Neurological Problems in a Cat Following Ear Mites & a Damaged Eardrum

With ear mites being a major cause of ear infections in cats, pet owners need to look for excessive ear scratching and head-shaking as symptoms that the biting bugs have taken up residence. Treatment of the tiny parasites is easy and inexpensive, but it needs to begin at the first sign of discomfort; it can take up to three weeks to destroy all the mites, and they are highly contagious among furry pets. If left untreated, these small creatures can damage a cat's eardrum, causing a host of serious problems for cats.

  1. Disorientation

    • As the ear mites cause an infection in the middle ear, a cat's sense of balance is compromised. It may cause the cat to walk into walls or furniture, repeatedly walk in a circle, tilt his head, pace or meow continually. Offering comfort may not help, and the cat may be irritable. The problem is usually only temporary; once the ear mites are treated and the middle ear is no longer irritated by their presence, the cat's sense of balance and equilibrium should return.

    Deafness

    • Ear mites feed on a cat's earwax. Their activity -- movement and biting -- causes irritation in the ear canal, producing more wax, or cerumen. When left untreated, the ear lining can scar and thicken. As the problem moves from the outer ear (all that is visible) to the middle ear, the eardrum can be perforated and burst. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, depending on how long the infection continues after the eardrum rupture and lining thickening occur.

    Facial Paralysis

    • Facial nerve paresis -- also known as facial paralysis or total dysfunction -- occurs when the seventh cranial nerve controlling facial muscles is damaged by chronic middle ear infections when ear mites are left untreated. It can occur on one or both sides of the face, and it is indicated by drooling, difficulty swallowing or facial muscles that droop. The cat may experience facial spasms, discharge from the affected eye and abnormal nose movements from one side of the face to the other. Hospitalization is required to treat the problem at this point, which could be permanent, depending on the damage to the nerve.

    Horner's Syndrome

    • This disorder occurs when middle-ear inflammation remains chronic and causes trauma to the soft tissues in the neck. The cat's nervous system is then disrupted, causing dropping of the upper eyelid on one side of the body, a sinking eyeball, a protrusion of the third eyelid -- also known as the nictitating membrane -- and constriction of the eye's pupil. If the chronic inflammation is treated, the cat's prognosis may improve, depending on how long it has been allowed to continue.