What are Ear Mites in Cats?

Introduction

One evening, while cuddling with her affectionate Siamese cat, Nala, Jenny noticed her feline friend excessively scratching her ears and shaking her head. Upon closer inspection, Jenny spotted tiny, dark specks in Nala’s ears, prompting her to visit the veterinarian for a thorough examination. The vet quickly identified the problem: Nala had ear mites, a common issue affecting cats of all breeds.

Ear mites in cats are tiny parasites in the ear canal and outer ear folds. They are small and look like white specks. They have eight legs and two body segments. Their bodies contain mouthparts called chelicerae, which allow them to feed on blood, tissue, and hair debris. This causes inflammation and irritation of the ear canal. In addition to causing discomfort, ear mites can spread bacteria into the bloodstream, leading to potentially life-threatening conditions.

They are highly contagious within cat colonies. They can affect both indoor and outdoor cats. If left untreated, ear infections can lead to severe complications such as secondary bacterial infection, otitis externa, and even death.

Ear mites infestations are one of the cats’ most common causes of upper respiratory infections. They also cause skin irritation and itching, especially around the face and ears. Parasitic mites cause the condition in the cat’s external auditory canal. These mites feed off dead cells in the ear canal and produce allergens that irritate the cat’s sensitive mucous membranes. Ear mites are often found in young, free-ranging cats, dogs, and animals with outdoor access. However, up to 25 percent of pet cats and 6 percent of pet dogs are affected.

In most cases, They are harmless and don’t pose any health risks. However, severe infections can lead to secondary bacterial infections and ear damage.

There are two types of ear mites – internal and external.

1. Internal ear termites are located inside the ear canal. These mites cannot be seen without opening up the ear canal. They are caused mainly by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii. Cats become infected by eating undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii. After ingestion, the parasite travels to the brain, reproducing and multiplying. It then moves down the spinal cord and enters the central nervous system. Once in the central nervous system, the parasite produces antibodies, causing the cat to develop symptoms similar to rabies.
2. External ear mites are usually found outside the ear canal, visible when the cat opens their mouth. They are caused by the fungus Malassezia pachydermatis. This fungus grows on the surface of the cat’s skin and produces microscopic hairs called Trichoderma. When these hairs come into contact with the cat’s ear canal, they attach themselves to the ear canal wall and feed on the cells lining the walls. As mites increase, the cat becomes uncomfortable and starts rubbing against objects such as furniture or carpeting.

Causes of Ear Mites in Cats

External ear mites are caused by direct contact with another animal or person who has them. They get a type of parasitic fly called the chigoe. These insects lay eggs on the outer surface of the cat’s ear canal. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the ear and feed on the cat’s tissue. As they grow, the larvae create a thick layer of waxy material that covers the cat’s ear canal and prevents water from draining correctly.

Internal ear mites are spread via airborne particles, including dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander. They are caused primarily by fleas. Fleas bite the cat’s ear canal, causing inflammation and swelling. Over time, the flea saliva dries out the ear canal, creating a humid environment where the mites thrive.

There are also other reasons for a cat to get mites. For example, breed, environment, and genetics play a role in its development.

Environment plays a big part too. For example, if your cat lives in a household with multiple pets, it may pick up these from another animal.

Genetics also come into play. Certain genetic traits can predispose your cat to develop ear mites. For instance, some cats are more likely to develop them due to a recessive gene mutation. One parent must be a mutation carrier for the offspring to inherit the trait.

This is called dominant inheritance. Other cats have a higher chance of developing ear mites due to dominant genes. These cats have two copies of the same allele, meaning each copy carries the same gene.

Symptoms of Ear Mites in Felines

Signs of ear mites usually appear within two weeks after exposure. These include excessive scratching, redness, swelling, and crusting of the skin and are often accompanied by a foul smell. Other signs include excessive shedding, itching, and discharge from the ears.

Sometimes, your cat shakes his head repeatedly or even bleeds from his ears. In addition, he may scratch his ears excessively or rub them against furniture or objects. This behavior indicates a hypersensitivity reaction.

If your cat scratches his ears hard enough to break the skin, he could develop an infection. In addition, some cats develop secondary infections, including yeast, bacteria, and ringworm. A study of pet cats from seven different European countries found that ear mites were the second most common parasite in 17.3 percent of cats and more frequently detected than fleas.

An aural hematoma is a complication of ear mites. This occurs when blood vessels rupture because of irritation. Your vet may recommend treatment if there is bleeding inside the ear.

Diagnosis of Cats with Ear Mites

To diagnose, veterinarians thoroughly examine your pet’s ears and look for signs of inflammation. In addition, they look for evidence of scratching, rubbing, or licking of the ears. They may also examine the fur around and behind the ears to detect abnormalities. They might also scrape the ear canal to collect samples for analysis.

Once they’ve determined that your cat does indeed have ear mites, they’ll recommend treatment options.

Treatments for Feline Ear Mites

There are several different types of treatments available, depending on your cat’s age and overall condition. Some medications are topical, while others are oral.

For internal ear mites, oral medication is required. Several options include prescription drugs, homeopathic remedies, and herbal supplements. Most veterinarians recommend treating both types together to prevent a recurrence. Oral medications usually require daily administration. Some of these medications can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset.

Some oral medications include:

• Milbemycin oxime is given subcutaneously. It eliminates O. bacoti but does not kill any other species of ear mites.
• Ivermectin is an oral medication used to treat ear mite infections. This is administered orally every 14 days. This is effective against most species of ear mites but does not eliminate all types.

External ear mites can be treated with topical medications. They can be applied every few days. They come in liquid form and work well because they go directly into the ear canal where the mite lives. However, these can irritate the eyes, mouth, nose, and throat.

Some topical medications include:

• Ivermectin is a topical medication applied directly to the affected area. This is effective against most species of ear mites but does not eliminate all types.
• Selamectin is administered orally. It kills all known species of ear mites except for Ornithonyssus bacoti.

How to Prevent Ear Mites in Felines?

Prevention requires regular ear cleaning. The most effective way to do this is to bathe your cat at least once weekly. Bathing should include washing the entire body, including the face, head, neck, back, tail, paws, and genitals. If you have multiple cats, they should all receive the same bath. You can use a shampoo designed specifically for cats or any pet shampoo. Make sure to rinse thoroughly after bathing.

If your cat has been exposed to another cat with ear mites, you should wash its ears immediately. This includes washing the area around the external opening of each ear. Cleaning the ears regularly helps reduce the risk of infection.

Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and playtime. Also, avoid giving your pet food treats that contain corn syrup. Corn syrup is known to attract pests such as ants and cockroaches.

Finally, consider getting your pet spayed or neutered. These procedures can eliminate the possibility of contracting ear mites.

Frequently Asked Questions