Ear Mites in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment, by Cats on YouTube. 9 min 14 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 14 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes plus 3 to 4 weeks o
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Watch for the signs: frantic scratching at the ears, constant head shaking and a dark, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds inside the ear canal.
Book a vet visit before you treat anything. Bacteria, yeast and allergies cause similar symptoms, and only a vet can confirm mites.
Let the vet look inside the ear with an otoscope and swab some wax. Under the microscope, ear mites show up as tiny moving specks.
Clean the ears first with a vet-approved cleaner. Squeeze a few drops into the canal, massage the base of the ear for 20 to 30 seconds, then let your cat shake.
Wipe the outer flap and the folds you can see with a cotton pad. Never push a cotton bud down the canal, because it packs wax in and can damage the eardrum.
Apply the prescribed ear drops exactly as directed, often twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Hold the ear flap up so the drops run down into the canal.
Treat every cat and dog in the house at the same time, even the ones with no symptoms. Ear mites pass easily between pets.
Keep going for the whole course, which can run 3 to 4 weeks. Eggs keep hatching, and the medicine only kills the live mites.
Wash pet bedding in hot water, vacuum soft furnishings and wipe hard surfaces to clear mites and eggs from the home.
Go back for a recheck so the vet can confirm the mites are gone. Call sooner if the ears get redder, smell bad or seem painful.
Tips and common mistakes
Never share ear drops between pets or use leftover medicine from an old bottle.
Wrap your cat in a towel with only the head out to make ear cleaning and dosing calmer for both of you.
Mites often cause a secondary bacterial infection, so mention any bad smell or thick pus to your vet.
Clean bedding and scratching posts on the same day you start treatment to avoid reinfection.
Questions
Can I catch ear mites from my cat?
Human infections are very rare and short lived. Dogs and other cats are the real risk, so treat every pet in the home.
How do I know it is mites and not just ear wax?
Mite debris is dark, dry and crumbly like coffee grounds, and the itching is intense. Only a vet with a microscope can confirm it.
Do I have to finish the whole course if the ears look better?
Yes. Stopping early leaves eggs behind and the mites come back within weeks. Finish every dose your vet prescribed.
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.
