Ear Mite Symptoms in Cats

Ear mites are parasites that have infested a pet's ear. A huge complication that results from ear mites in cats is aural hematoma, which means the blood vessels inside the ear have ruptured due to excessive scratching. Aural hematoma can only be corrected with surgery, so it's important to recognize the many symptoms of ear mites in cats before it's too late.

  1. Head Shaking and Scratching

    • When cats have ear mites, they can feel them crawling around in their ears. Many times they will try to shake out the ear mites by repeatedly shaking their head from side to side. They will also scratch at their ear frequently. If you notice scratches around the cat's ears, this is usually an indication that there are ear mites.

    Bacteria Infection

    • Ear mites can lead to a bacterial infection, which has symptoms of its own. A bacterial infection within or around the ear will result in loss of hair in certain areas and small bumps. Scabs are another symptom of bacterial infection as a result of ear mites.

    Dark Secretion

    • If you suspect your cat has ear mites, be on the lookout for a dark brown or black secretion coming out of the ears. The secretion has a waxy feel and texture to it. The inside of the ear can also have a strong odor, since most infections cause a smelly odor.

    Swollen Ear

    • A cat's ear that is infested with ear mites will be swollen and red. If you try to touch the ears, the cat may scream out or jump away in pain.

    Dried Blood

    • Dried blood can show up in ears when ear mites are present. Dried blood inside the ears doesn't look like liquid. Instead, it looks like coffee grounds. It shows up in small, black crumbs at the entry point of the ear canal or inside the ear canal.