How to Know If Ear Mites in Cats Are Alive

Ear mites live in the ear canals of cats and other animals. They feed off of the fluid and debris that is found in the ears. Ear mites are extremely contagious and can affect many types of pets, states peteducation.com. Fortunately, humans cannot contract ear mites. It is essential to treat ear mites or they will continually wreak havoc on the cat's ear, causing issues such as severe ear canal damage and permanent hearing loss. During treatment, you may find it helpful to know how to determine if the ear mites in the ear are alive.

Things You'll Need

  • Otoscope with cone and magnifier
  • Cotton-tipped applicator
  • Microscope slide
  • Mineral oil
  • Eyedropper
  • Microscope
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Instructions

  1. Using an Otoscope

    • 1

      Lift the cat's ear by applying gentle upward pressure to the ear flap. Doing so will open the ear canal.

    • 2

      Insert an otoscope that is fitted with the appropriate cone into the ear canal. Only go as far as the cone will allow.

    • 3

      Turn the otoscope light on. Position the otoscope magnifier in place.

    • 4

      Look into the cat's ears. If the mites are alive, you will see them moving around by looking through the lighted magnifier. The light draws the mites out of the wax, according to petplace.com. The magnifier makes it possible to see the mites.

    Using a Microscope

    • 5

      Remove some of the debris from the cat's ear using a cotton-tipped applicator. The debris is commonly black and often resembles coffee grounds. The material you remove from the cat's ears is usually a combination of ear mites, mite waste and blood.

    • 6

      Place some of the material on a microscope slide. The material doesn't need to be spread completely flat---you can place the debris as it is on the slide.

    • 7

      Apply a few drops of mineral oil over the debris. The mineral oil will help you better see the mites.

    • 8

      Look at the slide and debris under the microscope. If the mites are alive, you will see the crab-like creatures moving around and sometimes feeding off of the ear debris. The mites will remain still if dead.