F.A.Q Kittens & Cats

I am worried about ear mites in my cat. How do I tell if she has any and are there any routine checks I should be doing?

Under normal circumstances a cat's ears will not become a problem as long as they are kept clean. You can gently clean the ear daily as part of the normal grooming routine. Do not poke anything into the ear canal, such as cotton buds, as this can rupture the eardrum. Use a mineral oil applied to a small square of lint or cotton and gently wipe the surface of the external ear.

You should also check your cat's ears at least once a week for a build - up of wax, any excessive matting of hair in the ear, redness or inflammation around the ear, and any foreign objects in the ear canal. Check for any dark, waxy secretion and any smell coming from the ear.
Ear mites are relatively common in cats, usually Otodectes cynotis that live within the ear canal, and the parasites often stimulate a dark brown waxy discharge. A secondary bacterial infection may cause a purulent discharge. Some cats with ear mites show no signs at all, but other can shake their head and rub their ears. This trauma can result in a haematoma, or blood clot, in the earflap.

All ear infections have to be taken very seriously, as any otitis externa infection (where the outer ear is infected) if untreated can penetrate the eardrum and cause otitis media, an infection of the middle ear. This again could progress to an infection of the inner ear and very rarely a brain infection.

When a cat does have an ear mite infection, you should always follow through the treatment given - the life cycle of the ear mite is three weeks, so you have to continue the prescribed treatment for at least this length of time. You should return to the vet after you have finished the treatment, even though the ear looks better, and you should certainly go back if the treatment isn't working! It is important that any drug the ear treatment contains is carried well down into the ear canal. Put the drops into the ear canal, and massage them down. You will hear a 'squelchy' sound. Excessive discharge is cleaned away with cotton wool or tissue, but never put anything down the ear canal itself.