This disease is rare. Notoedres cati resembles Sarcoptes . Notoedres cati is a burrowing mite. This disease is very contagious and pruritic. Affected cats have extreme pruritus, erythema and crusting around the ears, head, feet and perineum.
Peripheral lymphadenopathy is present.
Diagnosis is confirmed by skin scraping and the mites are more easily found than Sarcoptes . Other cats in the same household need to be treated. The mite does not survive for a long time off the host so most of the time just a thorough cleaning of the house may be sufficient. Notoedres can cause a papular and pruritic dermatitis in people but the mites are not able to survive for long on human skin and the dermatitis should regress within 3 weeks after the animals are treated. Clinical signs are variable but pruritus and scaling are considered classical.