The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Posted by Pearlie (North Miami Beach, Florida) on 05/26/2014 ★★★★★
Recently a cat that was covered in mange found our house. I feed cats and this cat looked like someone had burnt him with chemicals. I never saw anything so pathetic. He could hardly walk and his ears were covered with thick grey crusts that I thought were burnt skin. I decided to look at skin conditions on cats and discovered he had a severe case of mange. I had food grade diatomaceous earth in the house that I have as a dewormer for my other cats. It was somewhat effective, but being that it kills all types of insects, I decided to try it topically on this new stray. I put one of my gardening gloves on and put some of the DE on the finger tips of the glove and worked that into the sores and crusts on the cat (this poor thing is such a sweety ... he loves to be scratched, even though I cannot touch him without a glove).
I wish I could show you pictures on what he looked like after just a few days. gone were the grey crusts, and all what looked like thick chemically burnt skin turned to clean skin. it was shocking. I am still rubbing the DE on him, as he just came by about 2 weeks ago, but he is definitely a new cat. My kids think I am some kind of a 'cat whisperer' .... all I am is someone who did research on cat mange and discovered diatomaceous earth cures it .....
First & most importantly : usually an AGRICULTURAL Veterinarian will be much more aware of how to ID & treat mites on domestic & farm animals; heck, FARMERS have been dealing with this forever! And THE ABSOLUTELY SAFEST AND MOST EFFICACEOUS TREATMENT FOR MITES IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. Animals will themselves resort to this type remedy, I.e., they take dust baths! This is true for any animal except bees (sadly) and others with exoskeletons. Make friends with your local farmers' supply store - they know how to help and what will NOT work. Don't put your cat or yourself through the torture of sulfur-dips/borax/vinegar/oral drugs/ e-collars. Just put yer DE in a sock or stocking, and powder down yer furry friends. And that hint for a way to apply it came from the cashier at my local tractor-supply-co; her dog would take off if he saw her with a handful of the DE. The type of DE called 'Red Lake', with bentonite, will work fine too, but is not approved for Human consumption.
When I finally realized what was bothering my cat, Orlando, wasn't his "nerves" (the Prozac the Vet Rx'd only calmed him down), but was mange, I made the rounds of all the 'Online Vet/md' sites. There I was helped greatly in figuring out just which mite was attacking him. But the fact that their ONLY treatments were lime-sulfur baths(for CATS! ?) or Off-Label use of drugs known to be either toxic or fatal to felines, made me skeptical. So I put the word 'natural' into my search terms and happily landed ~here~ at earthclinic.
Posted by Shanarose (Nmb, Florida) on 01/16/2017 ★★★★★
I care for rescued cats (a reluctant cat lady .... I currently have 14) and some of these have come to me on the verge - suffering from mange and scabies .... since discovering diatomaceous earth some years back for fire ants (i am severely allergic to fire ant bites and DE kills them within hours) I found that if I rub a very small amount of DE (wear surgical gloves) on the mange area a few times a day ... within a few days the mange starts to clear and scabs start to form .... I have a cat who came here looking like he was burnt .... it was a severe case of mange ... within a month his hair had started to come back and today (two years later) he is a fluffy stunner .... all due to diatomaceous earth .... only put it on the target areas of the mange .... don't get it into their eyes ..... rub it on dry like a powder ..... don't get it wet ..... good luck and God bless ...
Mange in cats- Diatomaceous Earth IS THE BOMB - I put it all over my cat's body and he hasn't scratched, pulled or chewed himself since... amazing stuff and great for a multitude of things for humans and animals and gardens- you have to try it!!!
A cat moved into my walkway and was close to dying . Had what looks like mange from internet pictures that I compare to him. To make a long story short I tried the Borax and hydrogen peroxide 6%, 1 part peroxide to two parts of water. then the Borax. a cup or so. Shake it up and applied to the cat avoiding the eyes . Used vasoline around the eye area to kill the mites. Leave the Borax on the cat do not wash it off. Let it dry . then reapply two days later. THIS IS SOME KIND OF MIRACLE STUFF. The cat had open sores from itching all the hair was gone on its head and neck. The borax didn't burn the cat . The sores all dried up two days later the difference was incredible . I never would have believed it . The Borax WORKS!! I also bought the Nu stock sulfur, But compared to the Borax . The Borax and Peroxide nothing compares to how fast it worked . The cat had instant relief. I came here looking for the website that I had found this information about Borax . I wanted to thank the man that posted using Borax. and everyone for their reviews of it. It is a FIVE star And I'm telling you Some kind of MIRACLE CURE.
Here is a site that may be of some help to you. Also, October 16 is National Feral Cat Day here in the U.S. http://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/
I, by no means, am an expert, so I am not going to "attack" you like a couple of the comments in this thread & then show compassion by advice...lol. I think it is great that you are wanting to help an unfortunate angel that was the result of someone else' irresponsibility in the first place. For goodness sake, it isn't your fault that the poor kitty doesn't have a home. And I don't believe in taking animals to the vet to "put them in the food chain", sorry. Not very nice of anyone to ever suggest that.
I would assume that the kitty is friendly & just in need of a little help, which, apparently some PEOPLE never are. If that isn'tthe case, you can, sometimes, rent a trap for less than $10 for a few days @ a local vet.
If you need to care for the kitty's eyes, I might suggest that you use an old bath towel & wrap it up in it, so you still have access to her head, but don't have to worry about your safety as much. Sit here on your lap & do what you need to. I have 3 cats & I do almost everything to them this way. (ie: clean their ears, syringe feed one of them, etc.) I had 2 before that were afraid of water, despite giving them baths in the sink when they were younger. The 3 I have, I can sit in the bath tub & they'll stay on my lap as I use a shower sprayer on them, or I bathe them in the sink. The other 2, I took a few bath towels & laid them on the floor in the bathroom (w/ the door closed) & filled 2 1-gal. pitchers full of warm water & gave them baths on the floor w/ soppy wet wash cloths. You could also do this while the cat is in the towel on your lap, if the towel is fairly thin. Just make sure it gets rinsed well (the kitty).
Cats have a way of trusting you fairly quickly once they realize that you are being compassionate & helping them. Especially after they start reaping the benefits of your care. So, she should get easier to work w/ fairly soon.
I am not sure what you chose to do, but am glad to hear that you wanted to help this angel & wanted to mention just a few cheap things that you can do, which is good for ANY kitty. If ever they are put on anti-biotics, they should always be given pro-biotics. As the anti-biotics will weaken the immune system. This costs less than $2, depending on where you shop. You can pick up some Chobani Greek yogurt, as it has live cultures in it. It is only a dollar @ Walmart, so it shouldn't be much more @ a grocery store. And it is only a serving size like a person would eat in one sitting. You can freeze it into smaller portions in your freezer. I use ice cube trays & put plastic wrap over the top. Then transfer into freezer baggies. You can give them human pro-biotics, if you choose to. The Lacto bacillus is the one that makes yogurt need to be refrigerated. But, if it is in poder form, it just determines the life of the product. If you get it in capsule form, just open the capsule. Colostrum is also really good for the immune system also. It is also inexpensive too. You can get a travel size through Sovereign Labs for approx. $13. (It is what is in the mother's milk). A bath is great for them to not only help to heal the skin, but to help remove toxins that the body is trying to flush out & will also keep their kidneys from having to filter out toxins from the environment & the ailment. Human grade DE (diatomaceous earth) is also good for parasite removal. Just keep it out of their eyes & nose. If they lick it, it is fine, as it can be taken internally. Also, if you were to have the cat tested, they may scrape the skin & it turn out neg. because they have already ingested the mites that are causing the mange. There is a mange mite that naturally lives in the hair follice also. Most coconut oil turns to an oily substance after a certain temp., but there is also one that stays a liquid. Nutrition is the key to good health, so if you can provide a decent quality food for her, that is a good thing. To help her immune system better itself is equally important. And if she develops any potty problems, give her organic pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). It goes both ways! For diarrhea or constipation. (Make sure you freeze it in smaller amounts after you open the can because it will spoil in less than a few days in the fridge.) You can get organic pumpkin in a BPA free can for $2 @ a grocery store. Organic is always better & not always more expensive.
I hope that some of tips help you if you are still in need or for another feral, or for anyone else who reads this. Thank you for loving the ferals. They are just as precious as the ones inside!
I treated my stray female cat Trixie who had lost all of her fur from her waist to the tip of her tail (from mange) with organic apple cider vinegar. I diluted it to around 1 part ACV to 10 parts water then sprayed her body every other day within 2 days she had stopped itching and within 2 weeks new hair had started to grow back. Six weeks later she had the thickest shiny hair you have ever seen. My neighbours were shocked. 2 years later and still everything is OK. Better than anti-biotic and steroids and a huge vet bill.
I put a half teaspoonful of organic apple cider vinegar in my cat's water fountain every week to prevent cystitis which can be painful and costly.
Posted by Shanarose (North Miami Beach, Florida) on 06/11/2017
I've treated many strays with everything from starvation to mange to respiratory and eye infections - and not having the funds to bring them to the vet has often been a blessing for me - I am able to see first hand how accurate all the courses in nutrition I took in college really are ( my Bachelors is in Public Health/Nutrition) - first of all, knowing what vitamins help the eyes is very beneficial in treating animal/cat eye diseases - if the feral cat cannot be touched you can empty a capsule of vitamin A and D into their food (5,000 IU A / 400 IU D) and the eye issue clears up within three days - this also helps with mange and respiratory infections - as vitamin A is crucial for eyes, skin, and respiratory health - don't overdo - these vitamins are very inexpensive but one a day at that dosage is all that is needed ..... - also lightly applied topical DE and diluted ACV (if you can spray it on the cat - not near the eyes) also helps. And NEVER shave a cat - I started using nutrition and natural cure exclusively since a vet shaved my cat with ringworm and she almost died from the medication that was applied on the shaved skin - I brought her back with ACV on the ringworm - you don't need vets when you know how to care for the cats on your own .....
Apple cyder vinegar is one of natures miracle remedies. I myself use it as a toner and drink it with my water. You can't believe the difference it makes to your complection and energy levels. For pets with mange you can ad a spoon or two to their food or water which ever works best for your animal. I also wipe my cat down with a washcloth once a week soaked in water and ACV. It works like magic and so good for them.
Pets are family members and should be cared for with love and respect. Please disregard those who prefer to kill rather than Help. There is much good advice here if one is not to lazy to give it a good try.
Posted by Keycat (Salinas, California) on 07/16/2016
Cat Mange Passed to Me..
I'm so happy I found this site- super informative! I just gave my cat her first treatment of Teds recipie and it seemed to go really well. I now have it. Agh! Very irritating that not only my kitty has this issue but I'm living it with her.
Are there any remedies that can be suggested for myself to bath in? Also, my only other questions were in regards to measurements and amount of applications. The stories shared were great but I couldn't find any exact recipe with an "after care" and a "how to" all in one.??
My questions were - 1. How much solution(of teds) should I be applying? 2. Do I rinse it off after I let her sit with it for twenty/thirty minutes? 3. How long after her first treatment should I give her another? 4. What can I clean her bedding with? (And my bedding) 5. Are there any suggestions for bathing myself? (Other than seeing my primary care of course) thank you to all who posted and helped inform others about these remedies. I've been to numerous vets and mostly end up paying a fortune and not getting very good care.
Posted by Marsha (Nashville, TN) on 03/23/2008 ★★★★★
Cat mange cure with hydrogen peroxide, borax, and warm water. My 10 year old lynx/siamese /himalayan cat developed intense itching with loss of hair and redness around the neck recently. I thought it was hair mats at first. I called to schedule a shave for her but the vet said they would have to sedate her and get blood work first to see if it was safe to sedate her. Total price, $300! I said "never mind". I began to feel that her condition was more than hair mats. I thought it resembled the mange in dogs I'd seen. I research the net for cat mange and the symptoms matched perfectly. I found Ted's peroxide,borax,water concoction and immediately fixed up a small amount. About 3TBS borax, 2 cups warm water, and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. I took a small rag and soaked it and rubbed it around her neck. She was suspcious at first of the wet rag but she was enjoying the rub to much to care for long. Before I started the application her neck was red and hairless. Within 1 hour her skin color on her neck was a light pink. I checked her the next day and the area was flesh colored and she wasn't scratching so much. I did another treatment that day for a added kill of the mites and let it rest the 3rd day. On the 4th day her hair is regrowing about an inch and she has more energy. I treated her again and rewarded her with fresh catnip. My cat never goes outside and there are no more animals around. Although on pretty days I open her window so she can perch there and watch the outside. I was thinking maybe bird mites blew on her if thats possible. Anyway the remedy works on cats too! Thankyou for saving me lots of $$$ and the unknown chemicals and added stress of going to the vet on her. Her name by the way, is Whisper and she says "Meow meow" (thats thankyou Ted)
Posted by Sally (Rochester, Ny) on 07/01/2016 ★★★★★
Sally's Cat Mange Cure:
We had a stray cat that we made friends with, who would just come hang out with us when we'd sit outside. One day his coat started to turn orange (he was black) and the fur started falling out. Under it I could see that he had an itchy painful rash. I was pretty sure it was mange, so I read up on it and invented the following cure.
I mixed together equal parts sea salt (has to be sea salt, not iodized) hydrogen peroxide, and extra virgin olive oil, mixed it up, and, with a plastic glove gooped it on his infected areas. He was a sometimes skittish cat, but he still let me smooth it on these painful areas, which suggested to me that it felt ok on his skin. I kid you not, the very next day, the sores were healing up, and within 2 days, his fur was growing back. I'd say within 2 weeks his fur was pretty much back to normal. It was great to see him comfortable again, as he was a complete cutie.
Not sure if EVO, sea salt or h2o2 are ok for dogs, but it works amazingly for cats. Plus it seems comfortable, rather than painful for them to have it put on them. I'm thinking he licked it a little, and also ingested, the concoction. As a side note, if a cat has worms, if you mix a little loose, raw tobacco in his food, it eliminates the worms quickly, and harmlessly.
Posted by Kat (Fremantle Western Australia) on 02/16/2014 ★★★★★
Just been using Ted Mange Remedy that I added a dash of tea tree oil to for good luck. My 16 year old burmeseX has been plagued with mange every summer for half his life. I take him to the vet once a year at that time and he gets a jab for infection plus a cortizone one, they worked to a small degree. This year his mange is rampant over whole body, his skin like chronic exema. I have used Ted's remedy 3 times over the last couple of weeks. The improvement is amazing even in such a short space of time. The first time I sprayed it on using a spray bottle, the second time I tried tipping over in sink and third time just using a small face cloth soaked in solution on the bathroom floor next to drain hole. It seemed the easiest method to date. My cat is savage even in his debilitated state. I recommend this treatment.
I used Ted's recipe and I used a rag to give my poor stray a sponge bath. I put him in a large kennel and was able to wipe him down pretty well with Ted's recipe. My kitty had the mange on his head and most of his back along the spine area. He had lost quite a bit of hair and his skin was red, inflamed and scabby. After 3 days, there was no more redness and hair was beginning to grow.
After 1 week, he is 95 percent healed!!
This is miracle stuff! He's a completely different cat in just one week! He's actually soft to touch!
Thank you so much! I wish I could post pictures of the results after just one week!
EC: Hi Tien, please email your pics to [email protected] and we will add them to your post. Yay!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
The remedy is non-toxic. If your cat ingests a lot of it, you might see a couple loose stools. What I have done is made up a large batch of the solution - enough to fill a small dish pan or tub. Then place your pet in the bath of solution and keep pouring solution over the pet so the pet is constantly wetted by the solution as well as soaking in it. Keep this up for a half hour or 45 minutes -make sure the room you are working in is warm and the solution is warm so your pet does not take a chill. After 45 minutes let your pet out, let him shake off and then towel dry and air dry from there. What you are doing is compensating for the shortened drip dry process by soaking your pet longer in the solution. I find crystals of borax in my pet's coat so I brush them out; if I am worried about my pet taking a chill I blow dry as I brush out. The key is to leave the active, working solution on the pet as long as possible, half hour at least - and soaking in the solution accommodates that need.
Posted by Pet Guru At Dream Regime To Clear Eyes (Ny, Ny) on 08/10/2016
DO NOT PLAY DOCTOR with mange or mites. Please imagine it is YOU and you feel scabs and itch. Many people think they know holistic meds and so they can do without a doctor. Don't you think holistic treatment is best done when you know what the hell is wrong with the cat? It may look like mites to you, but it could be mange and it could look like mange but it could be an all different type of yeast infection combined with severe internal infection etc.
FIRST always take the animal to a vet, do a cbc simple blood work and KNOW what is wrong. Then you can chose holistic or western. Personally when an infection is involved, use the western doc's advice, then when the animal is stable you can continue with a holistic treatment.
For example if your cat is given antibiotics - which usually LOWER the immune system - at the same time you can also feed your pet grain free food so the body doesn't have to fight off trash chemicals too, and you can give your cat or dog 1/2 of lysine, a pure type that is not coated and only one pill a day. Natural meds for scabs or light mites Zymox works, but with this you MUST use a cloud collar or a cone collar so the pet doesn't lick itself, because it will so for an alley cat this is not an option.
You first try to trap, which can only be done once or the cat will never trust a human, so learn HOW TO. Once you trap the cat, take it to the vet, then buy a dog kennel set up a litter box, a hammock and administer meds until the mange is gone. This will take a couple of weeks so by then the cat could be tame enough for you to take some nice photos and adopt it into a good home.
CHARGE AN ADOPTION FEE this way you assure the next person she lives with values her enough to take good care of her and you can use the fee to help another stray. As for light skin conditions, you may want to shave the animal, prepare a nice oatmeal bath - you can buy some on Amazon - then dip the pet into that. If the animal hates baths you can eater hold the pet and use a cup to get it wet with the oatmeal water or you can take the pet to a vet and have them put her/him under so the skin can be treated in cases of animals who truly are not well behaved. Most of the time an animal's skin itches and hurts so much they love the bath. Afterwards you can get some pure ( ok to be used as medicinal ) and be sure to check it's UNREFINED coconut oil. It has a ton of healing properties and you can apply it directly into wounds and scabs and it will heal the skin. Pets also love the taste so you can give them a spoon daily which will help keep the insides clean.
If you see mites around the eyes, do not apply anything that contains any chemicals close to the eye - AND ALWAYS KEEP ANIMALS IN CONES - cloud or medical cone, but I like cloud, b/c they can sleep with them - the only thing you can do for the eyes is boil some pure lose leaf chamomile tea, strain it so there are no suds, wait until it is ROOM TEMPERATURE and use some surgical non stick pads to wet them and apply onto the eye. If you can cotton pads they are even better. Soak them, apply the water to the eye area - DO NOT SCRUB - only dab and hold in place. Do this each day. It's great on cuts, it's great a few weeks after an operation when your animal is healing and you need to clean the wound. You can apply coconut oil around the eye. I've even put it inside my own eye, it's fine. Keep them in clean bedding and clean from touching or licking themselves. Get the cloud. With strays, first catch them, get them to a vet, set up a dog kennel, treat them each day.
I am treating a poor little kitty I rescued that has mange. I wouldn't for a second trade the care I have to give him. He gets better everyday. I absolutely disagree with your statement. But, hey, taking care of the helpless isn't for everyone.
Posted by Glenda (Trinity, TX) on 01/20/2022 ★★★★★
According to "Ted's Mange Cure Directions" (NOT the testimonials), you ONLY use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide - Do NOT use stronger Peroxide like one testimonial said! Use 2 cups of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 4 cups warm water, & 3 heaping Tablespoons of Borax. Mix it together & bathe your cat in it. Personally, I would use a rag dipped in the solution to bathe your cat, instead of dipping the cat & soaking it. You let the cat air dry with the solution on it, & apparently do NOT wash it off! I wouldn't soak the cat in water & let it airdry, as it could make the cat sick, & some have gotten sick, & died (from what I heard years ago - NOT from this solution, but from being all wet! ). So as one person said, they soak a rag in the solution & bathe the cat that way ( it may still be soaking wet though), but try to keep a heater near the cat, or in the room to keep it warm until it dries completely (especially in winter time! ). You should bathe your cat with this solution TWICE A WEEK.
Use this same mixture to spray down the pets sleeping area & other areas where it spends time. Wash the bedding frequently as well. I would say to use this same treatment on your own body where you have mange, or bathe in it by soaking a rag in the solution & washing up with it. Use it on your bedfing too. It says to spray it down with the solution. You can wash laundry in Borax, I don't know how you'd use enough peroxide in the washing machine! Probably could just wash bedding in Borax. OR spray it with the solution, let it dry (maybe) then wash in just Borax.
Hello, Judy. My cats have mange too. I use DE, dusting the coat and KLEEN GREEN enzyme spray. It has to be followed up for a while.
If you can keep your kitty very warm for the time to dry after a bath, Ted's remedy for mange on EC works very well. For me, it is the onset of winter and I am using the enzyme and DE, with daily grooming and wiping with ACV. The borax treatment needs the pet to keep wet till dry. Not very practical for me in the cold season. In a liter of drinking water I use 1/8th tsp. Borax and 1/4 tsp. of baking soda to be of further help. All is recorded on EC. It is necessary to inspect the ears.
Hello, this is Tien from California. I posted about my results on the Natural Treatments for Cat Mange and these are the pictures showing the amazing results in just one week! Thank you so much!!
Vickie(UK),
Thank you SO very much for your wisdom. I've been trying to figure out how to treat my massive feral colony. This mange has gotten out of control here. I think they now have a fighting chance at survival.
Ty again 😻
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I must respectfully disagree with your comment on DE not working when wet. DE is a mechanicide; it works by causing wear or cutting holes in an insects chitinous exoskeleton, which causes them to bleed out and dehydrate. While it is easier to spread and use while dry and in powder form, it still works when wet. Only consider broken glass will still cut when wet; ground glass will still cut when wet. It is the same principle with DE; it still cuts when wet.
If you decide to treat with DE, which is very helpful (my cat is already looking better with one treatment), make sure it is FOOD GRADE DE or Diatomaceous Earth.
DE that is not food grade has poisons as it used to clean pools and has additives.
Food grade DE has multiple uses for many natural remedies. I recommend treating most animals with it (even humans) as it is a non-chemical killer of microscopic worms in the intestines. Great stuff.
You can help the poor feral cat by call the vet in your area and asking for information on TNR program. They will trap him and spay/ neuter and treat him for the mange. Give them a call they will help!
For eye infections for my cats, I brew a cup of regular lipton tea, remove the wet teabag until just warm then put on my cats eye while squeezing the tea bag so liquid gets around/in the eye.
Be careful with DE (diatomaceous earth) for treating skin disease or in any other manner - - you should not breath in the dust because it can cause lung damage and disease.
Posted by Pam E. (SW California) on 07/16/2024 148 posts
FOOD GRADE D.E. is no more dangerous to breathe than everyday, organic, house & garden dust.
The D.E. that is so dangerous to breathe is HEAT TREATED so that the water soluble mineral (silica) within it becomes crystalised nearly throughout, so has a very large percentage of sharp & dangerous edges throughout it. This of course causes a lot of tissue damage, whether ingested or breathed in... .
However, FOOD GRADE D.E. has extremely small & few sharp edges, so that it doesn't even cause harm to ingest it ... in fact, it has actually been found to improve digestion, as well as health in general, to have it added in acceptable amounts to one's diet ... whether human or animal.... OF COURSE, breathing it is no more a good idea than breathing organic house or garden dust ... dust just isn't good for our lungs. However, it CANNOT do the harm that the Pool-Gade, HEAT-TREATED D.E. is very capable of!
I invite you, & anyone else who wants to understand how safe F.G.D.E. is, to please read this article:
"The difference between Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth and Pool Grade Diatomaceous Earth"
- Amorphous Silica in F.G.D.E. vs Crystalline Silica in Pool/Filter-Grade D.E. - Explained
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
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If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Borax is sodium tetraborate. That should be the *only* ingredient you should see listed on the box of whatever brand of borax you find.
Sodium tetraborate is a naturally occurring mineral that has the same toxicity as table salt. I've given many a dog and puppy a borax bath and its been splashed in my face and doesn't sting my eyes, nor has it been harsh on the skin - mine included.
It would be more merciful to take the cat the your local shelter. A fast death if it isn't adopted is far kinder than leaving it to suffer for who knows how long.
I have a question. Would these remedies help an alley cat? There is an alley cat who has mange and seems to have an eye infection possibly going blind. I feel so very sorry for the poor cat but I haven't the funds to take him to the vet. Any advice will be appreciated and helpful. Thank you in advance.
Posted by Mary Martinez (Arcadia, CA) on 01/31/2024
My cat had mange too. He was always biting and scratching himself had bald spots all over. He was also FIV too. What cured his mange was Turmeric oil. He hated the taste of it and finally left his fur alone. I used to rub it all over his spots. He passed away but had all his fur again. Hope this helps you.
Update. I used Ted's recipe and I used a rag to give my poor stray a sponge bath. I put him in a large kennel and was able to wipe him down pretty well with Ted's recipe. My kitty had the mange on his head and most of his back along the spine area. He had lost quite a bit of hair and his skin was red, inflamed and scabby. After 3 days, there was no more redness and hair was beginning to grow. After 1 week, he is 95 percent healed!! This is miracle stuff! He's a completely different cat in just one week! He's actually soft to touch! Thank you so much! I wish I could post pictures of the results after just one week!
EC: Hi Tien, feel free to email your pics to us and we'll attach them to your post!
Please post this awesome website where we can find it easier. It took me two hours to find a recipe for cat mange and this website is the only place I could find directions on how to use Ted's recipe. Product advertisers are getting tricky. Last month, the recipes were everywhere! Now all you can find is another search engine. I will tell everyone about EARTHCLINIC.COM Thank you
Posted by Carol (Palacios, Texas 77465) on 10/22/2018 ★★★★★
Cat Mange: Spent nearly 300 bucks at vet. Still not resolved and tried your borax remedy. OMG. Within 2 weeks, completely gone. She's back to normal. Thank you so very much. Thank you, thank you. She was miserable. Back to her silly self now.
Hi, I have used Ted's mange cure on one cat with good results and just had to repeat once more. But it did not contain the H202. However she's fine now and I dust her once in a while with DE. That is right for her type of coat.
Hi, to whom it may concern, I took in a female stray (winter time), have a big heart. Low and behold, she was pregnant, OMG!! Out came 5, yes 5 baby kitties!! Fast forward, 9 month, still have the kitties (long story - husband in near fatal auto accident), also foster mom. Getting to my point... a time or two one of the males have slipped out, wondering if he brought this wonderful bug home! Just don't have the money to treat my 6 cats. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!
DE (diatomaceous earth) Diatomaceous Earth (often referred to as "DE") is an off white talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. When sprinkled on a bug that has an exoskeleton (such as bed bugs, ants or fleas) it compromises their waxy coating so that their innards turn into teeny tiny bug jerky. But it doesn't hurt mammals. We can eat it. We do eat it! It's in lots of grain based foods because lots of grains are stored with diatomaceous earth to keep the bugs from eating the grain! IT MUST BE FOOD GRADE.
You do Not use a cup of the 20 mule team borax. 3 T (tablespoons) big difference!
My cat is a long hair orange&white big but sensitive cat. And I've used just 2 Tablespoons and had great results. A cup-8ounces; that's way too much fyi Read up for Ted's recipe. 4 c. Water/ 2 c. Hydrogen 3% peroxide/ 3 T. Borax (from laundry aisle).
You really should watch Deirdre's mange video on it (https://youtu.be/3xHNyuWKV3k) because the water should be warm & borax dissolves only in very warm or hot water so you dissolve it first in that & let cool slightly while getting the rest of things together.
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