14 Home Remedies for Mange in Cats Before You Go to the Vet

home remedies for mange in cats

Anyone living with a cat knows they merely allow you to be a part of their family. Cats do expect you to take care of their needs and be particularly attentive to the condition of their fur, so if your cat has mange you had better get it taken care of quickly. Here are 14 home remedies for mange in cats that will allow you to avoid a visit to the vet in most cases, though more severe conditions might require both the advice and treatment of an animal care professional.

How to Know if Your Cat Has Mange

Inflammation

Is there an inflamed section on your cat? This is a good sign they may have mange. Inflammation is not normal nor good for cats’ skin under the fur. The best thing to do in this situation is to hope it’s as basic of an issue as manage and attempt to reverse it by using the tips below.

Changes in Personality and Habits

Does your cat seem different? Since pets cannot talk, many people pay good attention to how they act, sleep, eat, and pooping. All these things give an excellent doorway into how the cat is doing. If your cat seems off, more irritable, unable to sleep, not enjoying the same activities or toys as before, or not interested in eating all their food as they normally would, all these signs could point to mange. They would then lead you to try these natural remedies!

Endless Scratching

This one is a big sign! If you are scratching nonstop, this could be connected to manage. Scratching is such a crazy thing because sometimes we have an itch to deal with, but other times, scratching can be found because the problem goes much more profound and may point to a condition such as mange. If the scratching is abnormal, try these natural home remedies below.

Nonstop Grooming

Is your cat licking their fur every time you look at them? We get it; they don’t enjoy a bath and would instead groom themselves. But if it seems much more than usual, it is not normal.

Fur Loss

Is your cat losing clumps of fur? Do you see fur balls all around your home? Are you seeing bare parts of your feline? It may be mange.

Mange in Cats Home Remedy

Cats are known for their cleanliness, but even our feline friends experience irritating skin conditions such as mange. Mange is a difficult condition to deal with, but luckily there are home remedies that can provide relief.

1. Lime Sulfur

Though it might sound a bit scary initially, lime sulfur is one of the most effective remedies for mange in cats. Lime sulfur works by killing the parasites which cause mange and is also aid in clearing up the associated dermatoses.

What to do:

  • Lime sulfur can be purchased from a gardening centre, and you might already use it as a pesticide.
  • Dilute lime sulfur at a ratio of 1:32, which is four oz. of lime sulfur, to 128 oz. of water (1/2 cup to 1 gallon).
  • Dip a clean cloth in the solution and coat your cat’s fur with it, making sure to avoid getting it in your cat’s eyes, ears, nose, anus and genitalia.
  • Place a cone on your cat to prevent it from licking its fur, and allow the solution to sit for a few hours before washing it off.
  • Before repeating this process, allow a few days to see if the condition improves.

2. Lemon Peel

If the idea of using lime sulfur is a little bit scary to you, then lemon peel might be a more agreeable home remedy for treating mange in cats. The citric acid in lemon peel kills the mange mites and acts as a repellant to prevent further infestation.

What to do:

  • Quarter a lemon leaving the peel on, and place it in two cups of boiling water.
  • When the water boils down to about half the amount, add ½ cup of water and continue boiling.
  • When the water boils down to half of that level, strain out the liquid and allow it to cool.
  • Dip a cloth into the lemon solution and wipe it over your cat’s fur, being careful not to get the lemon in sensitive areas.
  • Repeat this every two days until the mange is gone.

3. Honey

honey syrup

Spreading honey on your cat might sound like a line from a joke, but it is quite effective when it comes to home remedies for mange in cats. The antimicrobial properties of honey, along with its thickness, help to choke out the mites. In addition, honey promotes the healing of any wounds caused by the presence of the condition.

What to do:

  • Apply honey to the part of the skin affected by the parasites.
  • Place a cone on your cat’s head and allow the honey to work without being licked off.
  • After several hours, you can rinse of the honey with warm water.
  • Repeat this every couple of days until the mange is gone.

4. Cedar Oil

Cedar oil is another effective mange in cats’ home remedies. With powerful antimicrobial properties, cedar oil removes the mites and works as a repellant to prevent further infestation. An added benefit is that you won’t mind the scent.

What to do:

  • Place 2 to 3 drops of cedar essential oil in 1 Tbsp olive oil.
  • Be sure to test the mixture on a less sensitive area (like a leg) to make sure that it is not too strong before using it in more sensitive areas. If skin irritation occurs, dilute it further or use an alternate treatment.
  • Massage this oil mixture into the affected area on your cat.
  • Keep your cat from licking the oil off for several hours.
  • Repeat this every 3 to 4 days if the mange persists.

5. Diatomaceous Earth

You may or may not be familiar with diatomaceous earth, but it is another safe home remedy to treat mange in cats. Diatomaceous earth is the powder of siliceous sedimentary rock, which has a similar feel as pumice. It is often utilized in cat litter to do precisely what it does in treating mange; it traps mange mites and makes it easy for them to be eliminated.

What to do:

  • Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your house in areas where you cat spends a lot of time lying or sleeping.
  • Allow it to sit for a couple of days before vacuuming or washing the item or items upon which your cat sleeps.
  • Repeat this process until you are sure that the mange mites are all gone.

6. Neem Oil

Also used as a home remedy for conditions like scabies and other parasitic infestations, neem oil is also effective at removing mange in cats. It is not only great at killing mange mites but also acts as a repellant too.

What to do:

  • Place 2 drops of neem oil in 1 Tbsp of olive oil.
  • Test to be sure that your cat’s skin is not sensitive to this oil, as instructed above and adjust the solution to fit your cat.
  • Rub the neem oil into the affected area on your cat and allow it to sit for several hours before rinsing it off.
  • Repeat this a few times per week until the mange has disappeared.

7. Diet

One of the most successful home remedies for mange in cats involves preventing them from infesting your cat in the first place. The best way to do that is to be sure your cat receives the best nutrition daily to boost their immune system and help them fight off parasites like mange mites.

What to do:

  • Though cats are often picky eaters, check labels and offer your cat the best nutritionally balanced food. It might cost you more, but you will have fewer headaches and infestations like mange in the long run.

8. Frequent Bathing

Let’s face it, because cats have an enormous aversion to water, frequent bathing is a rather unpleasant task, but it is one of the best remedies available for treating mange in cats. Frequent bathing helps promote healthier skin and hair, and most pet soaps also kill parasites.

What to do:

  • Consider bathing your cat with a gentle, antimicrobial soap every 6 to 8 weeks.

9. Vegetable Oil

tea tree oil in spa

What could be less pleasant than bathing a cat? How about dipping one in vegetable oil? Vegetable oil suffocates mange mites and kills them, making it an excellent remedy for mange in cats.

What to do:

  • Fill a small tub with vegetable oil, lower your cat into it and smear it over their body.
  • You will want a towel handy to wrap your cat in while you hold onto it and allow the vegetable oil to penetrate through the fur and into the skin.
  • Allow the oil to sit for several hours by applying a cone on your cat’s neck and then rinse it off with warm water.
  • Repeat this a couple of times per week if the mange persists.

10. Garlic and Goldenseal

Before utilizing this home remedy, be sure that raw garlic is toxic to cats and cannot be ingested. Both garlic and goldenseal contain antimicrobial compounds to eliminate mange mites effectively and they also have wound healing properties to help heal skin damage associated with mange in cats.

What to do:

  • Mix 2 Tbsp of goldenseal powder with 2 Tbsp of garlic powder.
  • Add about ¼ cup of olive oil to create a paste.
  • Massage the paste into your cat’s skin.
  • Place a cone on your cat’s neck to prevent it from licking off the solution and allow it to sit for several hours before rinsing it off with warm water.
  • Repeat this a couple of times weekly until the mange is eliminated.

11. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a home remedy for almost anything that ails you, which has stood the test of time from generation to generation. Castor oil is typically not an irritant to your cat’s skin, but it is used in a mixture with olive oil to soften the waxy build-up that often accompanies skin that has been mite-infested. Both oils help to smother the mites and also promote skin healing.

What to do:

  • Mix equal amounts of castor oil and olive oil.
  • Massage the mixture into the affected area on your cat’s skin.
  • Allow it to sit for several hours before rinsing it off.
  • Repeat this several times a week until the mange is gone.

12. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a potent remedy for several human and pet ailments, and it is also among the most effective home remedies for mange in cats. Mites not only avoid the acid-alkaline balance that ACV provides but their antimicrobial properties also eliminate them.

What to do:

  • Mix equal parts of ACV and warm water.
  • Apply the mixture directly to your cat’s skin using a clean cloth.
  • Allow the mixture to stay in place for several hours before rinsing it off.
  • Repeat this several times weekly until you are confident that mange is gone.

13. Yogurt

strawberry yogurt

Using yoghurt as a home remedy to treat mange in cats might come as a surprise. Not only does yoghurt help to smother mange mites, but it also contains acidophilus, a compound that helps heal skin damaged by mange mites, especially in the ears.

What to do:

  • Always use plain yoghurt with as few additives as possible for this treatment.
  • Using about 2 Tbsp, massage the yoghurt into the affected areas.
  • Allow it to sit for several hours and rinse, or allow your cat to enjoy the milky treat as they clean themselves.
  • Repeat this several times per week until the affected area has healed.

14. Frequent Brushing

It is much easier to prevent mange in cats or treat it when you detect it early. Frequent brushing is one of the best home remedies to accomplish both purposes. By brushing your cat, you stimulate the circulation at the surface of their skin, which strengthens healthy skin tissue and also encourages better immune response to fight off a mange mite infestation.

What to do:

  • Find a soft-bristled brush and use it to brush your cat daily.
  • While brushing, be sure to look for any dry or irritated areas and be ready to treat them with one of the simple and safe remedies already discussed.

Conclusion

As servants to our cats, one of our primary duties is ensuring they are healthy and happy. You can go a long way toward performing your duties by using one or more of the 14 home remedies for mange in cats listed above. And, as always, be sure to add any questions, comments or tips for treating mange in the section below.