How to Use Olive Oil to Drown Ear Mites

If your cat is shaking its head and pawing at its ears, it may have ear mites, a common feline infection. These tiny tick-like organisms are so small they can't be seen without a microscope, but if you wipe your cat's ear with a cotton ball moistened in olive oil and see a dry black discharge that looks like coffee grounds, it's a good indicator that ear mites are present. While drowning the ear mites in olive oil won't completely kill the infestation, it will offer temporary relief, according to "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats."

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2 ounce olive oil
  • 400 IU liquid Vitamin E
  • Dropper bottle
  • Hot water
  • Cotton ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix ½ ounce of olive oil and 400 IU liquid Vitamin E in a dropper bottle.

    • 2

      Put the dropper bottle into hot water to warm the mixture to body temperature.

    • 3

      Insert half a dropper full of the warm solution in each of the cat's ears, being careful not to let the cat scratch or bite you. This may require an extra set of hands to properly restrain the cat.

    • 4

      Massage the ears gently.

    • 5

      Clean out the ear gently with a cotton ball.

    • 6

      Repeat treatment for six days or until a veterinarian can properly diagnose and treat your cat.