Parisites on my cat?

Question

I just got a new cat today. He has strange looking bugs that I am able to see with my bare eye walking around on him. They are reddish with black legs and hang mostly around his muzzle area. I have a flea collar on him but I don't think these are fleas. How should I get rid of them? What are they? Will they start biting me???

Answer 1

Harvest mites, harvest bugs or bracken bugs are the names popularly given to the larvae of the mite Trombicula autumnalis. This six legged larva feeds on tissue fluid and may cause considerable skin itch and discomfort to both humans and cats in certain areas of the country during late summer and autumn. The large orange/yellow larvae are widely distributed in the UK and are particularly abundant on chalk upland. Heavy infestations may be sharply localised - even to the extent of being abundant in one garden and absent from others in the same village. It is also found in town gardens and parks.

The larva is about 0.2 mm long and is just visible to the naked eye - it swells to about three times this size when it has finished feeding.


Life cycle

The first active stage in the lifecycle of Trombicula is the six-legged larva (see picture above) and this is the only stage which attacks animals. These larvae are present on vegetation and are active during the day, especially when it is dry and sunny. When they come into contact with any warm blooded animal they swarm on and congregate in areas where there is little hair and the skin is quite thin. This usually occurs around the end of June, but can be earlier, and persists through the summer until the end of September.

The larva feeds by thrusting its small hooked fangs into the skin surface layers of the skin. It then injects a fluid which breaks down the cells underlying the horny layers of the skin. The liquid food resulting from this process is sucked back into the digestive system of the larva. It will inject and suck for two to three days at the same site until it is replete and has increased in size three to four times.

The larva then drops to the ground to complete its life-cycle. It descends into the soil and after about six weeks becomes an eight-legged nymph and then an adult which eats plants and small insects. Eggs laid by the adult in the spring and summer hatch into the six-legged larva known as harvest mites and the cycle starts again.

Signs of infestation

When the larva injects fluid into the skin this can cause a skin reaction in sensitive individuals. In people this can show as small inflamed pimples. In cats the irritation can cause reddening of the skin, papules and crusted areas. The areas most likely to be affected are the base of the ears (Henry's pocket-the little pocket of skin on the side of the pinna of the ear), foreface, chin and around the mouth, the neck and shoulders, under the front legs, mid abdomen and around the nipples, vulva and scrotum and between the toes-areas where there is only a thin covering of hair. Scratching which may dislodge the mites (until more attach), can result in injury to the skin and in severe cases raw areas can develop. These areas can become infected with bacteria.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by observation and identification of the larvae through the microscope. A veterinary surgeon will have to take a skin scraping to make a definitive diagnosis. It is best to present the cat to the vet at the end of the day rather than the next morning when the mite may have released and dropped off.

Treatment

Treatment options include spraying the cat with flea control products containing fipronil (Frontline; Merial), organophosphates or permethrins. A cat which appears to be hypersensitive to the mite may also need glucocorticoid therapy for a short period until the mites have reduced in number. Fipronil spray can be applied every two weeks in this situation to try and deter mites from attaching to the affected parts. A very sensitive cat may have to be confined during the mites' active period and an Elizabethan collar used to prevent further self-inflicted injury to the itchy parts. If a run is provided for the cat during this period the grass must be kept short (or preferably be concrete based) and the cat let out in the early morning or during dull or wet days when the mite is less active.

Answer 2

They sound like fleas to me. If your just got your cat today the collar has not had time to work. I don't have a lot of faith in flea collars anyway. The reason they hang around the eyes and nose is that they drink water from them. You didn't say if your new cat was possibly a kitten. Personally I would bath your cat or kitten in a flea shampoo (make sure to read instructions in case your cat is too young.) When it is completely dry I would apply Frontline plus for cats. Some of the boxes say to wait for 3 days, but since we carry Frontline, I called the company and they said it was OK to apply it as long as the animal was completely dry. Good luck.

Answer 3

Could be fleas but the smart thing to do is get your cat to the vet pronto.

BTW, flea collars do not work and can be quite dangerous to cats and dogs. Use Frontline or Revolution or whatever your vet recommends.

We use Frontline on our 2 dogs, 6 cats and 3 ferrets. Ain't a flea in the house.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Roundworms make kids tired, and they can make kids get thinner because they don't feel like eating. Sometimes kids catch roundworms from their dogs or cats. When your pets go poop in the sandbox, if they have worms some of the worms will come out in their poop. Then when babies play in the sandbox and eat the sand, they get worms inside them too. You can't watch your sandbox all the time, so it's important to have a lid that you can put on top of your sandbox when you're not using it. You can also help by making sure that dogs and cats get checked for worms at the vet pretty often. Your vet can tell you how often to give them de-worming medicine. And wash your hands with soap after playing in dirt or playing with pets, before you put your fingers in your mouth. It is safer for your family and your cat to keep the cat inside and not let it outside where it can fleas or worms. If you suspect your child has worms you will need to call your pediatrician.

Answer 5

Flea collars aren't always the best option. They only protect the area directly surrounding the neck. Frankly, I wouldn't waste my money. To test if your pet has fleas, stand him over a white table or paper towel, give the fur a vigourous rub back and forth like shaking sand out of your hair. If you see any black specks on the white surface, wet it with some water. If the specks start turning a brownish-red then that is flea dirt (flea poop) which is digested blood from your pet. BAD FLEA!

Answer 6

OMG! where did you get this cat!!? I would suggest never going there again! Take it to the vet ASAP! then it can be treated before they go on you, or in your carpets. If they get loose in your house it will be much more expensive!

Answer 7

take kitty directly to vet, do not pass go do not collect 200 dollars, at least until you find out what kind of bug it is and if it could be passed to humans, if so you may need to fumigate your house

Answer 8

Yeppers, Vet visit is a good idea. Who would give/sell you a cat with bugs.....jeez. At least he has a mom who cares now.

Answer 9

thies are mites bring your cat to vet and get the cat taken care of.....now

Answer 10

eeeewwww, TAKE HIM TO THE VET BEFORE THEY TAKE OVER YOUR HOUSE. THEY ARE BUGS. YOUR VET CAN GIVE HIM TREATMENTS. IT MAY BE COSTY, BUT IT SURE WILL MAKE YOUR HOUSE STAY CLEAN AND LET YOUR CAT FEEL BETTER.
whoops, my caps lock was on