Ear mites are small parasites that infest cat’s ears. They can also live on other areas of the body, but they tend to reside inside the ear canals. Ear mites are actually the primary cause of cat ear infections.
Ear mites love the warmth and dampness found in the deeper regions of the ear canal where the air is relatively stagnant. They feast on dead fragments of skin and ear wax. They make themselves at home by digging into the tissue in the ear canal which causes irritation and swelling. This irritation prompts the body to create more ear wax.
Symptoms of Ear Mites
Ear mites cause a lot of discomfort for your cat. The ear canal is a sensitive region which makes the burrowing of the mites is very painful. If your cat has ear mites, the first noticeable symptoms are the constant ear scratching and head shaking that result due to the itchy sensation the bugs cause.
The next symptoms of ear mites are flat or droopy ears and a bad smell residing in the ears. You might also realize that touching your cat’s ears causes a reaction to pain at this point.
Cats can injure their ears by scratching them too much. They can make them bleed or even rip small pieces off the tips of their ears. The shaking can also cause damage to their ears. Cats may shake their heads so violently that small arteries in their ears burst, which will cause scabbing or bruising.
If you suspect that your cat has ear mites, take a look inside their ears. The ear canal will be filled with a dark reddish or brown substance if the cat has ear mites. This substance is made up of dried blood and ear wax and is often described as looking like grounded coffee. Ear mites are actually visible to the naked eye and if you take a closer look into your cat’s ears, you will see small white dots running around.
Ear Mite Treatments
Once you recognize the symptoms of ear mites, you can purchase treatments such as Sentry Ear Miticide and ear cleansing pads at your local pet shop. Any excretions come from the wounds in your cat’s ears must be cleaned out daily. The medications must be applied everywhere in your cat’s ear canals, otherwise the mites will not be completely destroyed. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by your vet or the medication exactly because you need to attack each stage of the mite’s life cycle. Missing a single treatment can allow the ear mites to survive.
Revolution is a great medication if you want to get rid of ear mites, heartworm disease or fleas. It is a treatment that is applied to the skin of your cat, but only if it is older than 6 weeks. This treatment has to be prescribed by a vet.
Ear mites are extremely contagious and are easily passed between cats and even from cat to dog or dog to cat. If you are trying to rid your cat of ear mites, it is advised that you treat all of your pets simultaneously.
When to Contact Your Vet
If you are uncomfortable with applying the treatments yourself, or are grossed out by the sight of ear mites, schedule a visit to your vet. This option is much more expensive, but it is the best if you don’t know what illness your cat is suffering from.
Your vet will inspect your cat’s ears with an otoscope which is a specially designed magnifying instrument. They will most likely take a sample of the ear wax/blood mixture and analyze it under a microscope to ensure a proper diagnosis. Ear mites can cause significant damage to your cat’s ears if they aren’t dealt with. Their ears may become permanently deformed and deafness may also result if the ear drums are damaged.
Yeast and bacteria infections are also possible so contact your vet if you notice of the related symptoms. They will prescribe antibiotics to combat these infections.