Ear mites in cats
Ear mites are a very unpleasant condition that causes terrible itching in the ears. Fortunately, ear mites in cats are not very common and can be treated well. Pharmacy4pets offers everything you need to get your cat's ears clean and itch-free again!
Ear Infections in Cats
Ear infections are less common in cats than in dogs. Also, an ear infection in cats often occurs deeper in the middle ear, which sometimes leads to late discovery of the condition, partly because the symptoms are not always obvious. Ear mites are one of the possible causes of an ear infection, in addition to itching caused by an allergy, an infection with bacteria and/or yeasts, and polyps.
What Are Ear Mites?
Ear mites are small, spider-like creatures that feed on earwax and skin flakes. They cause irritation of the ear canal. In response, more earwax is produced, providing the mites with more food and allowing the infection to spread. Ear mites are most commonly found in kittens and are highly contagious. Ear mites can cause problems in multiple pets, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets. Ear mites can often be seen with an otoscope, an ear viewer with a strong magnifying glass, as small white dots that move. If in doubt, the earwax can be examined under a microscope.
Recognizing Ear Mites in Cats
Ear mites mainly cause a lot of itching. The following symptoms can be recognized in your cat:
- Scratching the ears, sometimes resulting in wounds.
- Shaking the head.
- Holding the head tilted and/or the ears flat.
- Dirt and odor from the ear canal.
Treating Ear Mites in Cats
Because ear mites in cats are so contagious, it's important to treat all animals in the house with an ear mite remedy. It's important to have the diagnosis made by a veterinarian. Ear infections can have various other causes and sometimes there is a secondary infection with bacteria and/or yeasts in addition to the inflammation caused by the ear mites.
Ear mites are usually treated by applying a pipette between the shoulder blades with a product that kills the ear mites from within. This product also works against fleas, lice, and roundworms. Sometimes an additional ear cleaner or ear ointment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and/or anti-yeast medication is given.
Otimectin is an ear ointment that kills the mites. This ointment should only be used if it's 100% certain that the eardrum is intact, otherwise, it can cause serious side effects. It should not be used in kittens under four months of age and not in certain dog breeds, such as Collies, which may be intolerant to the active ingredient. Also, the ointment should not be licked off. Due to these limitations, a pipette is often preferred for the treatment of ear mites.
If your cat has itchy ears, it's important to make the correct diagnosis through otoscopy. Ear mites are highly contagious, so it's important to treat all animals in the house. Pharmacy4pets helps you choose the right treatment so that your fluffy four-legged friend's ears are quickly clean and itch-free again!
If you have a question about our products or about ear mites in your cat, please contact us.