What do cat mites look like? - briefly
Cat mites are microscopic, about 0.2–0.3 mm long, oval to elongated, with a translucent to reddish‑brown body and barely visible legs. Ear mites appear as tiny, white, peanut‑shaped organisms that move within the ear canal.
What do cat mites look like? - in detail
Cat parasites that infest felines are microscopic arthropods, typically ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm in length. Their bodies are oval or elongated, covered by a hard exoskeleton that appears translucent or pale yellow under a light microscope. Legs are short, four‑segmented, and positioned near the anterior margin, giving the organism a compact silhouette.
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) present as elongated, cigar‑shaped organisms about 0.25 mm long. The dorsal surface is smooth, while the ventral side bears tiny, claw‑like structures for gripping ear canal epithelium. Their coloration is generally off‑white to light brown, becoming more opaque when engorged with host debris.
Demodex mites (Demodex gatoi and Demodex cati) are worm‑like, measuring 0.2–0.4 mm. They possess a slender, cylindrical body with a tapered anterior end and a rounded posterior. The cuticle is semi‑transparent, allowing internal organs to be faintly visible. Legs are reduced to two pairs near the front, each ending in blunt claws.
Sarcoptes scabiei, responsible for scabies, is rounder, about 0.3 mm in diameter. Its body is covered by a thick, brownish cuticle. Eight short legs protrude laterally, each bearing a small claw. The mite’s ventral side contains a ventral sucker used to attach to skin.
Key visual identifiers:
- Size: 0.2–0.5 mm, visible only with magnification.
- Shape: cigar‑shaped (ear mites), cylindrical (demodex), round (sarcoptic).
- Color: translucent to pale yellow (ear mites), semi‑transparent (demodex), brownish (sarcoptic).
- Leg arrangement: four legs near the head (ear mites), two pairs anterior (demodex), eight legs evenly spaced (sarcoptic).
Recognition of these morphological traits enables accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment for feline mite infestations.