What is ear mites?
Ear mites are known to cause blockage of the ear canal if not treated, and in severe cases, can lead to more serious skin infections. While these parasites can have severe effects on cats, they are generally easy to remove.
Ear mites are a common nuisance for pets, especially cats that have recently met new animals. The most common North American form, Otodectes cynotis, is a small wax-eating parasite in the ear canals of cats. This is distressing for cats, and often leads to them constantly playing with their ears in an attempt to remove the parasite. Pet owners can easily identify ear mites by the brown discharge they cause in a cat's ear.
Symptoms of ear mites in cats:
Because ear mites are so irritating to cats, an infected cat will usually try to remove them herself. If your cat exhibits any of the following symptoms, there is a good chance it is host to ear mites:
- Itching ears almost constantly
- Hair loss in and around the ears
- Brown discharge from the ears that looks like coffee grounds
- Strong unpleasant odor from the ears
- ear infection
- Continuous head shaking
- Dark red bumps or crusts in and around the ear
Causes of ear mites in cats
Ear mites are highly contagious, making up more than half of all ear infections in cats. It is easy for them to spread in the following ways:
- Contact with an infected pet
- Contact with an infected pet's toy or bed
- Lack of proper ear cleaning after exposure to an infected pet
Treating ear mites in cats
The good news is that there are several different ways to treat ear mites, and they are all easy and non-invasive. Depending on your vet's instructions, treatment could look like any of the following:
- Remove the dirt in the cat's ear whenever it is found
- Topical Medications: Often, your vet will prescribe medications that are placed directly into the ear and surrounding areas. These medications work in a similar way to lice shampoos in humans and completely kill off ear mites . These topical medications are usually prescribed for 2-3 weeks.
3 Reducing infection : Since ear mites come with a risk of infection, veterinarians usually prescribe ear drops or antibiotic treatment to relieve any infection a cat may be suffering from. The duration of treatment can vary, but it usually does not exceed one month.