Ear Mites In Cats

The ear mite Otodectes cynotis is a mite that lives on cats and dogs. It is typically found in the ear canal but it can also live on the skin surface. Ear mites are very transmittable, and cats and kittens become infected by direct contact with a different diseased animal. The ear mite is hardly able to be seen to the naked eye and may be seen as a white speck.

Ear Mite Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is usually easy with an otoscope and you can see the little, white ear mites scurrying around. In other cases, you may see the black, hard wax in the ear canals, but not see the ear mites.  In this case, it is at all times wise to take a Q-tip filled of the wax and spread it into a drop of mineral oil and examine it under a microscope. The presence of the ear mites confirms the analysis.

Ear Mite Life Cycle:

Ear mites take about 21 days from egg to adult, going through four different stages:

• 1. The Eggs

Female mites typically lay about 5 eggs daily throughout their entire adult life. Deposited on the surface of the ear canal, the eggs hatch within 4 days.

• 2. The Larvae

Once hatched from the eggs, the larvae feed for four days then rest for 24 hours as they molt into the nymphal phase.

• 3. The Nymphs

2 stages of nymphs are known. Each feeds for three to five days and then rests and then molts to the adult stage.

• 4. The Adults

The adult ear mite appears white in color and feeds off the epithelial debris in the cat or kittens ear. There can be thousands of ear mites swarming about the ear canal and external ear surfaces. Ear mites do not tunnel into the skin as Demodex Mites and Sarcoptic Mites do. They are transmissible from one animal to another by direct contact.

Cat Ear Mite Treatment:

Ear mites are treated with unique eardrops, which can be obtained from your veterinarian and in some pet stores. It is very vital to apply the drops in the ears when they have been cleaned, so that the drops have an effect on the mites directly. Before the drops are given, you should clean the outer part of the cats ears. The folds of the outer ear can be cleaned using Q-tips, soaked in a cat ear cleaning solution.