Comprehensive Guide to Cat Ear Mites: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention

Ah you see that cat? He’s outside and loving most of it, except those pesky little mites in his ears. Ear mites can be very, very irritating for your feline friend, so, I’m going to try to provide you with a guide to ear mites in cats so you can identify, eradicate, and prevent them from returning.

Table of Contents

What are ear mites in cats?

Ear mites are small organisms(Otodectes cynotis) that cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are very contagious and your cat can get them from another pet (cat or dog) or the environment. These parasites reside in the ears of your feline friend and feed on ear wax and skin debris. They will cause severe itching and irritation to the host that can be quite uncomfortable for your kitty.

NOTE: If you have multiple pets and one of them is infected with mites, you need to get all your pets checked.

How long do ear mites live?

According to VCA Hospitals, it takes ear mites 3 weeks to reach adulthood from the egg stage. Once adulthood has been reached, they can live for up to 2 months and can reproduce continuously. They are true parasites, which means that ear mites cause damage to host animals throughout their life cycle.

Ear mite symptoms for cats

Pet Assure explains that symptoms for ear mites are quite similar to other ear problems, such as ear wax and bacterial or fungal infections. This is why you need to get your cat checked by a vet for a definitive diagnosis. Some of the most common feline ear mite symptoms are listed below.

• Head shaking
• Excessive rubbing of ears
• Black stuff in your cat ears (it may discharge as well)
• Smelly ears
• Blood or bruises on ears
• Loss of balance
• Deafness

Checking for ear mites in cats

If you find any of the above-mentioned symptoms in your cat, it’s best to get your four-legged friend checked by a veterinarian. This is because a definitive diagnosis of ear mites is not possible without a microscopic examination of your cat’s ear wax.

Cat ear wax vs. ear mites

Ear wax is essentially the collection of sebaceous secretions and skin debris. It needs to be cleaned regularly because the accumulation of wax inside a cat’s ear can be uncomfortable. The usual symptoms of cat ear wax are irritation and itching.

Ear mites are the parasites that feed on skin debris and lay eggs in your cat’s ears. This also results in irritation and excessive rubbing of the ears. Being a parasitic condition, cleaning is not enough to cure this problem. Instead, you need to eradicate them as soon as possible.