How would you know if you have bird mites or scabies, as I am aware there are many types of mites that act the same. I think that bird mites mite only last 1 month if their away from a bird? And scabies will last years as humans are the perfect host? Is this how it works and this is why scabies can not live on a cat or dog for more than a month and moreless act as a carrier only? Just curious because people with cats or dogs could get bird mites from cats attacking dead birds or something. Seem pretty interesting...