Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
Do cat mites get on humans, like on the scalp and body? If they do what can you do to kill them off?

~ Lana
Siouxsie: Well, Lana, you’ll be relieved to know that although there are some cat skin infections such as ringworm (which is actually a fungus, not a worm) that are contagious to humans, the mites that live on cats really can’t live long on humans.
Thomas: The same is true of mite transmission from humans to cats.
Bella: Good thing, too, ’cause we cats don’t want human cooties!
Siouxsie: Bella, that’s not nice!
Bella: But it’s true. You don’t want human cooties, either.
Siouxsie: At least I’m polite enough not to say that!
Thomas: Anyhow, Lana, there are three common types of mites that infect cats. Ear mites are the most common of these.
Siouxsie: While ear mites can easily be transmitted between cats and dogs, they simply can’t live in human ears because your ears are not a friendly environment for them.
Thomas: Another common mite disease, mange, is also not easily transmitted to humans. On the rare occasion when mange mites get on people, they cause a rash of red bumps, but the mites can’t live on people for long and the infection almost always goes away by itself. It is pretty darn itchy, though, so while it lasts you’re not going to be terribly comfortable!
Bella: Cheyletellia is another relatively common mite found in animals. It produces a condition called “walking dandruff” because the infection causes the skin’s outer layer to flake off and the flakes seem to be moving because of the mites’ activities.
Siouxsie: Cheyletellia mites sometimes do move onto people, but humans are not a good host for them and they can’t complete their life cycle.
Thomas: The best way to kill Cheyletellia mites is to use spot-on flea and tick preventives like Revolution and Interceptor, or by oral or injected doses of ivermectin.
Bella: Both Cheyletellia and mange mites can be treated with medicated shampoos and baths or with lime-sulfur dips.
Siouxsie: Ear mites are often treated with ivermectin, selamectin, or medicated ear drops prescribed by your vet.
Thomas: Please don’t self-diagnose ear mites and try home treatment — you could actually make the problem worse! We know a dog who suffered with ear mites for years because her caretakers insisted on trying all kinds of folk remedies. They finally took the dog to the vet and found out that she had bacterial and yeast infections in addition to the mites. If they’d taken the dog to the vet when she first started showing symptoms, she wouldn’t have suffered for so long.
Bella: Of course, if your cat does have mites, you’ll need to wash the heck out of any bedding, sheets, towels, pillows and so on where he spends time in order kill the mites and eggs that may be camping out there. Sanitation is the best defense against further infestation.
Siouxsie: So, Lana, don’t worry too much: even if cat mites do get on you, they won’t live long. Get to your vet, get the right medicine to treat the mites on your kitty, and then clean like a madwoman. Then your house should be clear of infection.
Thomas: And if your cat does go outside, be sure to use a parasite prevention product that kills mites and their eggs, as well as fleas and ticks.
Bella: I’ll just be over here scratching. All this talk of mites and bugs is making me itchy!
Siouxsie: Good luck, Lana.
Thomas: Have you readers ever had to deal with mites in your cats? Have they gotten on you? What have you found to be the best treatment and prevention? Please share your tips, too. Purrs!
urgh !! im all itchy now !!! lol
They probably have a better chance of catching mites from me than the other way around.
I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to wonder if mites could be transferred from feline to human or vice versa. Glad to know they can’t be. And yes, I am with Jen, I think I am a bit itchy now LOL Thanks for the great info, Siouxsie, Thomas and Bella!
I’ve got a stray visiting me,and recently coached him to come inside and sit on my lap. I noticed he would not really sneeze but just blow his nose a lot? He digs a lot,constant grooming. So I parted his hair and saw these little yellow dots that moved. I could pop them between my nails too. I politely put him back out and sprayed the area for bugs. These bugs were on the hair shaft itself and were yellow but I didn’t see legs or a head on them. I am going with cat mites and I will do my best to treat him for them. He trusts me but no one else at this point. Those things were not fleas and it kind of scared me a little…I was thinking it could be lice! This clears things up a bit. Shewww!
I caught mange from my kitten. Took her to the vet and they treated her for them just a few hours ago and she is still itching and will for a day or two before the medication kicks in. Now I have them and was going to schedule an appointment with my Dr. but after reading this I will see if they go away on their own. It looks like I have a lot of cleaning to do.
I actually got colembolla mites from my outdoor cats. I would let them run outside as I live in the country, let them in at night to sleep. I am still trying to get rid of the mites and it is not easy. So if you have ever wondered about the saying “look what the cat drug in”, now I know what it means.