Cost Of Treating Ear Mites In Cats
Holistic treatment for ear mites in your cat can cost between $5 and $70, depending on the severity of the infection. While a veterinarian will likely recommend a holistic medicine for your cat, you can also choose to use a topical treatment to kill ear mites. Using topical medications is the most convenient solution, but they can only get rid of adult mites.
Many holistic treatments include a natural ingredient. Aromatherapy oils are known to reduce inflammation and itchiness. They can also moisturize the skin and promote fast healing. Essential oils can be diluted with a carrier oil before administering them to your cat. If youre considering a natural treatment, consider using a mix of lavender, rosemary, or tea tree oil. These products are known to help alleviate itchiness and make ears less conducive to mites.
Before applying any treatments to your cat, its important to clean out the ears thoroughly. It is possible that the infection is caused by something other than ear mites. If the infection has spread to other parts of the body, consider using an all-natural solution. These solutions wont cost you a dime. Moreover, holistic treatments dont use harmful chemicals, so theyre safe for your cat to use.
Why Wont My Cats Ear Mites Go Away
There are a few reasons why your cats ear mites might not be going away. First, you might not be treating them correctly. Make sure you are using a product that is specifically designed to kill ear mites, and that you are following the directions carefully. Secondly, your cat might have a underlying health condition that is causing the ear mites to keep coming back. If this is the case, you will need to take your cat to the vet to get treated. Finally, ear mites can be very stubborn and it might take a few rounds of treatment to finally get rid of them. Be patient and keep treating your cat until the ear mites are gone for good.
Ear mites are a type of mite found in cats ears and other small mammals. The eggs of these animals are infected with other animals and breed quickly after hatching. When a mite successfully moves to the ear and reproduces, it is the only time that an ear mite infestations occurs. If your cat has an ear mite colony, it may appear dirty because it has a large colony. Other signs and symptoms, such as the presence of parasites in other parts of the body, will usually tell owners whether they have one. The local veterinarian can examine your cat with an otoscope and a cotton swab for mites and mite eggs. Ear mites can be treated at home in cats, but this is not the most effective method.
What Do Vets Recommend For Ear Mites
After the ears have been thoroughly cleaned, your veterinarian may prescribe a parasiticide medication to be applied to the inside of your dog or cat’s ear, or directly on their skin to remove the mites. Depending on the severity of the infection, your veterinarian may also recommend a course of antibiotics.
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Treating A Cat With Ear Mites
Treating your cat’s case of ear mites is a three-step process. The first step is to get as many mites out of the ear canal as possible using an ear cleaning solution for cats. Put several drops of the solution into the ear canal and massage gently. Massaging will help bring debris up to the outer part of the ear where you can wipe it away with a cotton ball or tissue. Do not use cotton swabs because you could inadvertently damage the eardrum. Repeat the cleaning procedure until the debris is gone.
Ear mites can be killed using over-the-counter medicines, but be sure you choose one that is safe to be used on cats. Pyrethrin is the active ingredient in most ear mite medications, and it’s toxic to cats. Most vets recommend using a topical solution that contains ivermectin as the primary ingredient instead. You can find one at most pet supply stores.
Follow the directions on the topical carefully, making sure to massage the drops in well and wipe away any excess. A single cleaning and treatment with ear drops won’t do the trick, because just one surviving female mite with eggs will reproduce. You must kill the living mites as well as the eggs.
If your home remedies clear up the infestation, or the skin in or around your cat’s ears become raw or inflamed, you should take your cat to the vet. She can prescribe medications that work faster than over-the-counter meds. Untreated ear mites can lead to a skin disease or to a serious ear infection.
Originally Published: May 20, 2011
What Causes Ear Mites In Cats
Ear mites are contagious, typically spreading from one infected animal to another. As mites can also infest dogs and wild animals, there are plenty of opportunities for your cat to come into contact with mites daily, particularly if your cat goes outside or has spent time in an animal shelter.
Cats can also catch mites from contaminated surfaces, like bedding and grooming tools, and environments like boarding facilities.
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How To Treat Ear Mites In Cats
Ear mites in cats are a treatable condition. Both systemic and topical treatments are available, including systemic selamectin, moxidectin, ivermectin, and milbemycin. Your veterinarian may also clean your cats ears with an appropriate cleaning solution.
In some cases, additional treatment measures may be necessary to treat secondary infections. Scratching can open your cats ears to fungal and bacterial ear infections, which will require medication to resolve.
Be Ready For A Mite Fight
Getting rid of your cats ear mites is a multi-step process.
- Your cats ears need to cleaned before any medicine can get to the source. Your vet may do the first cleaning right at the office. Dont hesitate to ask for any and all tips so you can continue the process at home.
- Your vet will prescribe an ear cleaning solution, plus a parasiticide to kill the mites.
- If your cat has mites plus an ear infection, youll also get a prescription for an antibacterial or antifungal medication to treat the infection.
- Following your veterinary teams instructions carefully, make sure to gently clean your cats ears and apply any medication as directed.
- Come in for a checkup in about 2-3 weeks to make sure your cats ears are improving and the mites are on the run.
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Directly Applying White Vinegar
The acidity in the white vinegar will help remove dirt and debris left behind from the ear mites, as well as maintaining a healthy equilibrium in the ears. Any adolescent or adult ear mites will be killed once they come in contact with the vinegar.
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Notes: It is important to avoid using this remedy on cats who have open sores, cuts, or scabs present in the ears as the white vinegar can cause a painful, burning effect.
What Causes Of Ear Mites In Cats
You may begin reading about ear mites and wonder how these parasites get into your cat’s ears and cause them such misery. Certain cat owners will eventually inquire of their veterinarian, ‘What causes ear mites in cats?’ Due to their high contagiousness, ear mites can easily spread from infected animals to infected animals. While ear mites are most prevalent in cats, they are also found in dogs and other wild animals. If your cat spends time in boarding facilities or outdoors and comes into contact with another animal or a contaminated surface such as a grooming tool or bedding, ear mites can be easily transmitted.
Shelter cats also commonly contract ear mites, so be sure to check your newly adopted cat for ear mites and schedule a routine exam with your vet as soon as possible.
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How Can Ear Mites Be Prevented In Cats
As with most pet parasites, hygiene and regular checkups are always key to prevention. Keep your cats toys and bedding clean, and check their ears on a regular basis . As mentioned previously, have any newly-adopted pets checked by your vet to help prevent ear mites from spreading to the pets already in your home. Revolution and Advantage-Multi are both labeled for the treatment and control of ear mites. That means that both products will kill ear mites as well as prevent future infections.
Directly Applying Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is a powerful agent in combating ear mites in cats. The food grade Diatomaceous Earth will kill any adult or newly hatched ear mites present, but not the eggs. This is why it is important to continue this treatment for at least one month to ensure you have broken the ear mites cycle.
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The Best Ear Mite Treatment For Cats That Actually Worksreviewed And Ranked
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They may be minuscule, but ear mites cause major irritation in cats. These tiny terrors feed on the oils and earwax found in your pets ear canal where they cause discomfort, unpleasant discharge, and crusty build-up .
Signs of an ear mite infestation include:
- Constant scratching, rubbing, or shaking of the head
- Waxy or crusty discharge
- Red rash in the ear
As the second most common parasite in cats after fleas, theres a good chance youll need to purchase ear mite mediation at some point. And since these tiny critters are extremely contagious and can lead to infection, youll want to treat affected cats ASAP.
Here are 5 effective ear mite treatments for cats that really work.
- Includes aloe and lanolin to soothe and heal
- Safe for cats and dogs over 12 weeks old
- Formulated for kittens and puppies under five pounds
- Includes 3 liquid doses of selamectin, a safe topical parasitic
- Vet script required
- Only needs to be administered once a month
- Treats and controls ear mites, prevents flea infestations, and heartworm disease
- Each tube contains enough medication to kill ear mites on contact
- No prescription necessary
- Can be used on cats, dogs, kittens, puppies, and rabbits
- Non-oily lotion
How To Get Rid Of Ear Mites In Cats
If you suspect your cat is suffering from an ear mite infestation, then dont panic. Mites may be unpleasant, but they are fortunately pretty easy to evict. In many cases, you may start by treating the symptoms. ear mite treatment for cats
Trying to soothe the itch or preventing infection seems like it would be the most effective solution to your cats discomfort, but its only a temporary solution unless you treat the underlying issue.
Fortunately, ear mite solution for dogs and cats is a pretty easy-to-find, over-the-counter medication that most pet stores and vets can sell you. They are typically an oily formula that is dropped in the ear for a few days to a week to kill off the mites at all life stages.
More severe infestations that have caused secondary infection or damage may require an antibiotic, so talk to your vet if you arent sure of the right treatment for your cats itchy ear issues.
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Runner Up: Adams Medication For Ear Mites For Dogs & Cats
This ear mite remedy is similar to the previous product but contains lanolin as an additional soothing ingredient. While pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide tackle the ear mite infestation, aloe and lanolin address your cats itchy ears and help start the healing process.
Because this product contains an insecticide, it kills ear mites on contact. Adams recommends applying 4 to 5 drops per ear, per day and repeating the treatment for 7 to 10 days. If your cats ear mite infestation returns, it is safe to repeat the treatment cycle two weeks after the first.
In addition to killing ear mites and addressing itching, this treatment helps remove the wax buildup that often accompanies an infestation. Plus, it is safe for use in both cats and dogs.
Best Natural: Arava Natural Ear Mite Treatment
If youre trying to avoid chemical ingredients like Ivermectin, this all-natural formula from Arava could be a good option. It contains 9 natural ingredients and 26 Dead Sea minerals to safely and naturally resolve your cats ear mite infection.
This formula contains natural pest-repelling ingredients like lemongrass and peppermint along with natural antibacterial and antifungal ingredients like thyme, cinnamon, and eastern red cedar. Because it doesnt contain any hazardous chemicals, its completely safe for pets and can be used around children.
The thing to remember with this product is that continued use is required for maximum efficacy. Aruva recommends applying the product every 2 days for at least 10 days. Many customers noticed a difference in their cats right away, though some found it didnt work or dried out their cats ears.
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What Are Ear Mites In Cats
Ear mites in cats are common. They are parasites that normally live in the ear canal and sometimes on the surface of the skin. Ear mites cause a condition known as otodectic mange. While not life-threatening, ear mites are contagious to other animals and can cause severe irritation to your feline companion.
This Post Has 7 Comments
Anyone who would put hand sanitizer in their cats ears are extremely stupid and cruel. That cant possibly be right.
Get grade A Diamestic Earth. Non grade is toxic.
I agree about the hand sanitizer or even vinegar. Seems to me that these harsh ingredients would be painful. I use aloe from my plant or mineral oil and either works great while keeping my baby girl purring !
Hand sanitizers should never be used deep in cats ears as they have a high percentage of alcohol, and from experience, will sting even hands where skin has a small break and not even in the outer part of ears if any redness. Both alcohol and peroxide, and also vinegar will burn inside the ear where mites have been biting and burrowing. Apparently, even some Veterinary products for pets ears, both over the counter and prescription, also have alcohol or other substances which will sting or burn skin within cats ears, but at least is combined appropriately with other substances to treat and soothe the ears. People really need to have a Veterinary exam to make sure that there isnt redness or open skin from ear infection before using products that will burn or make the situation worse, plus to get an appropriate antibiotic if needed.
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Directly Applying Psorinum Or Sulfur
Although Psorinum and Sulfur are known to be quite odorous, both of them are highly effective in treating ear mites gently and quickly. Using Psorinum or Sulfur will help ease any irritation and itching caused by the ear mites as well as promotes healing within the ears.
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This is a summary of the coverages in your pet health insurance policy from Fetch. No coverage is provided by this summary nor can it be construed to replace any provision of your policy. You should read your policy and review your Declarations page for complete information on the coverages you are provided. If there is any conflict between the policy and this summary, the provisions of the policy shall prevail.
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What Are The Clinical Signs Of Ear Mites
Ear mites are a common cause of ear disease and infection, although other ear conditions may cause similar clinical signs. They are the second most common ectoparasite found on pets the most common is the flea.
Infestations are a very common problem in puppies and kittens, although pets of any age can be affected. Clinical signs of infestation vary in severity from one pet to another, and may include combinations of:
Skin lesions most frequently affect the ear and surrounding skin but occasionally other areas of the body may be affected.