Cat Ear Mite Medication

Ear mites are quite troublesome and painful for cats, but the right treatments are effective and convenient. In addition, most medications for ear mites can be purchased from most veterinary hospitals and pet stores.

  1. Diagnosis

    • Frequent head shaking and ear scratching is a telling sign that your cat may have ear mites. Also, a brown or black waxing buildup inside the ears may be indicative of mites. And of course, if you notice tiny little black bugs inside the ear, that is a definite sign of ear mites. To confirm that your cat does indeed have ear mites, take it to the vet. Your vet will swipe ear wax on a cotton swab, mix it with mineral oil and observe it under a microscope or otoscope for mites or their eggs.

    Ivermectin

    • The most commonly prescribed treatment for cats with ear mites is a medication called ivermectin. It is applied either topically inside the ear or by injection. Two to four injections are given by your vet as needed. According to PetPlace.com, ivermectin paralyzes the parasites and eventually causes them to die.

    Precautions

    • Several clinical trials have proved ivermectin to be a powerful medication for the treatment of ear mites in pets. However, some animals have been known to have serious reactions to this medication, such as lack of coordination, pupil dilation, difficulty breathing and death. According to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, as of May 2010 the Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved Ivermectin for treating cats with ear mites. The drug should be applied only by a vet because the correct dosages are very small and are not proportional to amounts in other medicines. You should monitor your cat closely while on this medication. If you notice any adverse reactions, see your vet immediately.

    Flea-Control Medicine

    • In some cases, your vet may prescribe flea-control medicines such as Revolution or Frontline to treat your cat's ear mites. These products come in the form of shampoos and sprays. These products work well to treat the beginning stages of ear mites by killing them as they live outside the cat's ear on the skin.

    Time Frame

    • Generally, ear mites will need to be treated for two to four weeks depending on the medication. Because mites can live all over the body, it's possible your vet will want to treat your cat's feet and tail for the present of mites separately. The tail is likely to have mites because it lies closely to a cat's ear when it is sleeping.