How to Get Rid of Ear Mites in Cats Effectively

What are these mites?

As Ehomeremedies.com notes, they “are tiny, crab-like creatures that will feed on dead skin cells, waxy build, and even latch on and drink blood from your pet.” These eight-legged creatures are hardly visible to the naked eyes and can infest
felines of any age.

Mites are very easy to transmit and can be spread through direct or indirect contact. They can easily crawl for cats to cats, to dogs, to rabbits, humans and other pets.

Symptoms of ear mites in cats

It is very important for pet owners to know not only how to spot these parasites but also what actions to take against them.

Apart from the expected ear and head shaking, mild itching, inflammation, swelling, and redness, other symptoms can be severe, especially when there is an infection.

You should seek the help of a vet immediately you discover the following symptoms:

• Thick and cranky discharge
• Strong stuffy odor
• Huge amounts of waxy build-up
• An overwhelming urge to shake the head

Once you notice these symptoms on your feline friends, we recommend
that these parasites be exterminated using the various ways we are going to discuss. Remember, dawdled treatment could even result in loss of hearing. Yes, it’s that serious!  Therefore, a good pet owner should thus consider immediate treatment.

Fortunately, cat and kitten ear mite treatments are usually very simple and cheap. You will not spend much money.  Animalplanet.com confirms that “treatment of ear mites is fairly simple and keeping them away from your cat requires just a little effort.”

Products to try 

Some of the products you can buy to help deal with cat ear mites include Otomite plus Ear Mite Treatment, Four Paws Ear Mite Remedy, Petpost Pet Ear Cleaner Wipes for Dogs and Cats.  In case of infections, use Pet MD Otic Clean Dog Ear Cleaner for Cats and Dog

If your feline is already infested and wondering about how you can get rid of them, we have all you need. Here are the various effective remedies:

Ear mite remedies and treatments

On most occasions, skin mites on cats can be eliminated through the application, the various vet recommended treatments which will cost you some money. However, there are copious natural remedies for ear mites in cats
available in our homes.

Note that, before you begin any cat mite remedy, make sure to have all that you need. For instance, you should have cotton balls, a small piece of towel or clean cloth, a small dish, and cotton gauzes.

Secondly, ensure you thoroughly clean the feline’s ear before you apply any home remedy. Here are the common remedies to try

1. Clean bedding and cages

Before you begin treating them, consider cleaning and sanitizing their bedding and cages. This is a very important preventive measure every pet owner should ensure. It will avoid recurrence.

Discard or clean the bedding and cages that your feline slept before she or he was diagnosed with mites.

Also, you can begin vacuuming your home daily to get rid of any mites that may be on hangings, carpets, and soft furnishings.

2. Mix garlic and olive oil

Garlic has anti-bacterial properties while olive oil has moisturizing effects. A combination of two would thus act as a healing agent for sore and prevent infections.

• Add chopped cloves of garlic to warm olive oil in a dish
• Allow the mixture to stay for twelve hours
• Use a dropper to collect several drops and apply them to your feline’s ears or skin
• Message to ensure the mixture spreads to the entire ear  
• Repeat the remedy each day for about three weeks.

3. Aloe vera

Aloe vera has moisturizing and healing properties for the affected skin. It also has antibacterial properties that would help manage bacterial infections that may arise due to mite infestations.

• Cut aloe vera leaf to extract the gel
• Apply the gel directly to the feline’s affected area
• You can repeat this remedy once in a day for up to a week

4. Mineral oil for ear mites

This is a wonderful soother that will do away with the resultant itching and inflammation. This product would also moisturize and heal your feline’s affected area.

• Fill an eye dropper with mineral oil (halfway)
• Apply the several drops in the ear canal
• Use a cotton swab to spread the mineral oil to cover the whole ear.
• Use this remedy twice a day for about one month

5. Almond oil and vitamin 

This another wonderful remedy to treat ear mites in moggies. The mixture of these two products will also moisturize and heal any wound that may have resulted.

• Mix Almond oil and the vitamin E in a small bowl
• Use a dropper to apply drops of the mixture on the affected area
• Massage it well to ensure the mixture reaches to all areas affected
• Remove any excess debris or wax using a cotton ball
• Use this remedy once in a day for a week

6. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial and antifungal agent. It will also help to heal and soothe any damaged skin tissue.

• Gentle heat coconut oil in a spoon
• Use a small syringe to squirt a little oil into the ear canal
• Gently massage the oil to allow it to reach all parts of the ear
• Use a cotton swab to remove any visible debris

7. Apple cider vinegar

The acid in apple cider vinegar will kill mites. However, before you proceed, make sure you dilute the apple cider vinegar since it can be harsh on the cat’s delicate skin.

• Dilute a relative amount of apple cider vinegar in a small bowl
• Use a cotton ball to apply it on the affected areas
• Make sure you remove any noticeable debris
• Use this remedy thrice in a week

8. Hand sanitizer

This is another great product to heal your furry friend’s ears and get rid of the mites. It will also help eliminate a few other parasites.

• Apply a small amount of hand sanitizer directly in the ear
• Massage it on the skin to make sure it fully come into contact with the entire area
• Repeat the process twice daily until you notice significant changes

9. Hydrogen peroxide

This product will help avert further infections. It will also get rid of any build-up of wax or debris.

• Soak a cotton ball in a solution of a hydrogen peroxide
• Wipe the cotton ball on the affected area
• Repeat the process twice daily until you notice positive results

Prevention and treatment

If the mites are not responding to the home remedies, please see a vet immediately for further treatments.

After making a proper diagnosis, the vet may recommend over the counter products such as ear mite drops for cats, or stronger treatments depending on the severity of the infestation. 

Before you use the various medications, make sure the vet explains the treatment steps. While treating them, make sure you give your pet great care as she or he recovers and avoid recurrence. 

After treatment, ensure you stop recurrence by enhancing hygiene. To achieve this, treat your pets with selamectin which is a good parasite controller. It is available for both cats and dogs. This product will prevent reinfection.

As an additional preventive measure, make sure you protect your cat’s paw. Spray them with topical treatments that kill mites such as fipronil.  

Conclusion

Usually, mites cannot cause great damage to the feline’s ear if they discovered earlier and treated in time. Always check for any signs of any parasites regularly. 

Further Readings

• https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/home-remedies-for-cats-with-ear-mites.htm