Ear Mite Treatment for Kittens: Recognizing Symptoms and Proven Remedies

Cat ear mites are microscopic spider or crab like parasites, and if they are not treated, can cause infections and even permanent hearing loss in your cat. They are extremely contagious and can be passed from cat to cat, and even from dog to cat.

The most common symptom of ear mites is seeing your cat continually shaking its head or rubbing at its ears. You may also notice a discharge or blood coming from your cat’s ears or smell an unpleasant odor. If any of these occur I would suggest taking your cat to the vet.

Cat ear mites, or Otodectes Cynotis to give them their correct name, burrow into the ear or other parts of the body. The saliva from these mites can cause am allergic reaction in some cats, which then produces the intense irritation and scratching. This scratching can tear the skin of the ear, which allows bacteria to enter creating infection. Continual scratching can also cause thickening of the skin and permanent disfigurement.

The mites stimulate the wax producing glands inside the ear, which leads to more wax being produced, which the mites then feed off. This excess wax can also cause inflammation. The cycle is perpetuated by the mites feeding off the wax they help produce, all the time causing your cat extreme discomfort.

If you suspect your cat or kitten might have ear mites, try to check your cats ear yourself first. This is fairly easy to do. Have your cat on your lap and stroke it to make it relaxed. It is then easy for you to look into and move your cat’s ears around to see inside. If you notice dark flecks similar to coffee grounds, make an appointment with your vet. He will look inside your cat’s ears with specialised equipment similar to what a doctor uses to look into your ears. This instrument is called an otoscope and the warmth from the light will draw the mites out where they will be visible.

I don’t recommend you trying to treat ear mites yourself. Your vet will need to completely clean your cats ears and flush out the mites. This treatment will need to be repeated to make sure all ear mites have been killed and no secondary infections occur. He will then prescribe ear drops for you to use to treat your cat at home to make sure none of the eggs hatch and start the cycle again. It is important to continue this treatment as the life cycle of mites is around three weeks from hatching to multiplying. At the end of the treatment have your cat checked again just to make sure there are no mites or eggs left in the ear.

Cats can build up an immunity to ear mites over time. Most infestations occur in kittens or young cats while older cats in the house can seem unaffected. If there are a number of cats in your house have all of them checked. It would be wise to treat all animals, including dogs to prevent reinfestations. Be aware that ear mites are not confined to cat’s ears but can be found on other parts of the body as well. If you notice your cat scratching a particular area and you know there are no fleas present, have your cat checked out by your vet. It is better to be safe than sorry. No-one wants to see their pet suffer.