Ear mites are a common problem in cats and dogs. The condition is highly contagious and is easily spread among domesticated animals, but they cannot be transmitted to humans. The most common sign your cat or kitten has ear mites is frequent scratching or rubbing around the ears. In severe cases, there may be fresh or dried blood in the ear canal or the fur around the ears. When ear mites are not properly treated, it can cause damage to the ear and ear drum. Luckily, both medical treatments and home remedies are available.
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Vegetable or Olive Oil
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When a cat has ear mites, the first goal should be to clean out the ear, which will make the cat more comfortable. This can be done by simply dropping a few drops of olive or vegetable oil into the pet's ears using an eyedropper or medicine dropper. You'll have to hold the cat's head still to stop it from shaking the oil out. Once the oil is in, use your hand to massage the ear and loosen up the material that has accumulated in the ear. Then use cotton balls of swabs to wipe the ears out.
Almond Oil
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To kill ear mites, one home remedy is to mix almond oil and vitamin E. A good formula is to mix half an ounce of almond oil with 400 IU of vitamin E in a small dropper bottle. Allow the mixture to warm to room temperature before placing it in your cat's ears. Once it is ready, place half a dropper full in each affected ear and then wipe the ears with cotton balls or swabs. Repeat the process every other day for six days, then stop for three days. After this period of rest, repeat the procedure for six weeks to make sure the infestation is completely gone.
Vinegar
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Common household white vinegar can also help combat an ear mite infestation in your cat. To use it, combine one part vinegar and two parts water and pour a small amount of the mixture into each affected ear. Be sure to thoroughly massage the ear and then wipe it clean with cotton balls or swabs. If your pet has a severe case of ear mites and the ears are irritated or cut from scratching, you may not want to use the vinegar solution because it can sting and cause discomfort.
Yellow Dock Root Extract
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Yellow dock root extract can also be used to kill ear mites in your cat. The extract, which is made from an herb, can be found in many vitamin and nutritional supplement stores. To use it to kill ear mites, mix nine drops of the extract with 1 tablespoon of water. Then fill a dropper with the solution and drop it into each affected ear. You will have to repeat the process every other day for four to six weeks to prevent newly hatched mites from laying eggs and starting the cycle all over again.
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