You can relieve your cat of ear mites by applying over the counter remedies. Detecting the mites is the first step to controlling them, however. As with any illness or parasite, if you aren't sure what it is, or the remedies you employ do not work, seek out your veterinarian for advice.
Things You'll Need
- Small flashlight
- Cotton swab
- Magnifying glass
Instructions
Bring your cat to your lap, or set the cat comfortably on a table. If the cat is anxious, pet it until it calms.
Turn on a small flashlight. Gently grasp the cat's ear to pull it back for a better internal view (if the cat resists this, do not force it--you can still check inside the ear without pulling it back. This simply makes it easier).
Look for brown or black wax or specks that may or may not be clumped together. Peteducation.com likens the appearance of these mites to coffee grounds. If these are present, your cat may have ear mites.
Remove some of the discolored material from the cat's ear, using a cotton swab, but don't poke it far down into the ear. If you can't retrieve any safely this way, have a vet do it, or treat the cat for ear mites anyway.
Place the cotton swab under a magnifying glass. According to petside.com, this will work best if you place it against a dark background. Look for tiny white, moving specks--if you see these, your cat has mites. If you don't see these, however, it does not necessarily mean your cat does not have mites (your magnifying glass may not be strong enough).