One of the worst things to plague the quality of your furry child’s happiness comes in two words: ear mites. Hard to imagine that these small white parasites that can hardly be seen by the naked eye could wreak havoc on both cats and dogs, particularly in the ears, due to the waxy and oily texture of the ear canal. While it is not transmissible to humans, any pet owner’s heart would break watching their beloved pet suffer for at least three weeks of scratching, which is the average life cycle of an ear mite.
What happens If Fur Mites in Cats Go Untreated
While it is possible for ear mites to naturally go away on their own, the damage would already be done. The ear mites may have already multiplied and spread to other parts of your cat’s body and all that intense scratching would eventually bring about the rupture of the blood cells in your cat’s ears and can lead to deafness.
Can Ear Mites Cause Eye Problems or Sneezing In Cats?
Apart from potential deafness, other ailments like eye problems and sneezing are likely to happen as a direct effect of the painful and aggressive scratching.
What Are The Common Symptoms Of Ear Mites In Cats?
Before you get paranoid every single time your cat scratches its ears, it would be helpful to recognise some telltale symptoms such as excessive head shaking and ear scratching, red and inflamed ears, smelly black and dry discharge, coffee ground debris around the ear canal, and hair loss around the ears.
Any Treatment Options For Cat Ear Mites?
Thankfully, cat ear mites, sometimes referred to as “otodectic mange”, are treatable, and a quick visit to the vet for some topical medication for cat ear mites treatment like ointment and eardrops should be more than enough.
Are Ear Mites In Cats Contagious?
It should also be noted that while it is not contagious to humans, other cats or dogs within the vicinity are not infallible to it.
How To Prevent Ear Mites?
Nonetheless, prevention is better than cure, and it is always good to identify what causes ear mites in cats. Ear mites are contracted from an environment with poor hygiene, so it is natural to conclude that there is undoubtedly a higher likelihood of an outdoor pet getting ear mites compared to an indoor pet, especially since ear mites can also be transmitted from interaction with other animals. If your cat is mostly an indoor pet, you could reduce the risk by cleaning their bedding and their ears regularly.
All in all, regular hygiene maintenance and frequent visits to the vet is the way to combat this problem, and your pet will definitely thank you for that. One less itch, one step closer to your furry baby’s happiness!
