Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Determine if your cat has ear mites
• Part 2 of 3: Treatment with ear drops
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing Reinfection
• Tips
• Warnings

Ear mites are microscopic arachnids that live on the skin or ear canals of a cat. Ear mites can cause severe irritation and itching of the ears. Infected cats may scratch their ears all the time. The most common complications are skin infections. If you notice these symptoms in your cat, follow the steps below to get rid of ear mites.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Determine if your cat has ear mites

1. 1 Examine the cat's ears. If your cat has ear mites, you will notice that excessive amounts of dark ear wax build up in the ear and canal. This wax is usually dark brown or black in color and can sometimes look like regular dirt in the ear.
   • If your cat is healthy, you will see very little sulfur in the ears. Mite-infected ears usually have a black coating similar to crushed coffee beans.
   • The wax serves as a protective coating against possible contamination.
   • You may also notice an unpleasant odor coming from your cat's ears.
2. 2 Pay attention to scratches. Also be aware that a cat with ear mites will shake its head. Ear mites are irritating and itchy, so you may notice that your cat is shaking its head or scratching its sore ears with its paw.
   • The cat can damage the top layer of the skin, which can lead to more soreness, bleeding, and in some cases, the development of a bacterial infection.
   • A cat suffering from ear mites for a long time may develop inflammatory polyps in the ear canals, as well as bloody blisters from constant scratching.
   • In addition, the outer ear can become inflamed and fester. The cat can also damage its eardrum. In this case, professional medical attention is required.
3. 3 Pay attention to the posture and movement of the cat. In sick cats, the head is tilted to one side. This is a common symptom indicating that the cat is experiencing ear discomfort. However, this symptom does not always indicate the presence of ear mites.
   • Regardless of the reason, if you notice that your cat is tilting its head to one side, you should consult your veterinarian.
4. 4 Check out other pets. If you are keeping more than one animal and you suspect one of them has ear mites, check the ears of all pets. Animals can infect each other with ticks, especially if they sleep in the same place.
   • If you treat only one animal, then it can very quickly get sick again, since your other pets may be carriers, but the disease in their case may be asymptomatic.
   • If you notice ear mites in your pet, you should treat all of your animals to get rid of the infection.
5. 5 Take your cat to the vet. When you get your ears checked and you suspect ear mites, see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will do various tests to determine if your cat is actually infected with ear mites.
   • Your veterinarian can use an autoscope to look at your cat's ear canal to determine if it is infested with ear mites. The veterinarian will notice small white mites hiding from the autoscope light.
   • Your veterinarian will take a sample of your ear discharge with cotton swabs, transfer it to a glass slide, and examine it under a microscope. Your veterinarian will check under a microscope for live mites or their eggs.
   • In addition, your veterinarian will check to see if the tympanic membrane is damaged before starting treatment. This must be done because the inflamed eardrum can act as a barrier, preventing droplets from entering the ear.

Part 2 of 3: Treatment with ear drops

1. 1 Get your medicine. Once your veterinarian has diagnosed and made sure the eardrum is intact, he will prescribe ear drops that are safe for your cat and are effective in treating the condition.
   • Many pet stores sell over-the-counter medications. Typically, these drugs are less effective and can have many side effects. Use only medicines prescribed by your veterinarian.
2. 2 Read the instructions. Read the instructions carefully. See how often you should use the medicine during the day, and at what dosage. The frequency of use and the number of drops, as a rule, depends on the specific drug, but often, the veterinarian prescribes to instill drops once a day for seven to ten days.
3. 3 Get everything you need ready. Before proceeding with the ear burying procedure, place everything you need on a table or other flat surface.
   • You will need a large towel to spread over the table, ear drops, and some cotton pads.
   • If possible, ask a friend to help you. You will be able to hold the cat, and a friend will drip her ears.
4. 4 Clean your cat's ears. Clean your cat's ears before burying them. You can ask your veterinarian to do this.
   • Buy an ear cleaner and follow the directions.
   • If you notice a lot of wax, be aware that it can hide mites from dripping.
5. 5 Bury your ears. Keep the cat in a stationary but comfortable position with the head tilted to the side, allowing access to the infected ear. Open the drops and put the required number of drops into the cat's ear canal.
   • After you put the drops on your ear, rub them gently into your ear to prevent them from flowing out of your cat's ear when you release it.
   • If the cat breaks out, you can wrap it in a towel to immobilize it.
6. 6 Wipe your ear. Using a cotton swab, wipe off any wax that has risen to the surface.
   • Never insert cotton balls into your ear canal. A cotton ball can go deep into your ear and cause serious harm.
7. 7 Repeat the process. Repeat this process daily. If you still notice symptoms at the end of your treatment, take your cat to your vet for more help.
   • Stop treatment and contact your veterinarian if you do not see a positive trend.
   • Some cats are very sensitive to the active ingredients of the medication. A cat may have problems with balance even if its eardrum is intact. If you notice something similar in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing Reinfection

1. 1 Treat your pets with Selamectin as the active ingredient. This is the safest way to kill parasites. This drug is used to combat fleas, ear mites, some internal parasites and ticks. If you have multiple cats, treat them with a drug that contains selamectin as the active ingredient.
   • Selamectin will prevent re-infection and will also serve as a good prophylaxis for your other pets.
   • The drug is applied to dry skin between the shoulder blades at the base of the neck. Never put it on your ear.
2. 2 If you have dogs, take them to your veterinarian. Selamectin is not intended for use in dogs. If you have a dog that can get ticks from a sick cat, talk to your veterinarian for preventive treatment.
3. 3 Protect your cat's paws. Use Fipronil spray, which kills ticks, fleas, lice and other parasites. Using this spray, you can kill all the ticks that have gotten into your cat's fur.
   • In addition, this will prevent re-infection, as the cat may touch the healed ear with a paw infected with ticks.
   • Fipronil is the active ingredient in many drugs such as Frontil. Check with your veterinarian about this.

Tips

• If the cat does not want to be treated, you can wrap it in a towel before dripping the medication.
• Don't worry, cat ear mites are not harmful to human ears!
• You can also use selamectin-based drugs to prevent the risk of re-infection. Once applied to the skin, selamectin is absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the cat's body, including the ear canal. As a rule, one application is enough to rid the cat of infection. Although this method is more convenient, medicated drops are more effective because they contain anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics that help fight bacterial infection.

Warnings

• Ear mite infections can be a serious problem if left untreated. This can damage the ear canals and eardrums and deform the mite-infested area. Ear mites are contagious and can be spread from cat to cat or dog and vice versa, so it is important to treat all pets at the same time.
• Over-the-counter medications are generally ineffective and can be hazardous to your pet's health.