How to Spot and Treat Cat Ear Mites

The first step in ear mite treatment is checking your cat for ear mites. A cat can have an infected, itchy ear and not have ear mites. The best way to test for ear mites is by allowing a vet to check your cat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Hold your cat in front of you while you sit behind her to check for cat ear mites. If you are in front of her, she may get scared. Sitting behind a cat makes them feel less threatened.

2. Gently fold back the ear, to check for ear mites. Fold the ear back enough to reveal the inside.

3. Check for a brown, sticky substance--this substance is cat ear wax. It can range from light brown to black in color.

4. Gently use a cotton ball and white some of the wax off the ear. Rub the wax onto a piece of white paper and check for extremely small white specs. Some people say that they can see these white specs move, others claim that is bogus, but you can check for yourself.

5. Purchase over the counter ear mite treatment removal medicine. Many department and pet stores carry this product for five to 10 dollars.

6. Read and follow the directions carefully. Most ear mite treatment medicines will have you dispense about four drops into each ear and gently massage the ear--repeating once each day for about a week.

Tips & Warnings

• Scratching the ears, crying and tilting the head to the side, and shaking the head often are signs that your cat may have ear mites. However, this is not a definite sign of cat ear mites. Wax build up could be a sign that your cat has an ear infection--not ear mites. If you are not for sure, the best way to tell is by getting an inexpensive check-up with your veterinarian. This check-up will be short, and getting ear mite treatment can be a cheap process.
• A small about of ear mite treatment medicine can be rubbed around the outer ear, as ear mites can occasionally live in these spots in addition to the ear canal.
• Cats often get yeast infections in their ears, which will look like they have ear mites.
• If after treatment, the ear wax does not go away--you should seek a vet's help. Your cat probably does not have ear mites, but she may have another issue with her ears.
• Ear mites are very contagious. They can spread amongst your other pets quickly. Humans do not get cat ear mites.