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Ear mites in cats are a fairly common ailment. They can cause your cat a significant amount of discomfort, and in some cases, damage your cat’s hearing.

Some cats seem to develop immunity to mites, so younger cats are more likely to to be afflicted. Cats with suppressed immune systems are likewise at higher risk. If left untreated, they can lead to accompanying secondary bacterial and yeast infections.

What are they? — Mites are the most common cause of outer-ear inflammation in cats. They are tiny crab-like parasites that typically live in and around a cat’s ears, and also on the head. In more extreme cases, they can cause a rupture of the ear drum, and may lead to deafness and even seizures.

Younger cats are typically more bothered by mites than older cats, which may be due to the immunity that can develop over time.

Symptoms of mites — The most common symptoms of ear mites in cats are head shaking and excessive scratching of the ears. The most obvious sign is a build up of dry, black wax that often resembles coffee grounds.

As can happen with parasite infestation, secondary bacterial infection is not uncommon. Some cats may experience a loss of hair around the ears, and the waxy build up may cause additional irritation in the ear.

In more severe cases, excessive scratching may cause ulceration at the back of the ear. This may lead to permanent disfigurement.

Treating mites — To avoid damage to the ear, treatment for ear mites in cats should be done by a veterinarian and begins with cleaning out the ears.

The wax may be softened with mineral oil prior to flushing out the ears. This breaks up the wax and removes a large number of mites.

After the ears are cleaned, an ear mite treatment can be administered. Flea control medication is often used to prevent a recurrence of infestation by any mites that have migrated to some place other than the ear. Over-the-counter remedies will typically take longer to work than the ear mite treatment preparations from your veterinarian.

Ear mites in cats can also be spread to other animals in the house, including people. Physical contact with affected cats, therefore, should be limited. This is a very treatable condition, although treatment may take quite some time in more severe cases, and your veterinarian may administer “off-label” drugs.

Tags: Pets

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