How to Treat Ear Mites in Cats

You can treat your cat's ear mites.

Ear mites are parasites that live in a pet's ear canal and feed on blood like fleas.

Things You'll Need

• Ear mite medicine
• Ear cleaner
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Towel
• Sheet

Instructions

Preparation

1. Gather all supplies and lay a sheet out flat. Open all medicine bottles and place them on a flat surface to avoid spillage.

2. Put your cat in the center of the sheet. Relax the cat by petting him and talking, move slowly so he does not become upset.

3. Wrapping one side of the sheet over the other, swaddle the cat as you would a newborn. Make sure her front feet are secure inside the sheet. Most cats calm down at this point, but if yours doesn't, there should be no way for her to escape.

Treat Ear Mites

1. Put a small amount of ear cleaner in his ears and rub vigorously. This will break up the dirt in the cat's ear canal and loosen the ear mites from the skin.

2. Wipe out the excess ear cleaner with cotton balls and swabs. Go into the ear canal until you feel slight resistance.

3. Repeat the cleaning process on both ears if necessary.

4. Add cat ear-mite medication to both ears, follow dosing instructions carefully. Gently massage both ears. The cat will immediately start to shake her head, but don't let go of the towel or the cat.

5. Continue to massage the cat, farther from the ears. Calm the cat down before letting the sheet go.

6. Put the towel on the floor with the cat still in it, and let the cat come out by himself. The longer the cat stays still, the better.

7. Watch the pet over the next few hours for any adverse reactions to the ear-mite treatment. If she shows any signs of distress--open-mouth breathing or panting for a prolonged period, hair loss around the ear, vomiting, diarrhea--call your veterinarian immediately.

8. Repeat the process as directed by the manufacturer or your veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow dosage instructions for any pet medications.

• Use a quality ear mite remedy, which will work faster and last longer.

• If the pet is scratching the outer ear, causing sores, call your veterinarian or buy a small Elizabethan collar (E-collar). This is the cone-shaped collar that protects the pet's head.

• Use only medications manufactured or prescribed for cats.

• Severe cases of ear-mite infestation in cats should be treated by a veterinarian.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish