When you treat your cat for ear mites, you're helping to prevent a potentially more serious infection in his inner ear. You can make a liquid treatment that will be effective and less expensive than a trip to the vet, and your cat's ears will be back to normal in three to six weeks.
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Signs and Symptoms
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Ear mites are parasites that live in a cat's ears and are easily transmitted from cat to cat. A human also can transfer ear mites from one cat to another.
If you notice your cat shaking his head frequently or scratching at his ears, take a closer look. Your cat's ears might be red and swollen from his constant scratching. If you see tiny moving white specks, you're seeing the mites themselves. Even if you don't see the mites, you could see spots of dried blood in the cat's ears. You might also notice an unusual amount of dark waxy secretions in the ears.
If the mites have traveled into the ear canal, they can cause an infection in the middle ear. In that case, your cat might have trouble keeping his balance or holding his head straight.
Clean the Ears
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Place a few drops of vegetable or olive oil in one ear with an eyedropper. Hold the cat's ear flap up while you drop the oil in, then fold the ear flap over and gently massage it to work the oil into the ear canal. Cats have a vertical canal that connects to a horizontal canal in roughly an "L" shape, and you need to massage to ensure that the oil or any medication you use reaches the horizontal canal. Gently wipe away the oil and debris with a cotton ball. Don't use cotton swabs, because they'll push the debris back into the canal. Repeat this step with the other ear.
Use a homeopathic remedy such as psorinum or sulfur to soothe the irritation in the ears. Apply it as you applied the oil, massaging it in, then cleaning the ear with a cotton ball.
Treating the Mite Infestation
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To kill the mites, mix 1 tbsp. of water with 9 drops of yellow dock root extract. Apply this mixture to the ears with an eyedropper, folding the ear flap over and massaging it in. Use this treatment every three days for six weeks.
Alternatively, mix 1/2 oz. of almond oil with 400 IUs of vitamin E and apply with an eyedropper, massaging it in, then cleaning the oil from the outer ear with a cotton swab. Apply this remedy for six days, skip three days, then apply for another six days.
Be sure to clean and vacuum your pet's bedding and toys to remove mites lurking there, because they can reinfest your cat during and after treatment.
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