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Typically, cats with ear mites have dark, coffee-ground-like deposits in their ear flaps.
Is your cat persistently scratching its ears or frequently shaking its head? Then ear mites might be to blame. This particular type of mite causes intense itching in cats. Read on to discover everything you need to know about ear mites in cats.
Ear mites typically don’t pose a serious danger to your cat. In very rare cases, an infection from the outer ear can spread to the middle or inner ear. However, this is quite uncommon.
Nevertheless, ear mites can cause unbearable itching for cats. Therefore, prompt and effective treatment against these mites is essential.
Ear mites trigger a condition in cats known as otodectic mange (Otitis externa parasitaria). Depending on the severity of the infestation, cats with ear mites may show various symptoms:
However, not every cat exhibits the full range of symptoms. In some cases, the typical deposits in the ears are the only sign of ear mites in cats.
Since ear mites in cats are difficult to see with the naked eye, a veterinarian needs to confirm the diagnosis. During the anamnesis and clinical examination of the cat, they first gather all important clues.
A special examination follows: Using an otoscope, the veterinarian examines the cat’s ears. This funnel-shaped tool, equipped with a lamp and magnifying glass, simplifies the inspection of the ear canal.
Sometimes, the mites can be seen as small, moving dots in the ear. If the ear canal is contaminated with a dark, waxy mass, the veterinarian takes a swab. Under the microscope, the mites are then clearly visible.
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Treatment for ear mites in cats involves both medicinal intervention and supportive measures. To kill all stages of the mites, treatment needs to extend over at least three weeks. You also need to treat all other cats in the household to prevent reinfestation.
Depending on the severity of the infestation, the veterinarian may prescribe various medications or combinations of medications for your cat, including:
For the medications to work optimally, a cautious cleaning of the outer ears with a moistened paper towel or an ear flush is recommended first, until all crusts have been removed.
To ensure your cat’s swift recovery, you should undertake additional measures. Contaminated surfaces, blankets, and objects (e.g., brushes) must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Additionally, you should regularly clean and care for your cat’s ears during treatment. Discuss the frequency and the ear cleansers to be used with your veterinarian. With some treatments, it’s crucial that the ears are not cleaned between therapies.
Most cases of ear mite infestation in cats are quite treatable. However, you must carry out the therapy consistently for at least three weeks to prevent these stubborn parasites from returning. The itching usually subsides within a few days.
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are responsible for causing otodectic mange in cats. These tiny spider-like creatures, about half a millimetre in size, cling to the skin of the cat’s ear canal with their long legs. Using their chewing mouthparts, they feed on skin cells and cellular secretions.
Female Otodectes cynotis lay their tiny eggs on the skin surface of the ear canal. After a few days, the larvae hatch and develop through two nymph stages (protonymph and tritonymph) into the adult stage.
The following preventative measures can help you prevent your cat from contracting ear mites. Since they are mainly transmitted through close contact with other infected cats, effective mite prevention in the form of collars or spot-ons is most effective. Regular cleaning of grooming products and warm sleeping spots is also important.
Pregnant queens should be screened for an infestation. Due to close contact with the kittens, transmission occurs rapidly. For this reason, infestations are particularly common in young cats and kittens.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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