How To Get Rid of Ear Mites on Your Cat | Chewtorials, by Chewy on YouTube. 2 min 39 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 39 s
- Time to do it
- About 1 hour at the vet, plus
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Watch for the signs: dark, waxy discharge that looks like coffee grounds, itching, redness and head shaking. If you spot them, book a vet visit.
Put your cat in a carrier and take her in. The vet looks inside the ears with an otoscope and takes a sample to check for mites.
Ask the vet to check for secondary bacterial or yeast infections. An inflamed ear makes these more likely, and they need separate treatment.
Give the anti-parasitic medicine exactly as prescribed. Your vet may pick an oral medicine or a topical solution you apply to the skin once a month.
Use any antibiotic or antifungal ear drops for the full course, even if the ears look better after a few days.
Treat every other cat, dog and ferret in the home, even if none of them show symptoms. Ear mites pass easily between pets.
Wash your cat's bedding and vacuum the spots where pets sleep. Throw out the vacuum bag or empty the canister outside.
Book a checkup six to eight weeks after treatment ends, or sooner if your cat had a secondary infection. The vet confirms the mites are gone.
If you foster kittens or bring in new cats, ask your vet about a monthly parasite preventive labeled for ear mites.
Tips and common mistakes
Skip home remedies like oil, vinegar or garlic. None are proven safe or effective for ear mites.
Never push a cotton swab or drops deep into the ear canal. Use only what your vet prescribes and follow the label.
Treat all the pets in the house at the same time so mites do not bounce back and forth.
Finish the whole course even if the itching stops early, or the mites can return.
Questions
Can I treat ear mites at home without a vet?
No. There are no safe, effective home remedies. A vet needs to confirm the mites and rule out a bacterial or yeast infection before you treat.
How long does ear mite treatment take?
Treatment usually runs for a few weeks, and your vet will want a checkup six to eight weeks after you finish to make sure the mites are gone.
Are ear mites contagious to my other pets?
Yes. They spread easily between cats, dogs and ferrets, so every animal in the household needs treatment at the same time.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
