If you cat is relentlessly scratching at her ears, shaking her head or rubbing her head on the carpet, it is a good sign that she might have ear mites. A trip to your veterinarian will determine if you cat truly does have ear mites or if there are other causes for her discomfort.

What are Ear Mites?
Ear mites, or Otodectes Cynotis infest the skin and out ear canal in both dogs and cats. They live on the skin and feed in the ear canal, causing irritation. They develop into adults in about 3 weeks and have a lifespan of about 2 months. Young cats are the most susceptible to infestation as mites are highly contagious. They can be passed from cat to dog and vice versa.

How do I know my cat has ear mites?
Ear mites cause irritation in the ears. Your cat will be scratching her hears and shaking her head. The amount of scratching and shaking will vary with the severity of the infestation. With a severe infestation, your cat’s ears will look like they are filled with coffee grounds. This is actually dried blood resulting from the infestation.

Your veterinarian will examine your cat’s ears to determine if she has a mite infestation. Additionally, the rest of the cat’s body will be examined as mites can also live outside of the ears. Do not treat your cat for mites until you have a veterinarian’s diagnosis, using a mite treatment without diagnosis could further irritate an infected ear.

How are ear mites treated?
Ear mites are most commonly treated with an ear wash that contains pyrethrin, such as Bio-Groom Ear Mite Treatment. Some veterinarians have also used Frontline Plus to treat ear mite infestations. Because it takes 3 weeks for the mites to develop, a treatment period can vary from 2 to 4 weeks.

You can also use flea sprays, dips or shampoos that contain pyrethrin on your cat to help kill any mites that are residing outside of the ear canals.

Don’t forget to treat all of your pets, as ear mites are highly contagious!