belly.  My other cat itches just as much, but not scabs or lesions.  If it were mange, wouldn't the other cat have the scabs/lesions too?

Thank you for any and all info.  I am so tired of obsessing about trying to find some answers here!
 

mkat02

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I'm going saying fleas because that was the cause of all mine. But a corticosteroid would help the itching and sores no matter why they have it. Even if it's just stress. Hope you find your answers soon and good luck. Please give them a nice little pet hi from me.
 
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hddarcy

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She was a barn cat.  She had no fleas when she came to me in January (and none since). She's also had two months of Revolution.  I and the vets are fairly positive it's not fleas.  Thank you though.
 

Columbine

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Could it be ringworm? If the lesions are circular with raised edges that might be your answer. It's unlikely that the dog wouldn't have been affected, but possible. Don't know how much help that is, but it's the first thing that sprang to mind. Hope you get some answers soon.

Edit:- ringworm isn't actually a worm,so won't be treated by drontal/similar. I believe it's a type of fungal infection.
 
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hddarcy

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Thank you.  Ringworm has been mentioned, but the fact that the dog and the other cat have no lesions, nor any of us...makes it also unlikely.  I'm really leaning toward mange or some kind of mite right now.  I have a call into the vet again, to say they are not on her abdomen, and I also made an appointment with a new vet for next week.  I hope I don't go crazy before we get some answers...LOL...  
 

detmut

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have atopic allergies 
 
I'm a newbie to your site, and glad I have found fellow cat-owners!  I am having some mystery itching going on with my cats.  The history is that I rescued a barn cat in JANUARY.  From day one, she was itchy, and also had a very bad case of ear mites.  I treated her for like 6 weeks with the ear mite medicine (eradmite), per the vet's orders.  Shortly after I started treating her, she got scabs on her neck from itching (think it was from itching).  The vet said it was just from her getting herself while trying to itch her ears....I also noticed from day one she was itching other places as well.  The vet said that mites can live on the hay, and won't live on her, but she probably has some bites that are making her still itchy. After eventually getting nowhere with vet #1, I switched vets to find the answer to her scabs and itching.  I always thought the scabs were from her itching, but maybe they are coming first, and then she's itching??  I really have no idea what's happening first.  Vet #2 found a yeast infection and bacterial infection in her ears.  She was treated for that, and her ears are 100% fine now.  However, the itching and scabs remain.    :(  I also have another cat (whom I rescued after her), and she is also itching  her neck and face all the time.  However, there are no lesions on her.  They have both had two months of Revolution.  They have both been dewormed (believe it was drontal), and the new vets (two at the office have seen her), are at a loss as to why they are itching.  I'm also battling some upper respiratory with them as well.  Luna (second cat), has now had three rounds of antibiotics as it keeps returning when taken off (and now has her third eye lid showing since last Saturday), and Bella (the one with the lesions) has had two does of antibiotics.  I have never have had such health issues with any cats in my life.  I'm so frustrated, and not sure what to try, or what to do next.  The vet said she could put Bella (the one with the scabby neck) on prednisone...  However, that doesn't seem logical to me, or help Luna, whom is itching as well.  Are there mites out there that Revolution does not get?  Ringworm and mange has also been mentioned.  However, the fact that only one cat has lesions, and nobody else (including dog) makes it seem unlikely?  Allergies have also been brought up, but what are the odds that they would BOTH have that?   Any other ideas at all???  I would appreciate ANY new thoughts at this point. Thank you if you've read this far!  
true, but it's possible. could try antihistamines, such as chlor-trimeton or zyrtec.
 

mkat02

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Even if it's not fleas corticosteroids will help. corticosteroids help with all skin conditions. It will help stop the itching, sores, redness, swelling etc.. 

Sorry if I was not clear.

Prednisone is a anti inflammatory. So maybe it would help so too. 
 
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hddarcy

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I thought I would post a couple pictures of Bella.  The picture on the left is the first night we got her.  The one on the right was taken this weekend.  I know it's hard to tell, but she has like NONE of that fluff anymore.  She doesn't even look like a long hair cat anymore.  You can kind of see the picture on the right where there are a couple of bald spots that are now growing back o her chest as well.  :(

 

ishtar163

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A foster cat I had one time had something similar. It turned out to be a type of dermatitis that required antibiotics, but different antibiotics than the ones usually used for upper respiratory problems. Also, if your cats are sick at all, you should make sure to separate them until they are both well, as they could be re infecting each other.

Also, I once had a cat that got a small scratch on her neck. When it would start to heal, the scab would itch and she would scratch it back open. This kept happening, and the problem kept getting worse until she had a really ugly wound. It didn't go away until I made her a little turtleneck sweater out of a sock which prevented her from scratching the scab off. It went away amazingly fast, then. I always recommend it to people that have a similar issue because it was so effective.
 
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hddarcy

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I got back from a FOURTH vet.  She suspects demodicosis.  Treating it doesn't sound bad, but the fact that she has it to begin with doesn't sound very good.  I am to treat both cats with a bath, and a dip.  Praying it helps!
 
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hddarcy

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I just got back from a fourth vet for my cat whom is itching non-stop and has loss of hair, and scabs on her.  She is fairly certain that it's demodicosis, and I am to bath both of my cats weekly for four weeks.  The bath does not sound fun, but I am happy to hopefully at least have some direction and answers.  I've been battling this since February.

Anyone have any experience at all with this?
 
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hddarcy

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No, she hasn't.  It's never been mentioned either until today saying that she may be FIV or FeLV positive since she has the issue to begin with.  She said it doesn't typically show in healthy cats.  :(  Just lovely.
 

misty8723

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Have they sent any samples out for analysis?  I'm saying this because I'm thinking of Mast Cell tumors that can cause itching like that (and also be benign).

My Cindy itched and had sores and scabs from the day I got her.  Eventually, she was diagnosed with Mast Cell Tumor on her colon.  I don't know if the sores were mast cell or not and they spread, because we never had them analyzed, just assumed they were skin or allergy and treated with antibiotics and antihistimes. I very much regret now not having them analyzed.

Bella is beautiful, by the way!  I hope she starts feeling better. Itching is miserable.
 
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