Kitten Ear Mites

Kitten ear mites can be a nuisance to both you and your kitten. An infestation of cat ear mites can leave your kitten itchy and miserable. And leave you scrubbing and cleaning trying to get rid of them. Let’s learn the facts about the itchy menace.

Feline ear mites (otedectes cynotis) are tiny, pin-head sized insects that infect the ear canals of kittens. Ear mites are often described as crab-like in terms of their appearance. Ear mites can also infect the ears of other animals as well. However, humans are not as susceptible to kitten ear mites infestations and do not make good hosts.

Ear mites thrive in tight quarters. In a litter of kittens, mites spread very quickly. The mites survive on diet of skin tissue and debris in the ear canal. They can be quite annoying to kittens as they may be heard moving around in kitten ears. Ear mites can cause permanent hearing loss if left untreated.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptom of cat ear mites is intense itching. Kittens may experience intense inner ear itching and sensations. This is caused by the mites moving around in the ear canal. Kittens cannot talk but their actions speak volumes. An infected kitten can be witnessed moving its head around, shaking its head from side to side, scratching its ear, and rubbing its ears with its paws. Kittens can scratch their ear so hard that the area bleeds and forms scabs. Kitten scratching may be more intense in the evening and night hours as mites are more active and begin feeding.

As a kitten owner, you may see a black-brownish crumbly discharge emerging from the ear canal. There may even be a foul odor associated with the discharge. The smell indicates that there may be another infection brewing the ear. Kitten ear mites often occur with a yeast or bacterial infection.

Diagnosis

Take your kitten to the veterinarian as soon as you notice the discharge from the ear and excessive scratching. It’s difficult to diagnose ear mites on your own as ear discharge may be a sign of other infections. Your veterinarian can rule out other problems. Your vet will examine your kitten’s ear canals for the presence of mites. They will take sample of the ear discharge and look under a microscope to see if the tiny mites are present. Once a positive diagnosis is made, then treatment can begin.

Kitten Ear Mites Treatment

There are a variety of treatment options for ear mites. However, home remedies are not recommended. They may not be strong enough to combat the problem. And if ear mites persist it could lead to permanent hearing loss. Treating ear mites can be tricky. Ear mites will move outside the ear to other areas of the body to evade being killed. Be sure that if you use topical medications to use it all over your kitten’s body and as prescribed. The best time to use medications is at night when mites are feeding and most active.

Keep in mind, ear mites can also infect your other pets. You may have to treat them as well. And keep your infected kitten away from your uninfected pets until they are clear of mites. Launder infected cloth kitten toys and linens in hot water. If possible, use bleach on white linen during washing. And use the hot setting on the dryer.

Ear Cleaning Tips

Start your cute kitten off right with a regular ear cleansing routine. By doing regular ear cleansing you get to examine your kitten’s ears more closely and check for abnormalities early. You also get your kitten use to having its ears examined. Aim for a monthly cleansing or weekly, if possible.

You can use a half-vinegar half-water mixture, mineral oil, or olive oil to cleanse the outside of ear. Don’t use the solution to cleanse inside the ear canal. It may burn or sting your kitten. Be gentle. No tugging or pulling. You can also use a prescription cleaner inside the ear for cleansing. Just be careful when cleaning. Don’t dig in the ear or stuff Q-tips®, inside the ear. You could dislodge debris and push it deeper inside the ear canal.

As you can see, kitten ear cleaning can be a breeze, if you start kittens early.

Remember …kitten ear mites can be a pain. But, they are treatable. Watch for signs and symptoms.

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