If you notice any of the following symptoms, it's possible
that your cat may have ear mites. A trip to the vet will be necessary to
confirm the diagnosis. If untreated, an ear mite infestation can become severe
and lead to partial or complete hearing loss for your cat. Ear mites are also
terribly uncomfortable for your cat. The sooner you can get this situation
treated, the happier and healthier your cat will be.
Signs that Your Cat May Have Ear Mites:
- Excessive scratching of the ears
- Fresh or dried blood inside of the ear canal which may resemble coffee grounds. Small white dots might also be noticed: these are the actual mites. Excessive shaking of the head
- Dizziness and loss of balance
- A lopsided appearance with your cat favoring one ear
- Flattened ears and/or unpleasant odor
What does a cat ear mite infection look like? In this case
a picture really is worth a thousand words. Look for these things:
Ear mites on cats are not just found in the ears. This
parasite can travel all over the cat's body. Ear mites think other species are
tasty too, and they are very contagious. Without treatment, your cat's ear mite
infestation can spread to the family dog, rabbit or hamsters. All family pets
have to be treated if mites are found on just one animal. That's just one more
reason why a trip to your local veterinarian or pet health care clinic should
be scheduled if you suspect ear mites. Parasites are just one cause of cat
otitis (inflammation of the ear). Other causes include allergies, endocrine
diseases and tumors. Only a trip to the vet will provide you with a proper
diagnosis.
Two-Step Treatments For Ear Mites:
First you must treat the ears. Clean your cat's ears, then
apply ear mite drops to the ear canal for seven days. Ear mite medications are
safe and can even be applied to kittens. Your vet will probably begin the
treatment after diagnosis and then have you continue applying the drops from
home over the next week.
Because mites can be located outside the ear area, the
entire body of the cat should also be treated. The cat must be bathed with a
pyrethrin (anti-parasite) shampoo. These products are available everywhere -
pet stores, supermarkets or from your animal health care provider.
One of the most effective treatments for ear mites in your
cat is prevention. A monthly topical dose of Revolution (applied to the skin)
prevents an ear mite infestation from ever happening. In addition, Revolution
protects against fleas, hookworm, roundworm, and the extremely serious and
deadly heartworm. The only infestation is does not prevent is
"ringworm," which is a fungus and not actually a worm. There are
other medications to treat this syndrome in cats. Another product that protects
against ear mites is Advantage Multi. It is also applied on a monthly basis,
directly to your pet's skin.
Fast Facts About Feline Ear Mites:
- Ear mites are extremely tiny and not always visible to the naked eye, so a vet will have to examine your cat's ears with a special instrument known as an otoscope to confirm their presence.
- A secondary infection can result if the ear mite infestation is not treated. The sooner you bring your cat to the vet, the better. Your family pet health provider will check the cat's ears and may examine the discharge from the ears under a microscope.
- Other animals can catch ear mites from a cat, but humans cannot.
- The ear mite life cycle from eggs to adult takes about 21 days. From the time your cat becomes infected to the time the ear mites reach maturity, your kitty might be infested with hundreds or thousands of mites. A quick visit to the vet and prompt treatment is the best solution.
FOLLOW US!
