Spotting and Treating Ear Mites in Cats

By Kurt Schmitt | February 3, 2010

Ear mites in cats are a fairly common occurrence in the United States. They can be very unpleasant for your cat, and in more severe cases, dangerous.

If left untreated, they can lead to secondary bacterial and yeast infections. Over time, some cats seem to develop immunity to mites, so younger cats with developing immune systems are more likely to to be afflicted. Cats with weakened immune systems are at higher risk as well.

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

Some cats are very sensitive to mite infestations and others don’t seem to be disturbed by it much. Younger cats are typically more bothered than older cats.

Symptoms — Frequent scratching of the ears and shaking of the head are the most common symptoms. The most obvious sign of ear mites in cats is a build up of black wax that looks like coffee grounds.

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

In more severe cases, excessive scratching may tear into the skin at the back of the ear, which may lead to permanent scarring.

Treatment — Treatment of ear mites in cats should be done by a veterinarian in order to avoid possible damage to the ear. Treatment begins with cleaning out the cat’s 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.

Once the ears have been flushed out, an ear mite treatment can be used. While they may be effective at eradicating mites, over-the-counter remedies will typically take longer than those provided by your veterinarian. Flea control medication is often used to prevent a recurrence of infestation by any mites that have migrated to other parts of the body.

It’s necessary to limit physical contact with affected cats in order to prevent the spread of the mites to other household members. While this condition is very treatable, in more difficult cases, your veterinarian may administer “off-label” drugs.

Author Kurt Schmitt has created an online resource for cat lovers including information on cat illnesses and ear mites in cats

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