Well, Dexter has managed to find some! He's been hyper grooming and loosing a lot of coat condition recently. His once magnificent tail now looks like an old christmas tree now. He's also been scratching a lot, and being upto date with his Frontline and injections, and with no sign on Flea's we just thought he was a bit stressed. But after a check-up by the vet, she says he has Harvest Mites! They are almost microscopic, and eat skin cells, not blood - hence the frontline not working. She also says that there is no effective way of getting rid of them and that they will clear up as the weather gets colder. It seems the little buggers are resistant to all known pesticides and the ones that do work somewhat are harmfull to the cat. So we're hoping for an early frost now

The vet says do you live near open fields where the mites like to live:


Err, that's a yes then.

Anyone else had any experience with them?

Ian F.

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"Always turn and look when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in her eyes. Some day there might actually be something there." - T.S. Eliot

In horses yes.

Generally clip hair short and then apply pig oil (with or without sulphur).

May be worth a try? No idea how cats react to pig oil though! You only need to apply it like every six weeks if you apply well (rub right to skin) - not sure if it would make house grubby though? But they dont like it - its slippery!

standard frontline works against them, as does garlic in the food (trace amounts don't want to poison the cat)

they are an orange mite and common when the weather is cool and damp, they go away again after the frost

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^^^^as IndysMamma says Frontline or Stronghold should help Found this link ... Vet2Pet Disease Guide .

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Harvest mites are one of the suspects in the dogs that have died after visiting sherwood forest and a couple of other areas
http://www.vetsonline.com/actualites...g-illness.html

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Mmmm. He's up-to date with his Frontline spot on (every 4 weeks) and has been all summer, so that's not working with the little orange buggers. Can you get a spray on Frontline? as the normal vector is for the flea's to suck blood. Which the mites don't do. Think I'll empty out a couple of Frontline tubes and rub them on the affected areas. See if that helps.

As for Pig Oil.... Never heard of it. But I can see me trying to rub that into a long haired cat

Come on Winter. Need a good frost or two!

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"Always turn and look when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in her eyes. Some day there might actually be something there." - T.S. Eliot

Are you using the Frontline Combo prescription only, or Frontline without prescription, as I believe the ordinary Frontline is not as effective is it used to be.There is a Frontline spray but not sure if it is effective,or available without prescription.

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Never even heard of them! we sometimes walk in feilds like that. Hmmm. change of routine for now methinks. They sound like rotten little beggers.

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We are using the Prescription Frontline from the vets. I'll try and get some spray on I think.

This is what it looks like when shaved (Google image, not Dexter)



Horrible and super itchy!

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"Always turn and look when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in her eyes. Some day there might actually be something there." - T.S. Eliot

Poor Dexter it must be so uncomfortable,hope you get this sorted soon.

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