Ear mites are one of the most common health issues your cat is likely to face. These microscopic mites live along the ear canal and feed on secretions from the ear canal and dead tissue. The waste product from the ear mite builds up inside the ear, causing debris that resembles coffee grounds.
Things You'll Need
- Vegetable or olive oil
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton balls
- Almond oil
- Vitamin E
- Flashlight
- Magnifying glass or microscope
Instructions
Observe you cat for ear scratching. Ear mites can be very irritating and cause their ears to become very itchy. You may notice areas around the outside of the ear where your cat has scratched away fur or created minor skin irritations. Your cat may also shake his head before or after scratching in an attempt to free himself from the mites.
Gently rub the outside of the lower ear along the ear canal. This may prompt your cat's automatic scratch response. This response indicates the presence of ear mites. It is rare that the automatic scratch response will be activated in cats that do not have ear mites.
Examine your cat's ears by gently folding the outer ear back and looking inside with a flashlight. If you observe a fine granular substance similar to coffee grounds, chances are your cat has ear mites. To check for the presence of mites, simply swab the ear with a cotton swab and observe it under a microscope or magnifying glass. The mites will appear as tiny white specks that may be moving. Be gentle when swabbing the ear and be prepared for a little resistance from your feline friend. Ears are sensitive and many cats don't like prying eyes and hands in their ears.
Clean the ears to provide immediate relief from the effects of an ear mite infestation by dropping a few drops of vegetable or olive oil into the ears. Be sure this is at room temperature and use a eye dropper to put in a few frops of oil. Hold the cat firmly and immediately rub the outside of the ear to work the oil in. Your cat's first instinct is to shake his head. Holding him close and rubbing gently will prevent him from shaking the oil free before it has a chance to loosen mite debris. Clean the residue with a clean cotton ball or swab, but do not insert the swab into the ear canal. You may damage your cat's ear.
Treat the ears to kill off ear mites with a mixture of 1/2 ounce almond oil and 400 IU's of vitamin E. Be sure the mixture is at room temperature. Apply half an eye dropper of the mixture to each ear. Massage the ears to distribute the oil. Clean the excess oil away with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for one week and then let them rest for 3 days. Repeat the process as necessary.