My cat has mites. What are the best and safest treatment options?

Hello. There is a product called Lime Sulfur Dip that will kill just about any mites on cats. It is smelly, but very effective & very safe. You will mix one part dip in 16 parts water & dip your kitty once a week. It usually takes 3 dips to see an effect. You can also use Frontline Plus, but it does not get as many mite species as the dip does. Read the label on the dip because generally you need to keep a cat from licking or grooming itself until the coat is dry. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is not recommend you use ivermectin yourself without the guidance of a vet - it is too easy to overdose. All you need to do is apply a product called Revolution (sealamectin - a derivative of ivermectin). It is a topical spot-on treatment you would use once every few weeks until the skin is cleared. You should be able to get this from the vet. Lime sulphur dip is fine to use but since cats don't tolerate bathing that well it will probably be a fight.

To treat the mites, you can use the topical Revolution. It is labeled as safe for pregnant and nursing queens. It is applied directly to the skin on the back of the neck monthly. Pyrantel is safe to use in nursing queens. Praziquantel should be used with caution. Discuss with your veterinarian. The kittens should be dewormed at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks of age. Pyrantel is safe to use in kittens. Praziquantel should not be used in kittens less than 6 weeks of age.

Sarcoptes mites are hard to get rid of. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. 1) You need to move out of your house or apartment for three to four days. Mites that are not on a body cannot survive for more than three days. 2) Your pets need to be treated with an Ivermectin or Dectomax injection (your vet can do this). This will kill the mites on and in your cat's skin. 3) You need to go to your doctor for an exam. he will likely prescribe an ointment, that you will have to rub all over your body, or tablets. Your doctor may have further instructions. All this should help get rid of the scabies. Be aware that even after treatment your skin and your cat's skin will itch for a week or more as the mites die off.

Hi Alan. I prefer topical like Advantage multi or revolution for cats because they tend to last longer and be more effective. There are also medications available orally like cap star and comfort is for felines! Hope this helps!

Cheyletiella or Notoedres mites could cause symptoms in people and cats but I wouldn't expect to see small red bumps. Sarcoptes causes thick crusts on the face and ears along with hair loss, and cheyletiella is often called walking dandruff because it causes skin flakes that often move along with the mites. If your cat is not on a flea preventative it still may be worth trying one - cats can be good at grooming adult fleas away before you can see them. Otherwise I'd guess that her bumps and your bumps might not be related - allergies can commonly cause small red bumps in cats. There are several medications that can be used for mites but I'm not 100% sure what is available over the counter in Australia. Topical products with imidacloprid and moxidectin should be effective against both mites and fleas. Fipronil can be effective against cheyletiella and fleas. I would recommend checking in with your vet before giving any medication for mites.

I can give you a flea treatment program for Elmo. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with Revolution. It kills fleas and ear mites, and you put it on the back of his head. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. I hope this helps!