Home environment: Even if your cats spend the majority of their time indoors, they can become infected with ear mites if they are exposed to gardens and balconies with plants and grasses.
While there are some methods that can kill mites, many at-home treatments do not kill the eggs of the mites. So it while it may appear that the mites are gone, the infestation will start again when the eggs hatch.
If your cat has ear mites, you'll need the help of your veterinarian to address the problem. Unlike other conditions your cat may develop, there's no effective home remedy for ear mites in cats that can kill mites quickly and with full confidence that these parasites won't bounce back in the coming weeks.
Even indoor-only cats can end up with them, and once one cat in the house has them, the others are sure to end up with them as well. Otodectes cynotis seen under a microscope. The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin.
Unfortunately you will always need to treat ear mites in your cat because they will not go away on their own. If treating ear mites in cats is delayed for too long you run the risk of chronic ear infections.
No. While it is important to clean your cat's ears when needed, over-cleaning may cause irritation in the ear canal and this can lead to infection.
If using a single use product such as Revolution one dose is often enough to get rid of an ear mite infection but it will still take up to three or four weeks for the infection to completely clear up. How do I prevent against ear mites? Ear mites are most prevalent among outdoor cats.
The most common way for a cat to catch ear mites is from another cat, but they can also be picked up from the home, garden and environment. Fortunately, treating ear mites is relatively simple. Contact your vet if you think your cat may have ear mites.
Speaking of washing bedding …
You'll want to do a thorough cleaning to avoid those trouble makers from coming back and setting up shop in your pet's precious ears … AGAIN! Ear mites can live 4-6 days without feeding on a host. Since they're microscopic they can be living in your carpet or on your couch.
Green tea is a natural antiseptic that will get rid of mites. It'll also help remove the “coffee grounds” debris. Massage your dog's ears gently (she should love this!)
A single cleaning and treatment with ear drops won't do the trick, because just one surviving female mite with eggs will reproduce. You must kill the living mites as well as the eggs. Finally, you have to keep your cat from being reinfested with mites.
Olive oil, mineral oil or coconut oil—oils are relatively safe to use, and olive oil can kill ear mites by smothering them though it takes many weeks to clear ear mites with this method. However, as before, if your pet has a serious ear infection, she needs proper medication to resolve the infection.
Again, it is important to visit your vet if you suspect that your dog has ear mites, as they will need to examine your dog's ears and look at a sample under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether a secondary ear infection is present.
They are most active at night, so clean and treat the ears each evening at bedtime.
Otherwise, some mites may survive to reinfect your dog. You will also need to disinfect your home. The home treatment for ear mites is similar to that of fleas. Thoroughly cleaning and vacuuming your home and treating all other animals in the household will help.
“There are many topical, oral, and systemic agents,” Dr. Miller notes, “and most—such as ivermectin—are highly effective. Even one old-time remedy—baby oil—can do the job. A few drops put into an affected ear several times a day for a month or so will usually smother the mites.”
Once home, a thorough cleaning of the house is in order. You'll need to cleanse any area of the home your pet frequents, as well as potentially treating any other animals in the house. After 30 days, your veterinarian will likely want to schedule another appointment to ensure your dog or cat is free of mites.
Cats affected by ear mites will scratch at their ears and shake their heads to attempt to relieve their discomfort, and you may notice that their ears droop. In severe cases, ear mites can lead to inflammation of the outer ear as well as the external ear canal.
Ear mites are tiny, spider-like creatures that are normally contracted from the outdoor environment that your feline friend comes into contact with. This can include wooded or grassy areas, or animal shelters or veterinary offices with poor hygiene.
The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a surface mite that lives on cats, dogs, rabbits, and ferrets. It is usually found in the ear canal but it can also live on the skin surface. Ear mites are highly contagious, and animals become infested by direct contact with another infested animal.
Next, use an over-the-counter solution for ear mites. Hartz® UltraGuard® Ear Mite Treatment for cats contains an insecticide that kills ear mites on contact. It can be applied daily for 7 to 10 days and repeated in two weeks if necessary.
Ear mites are typically treated with eardrops that are FDA-approved for this purpose, such as Acarexx®, MilbeMite®, or Otomite Plus®. Before starting treatment, your cat's ears should be thoroughly cleaned with an ear cleaner designed for cats. This will remove any debris and make the treatment more effective.
Some cats are more bothered by ear mites than others. Mites also stimulate the wax producing glands inside the ear canal. The result is a black, crusty build-up in the ears that resembles coffee grounds. This discharge is made of blood, wax, debris, and mites themselves.