What You Should Know About Ear Mites in Cats - A Dirty Little Problem
An ear mite is a tiny parasite in the ear canal that live on dirt and ear wax.
Typically, a cat will begin to shake its head or scratch its ear a lot.
You might even see the ear lowered with the cats head tilted to the side.
Almost all of the time, ear mites present themselves as a dirty or reddish-brown particles.
They are highly contagious.
Be sure to watch other animals closely, including dogs, cats, or rabbits and ask your veterinarian about preventative treatment.
The most common way for animals to become infected is through contact with other animals where the parasite is present.
If you would like to try a home remedy and you are certain your cat is infected with mites, a few drops of mineral oil and a gentle massage can help break up the debris and allow you to clean out the ear more effectively.
If, after a month, this treatment does not help, seek medical help.
In order to diagnose ear mites in cats, your veterinarian will take a swab sample from your cats ear and look at it under a microscope.
You can also do this at home by taking a Q-tip and gently swabbing the cats ear and placing the debris on dark paper.
If anything moves, your cat likely has ear mites.
If your feline is positive for ear mites, it might be suggested to come back for a follow up appointment to make sure all traces of the parasites are gone.
Treating ear mites in cats requires continual cleaning of the ears and three weeks of prescription anti-fungal drops placed inside the ears.
If you are uncomfortable cleaning your cats ears, ask your vet to show you how to do it effectively and safely or take your cat back to have them cleaned professionally.
Typically, a cat will begin to shake its head or scratch its ear a lot.
You might even see the ear lowered with the cats head tilted to the side.
Almost all of the time, ear mites present themselves as a dirty or reddish-brown particles.
They are highly contagious.
Be sure to watch other animals closely, including dogs, cats, or rabbits and ask your veterinarian about preventative treatment.
The most common way for animals to become infected is through contact with other animals where the parasite is present.
If you would like to try a home remedy and you are certain your cat is infected with mites, a few drops of mineral oil and a gentle massage can help break up the debris and allow you to clean out the ear more effectively.
If, after a month, this treatment does not help, seek medical help.
In order to diagnose ear mites in cats, your veterinarian will take a swab sample from your cats ear and look at it under a microscope.
You can also do this at home by taking a Q-tip and gently swabbing the cats ear and placing the debris on dark paper.
If anything moves, your cat likely has ear mites.
If your feline is positive for ear mites, it might be suggested to come back for a follow up appointment to make sure all traces of the parasites are gone.
Treating ear mites in cats requires continual cleaning of the ears and three weeks of prescription anti-fungal drops placed inside the ears.
If you are uncomfortable cleaning your cats ears, ask your vet to show you how to do it effectively and safely or take your cat back to have them cleaned professionally.
