Ear Mites in Cats: Recognizing and Treating

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.

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 ear mites? — Mites are small, crab-like parasites and are the most common cause of outer-ear inflammation in cats. They typically live on the head, and in and around the ears. In more severe 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 tear into the skin at the back of the ear, which may lead to permanent scarring.

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.

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.