Anyone living with cats is at risk of getting ear mites. Generally, ear mites are not considered a risk to humans. Animal-to-human transmission of ear mites is extremely unlikely, but it can happen in rare cases.
The ear mites can travel to your bedding and furniture and then attach themselves to a new host – that could be you, someone in your house, or another pet.
Though humans are rarely infected with ear mites, there is still a chance you can be adversely affected. For example, some feline parents have been known to develop skin rashes if their cat has ear mites or other types of parasites such as ringworm or lice. The other parasites can result in hair loss on your cat’s back.
If you develop any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor right away. Treating an ear mite infection involves killing live mites and their eggs.
What are ear mites?
Ear mites are a fairly common eight-legged parasite in both cats and dogs. They mostly live on the skin of the ear canal. While they nest in the ear, they feed on ear wax and skin oils. Ear mites can infect the external and internal ear canal. If left untreated, it can lead to severe skin or ear infections.
Ear mites are barely visible to the human eye and look like tiny white dots. An adult ear mite typically lives for around two months and can multiply very quickly. Their eggs just take four days to hatch and a further three weeks to develop into an adult mite ready to breed. IF you notice your cat has ear mites, it is important to treat it immediately so that the eggs (if there are any) do not have time to hatch and reproduce.
Signs your cat has ear mites
An ear mite infection will cause your cat’s ears to itch. The common symptoms of ear mites in cats include:
- Severe head shaking
- Excessive ear scratching
- Having red and inflamed ears
- Waxy debris inside the ear that causes irritation
- Producing a dry, crumbly substance in the ears which can sometimes let off a bad smell
- Raw areas and sores around the ears
- Hair loss around the cat’s ears due to scratching
Your cat might develop all of these or just a few of them. Itching and scratching in a cat’s ear can also be caused by allergies and may lead to an infection that can look similar to an ear mite infection. So, you must get your kitty to the vet for a proper diagnosis. The key sign of mites in cats is the presence of small white dots in and around the ear. You may even need a magnifying glass to see them.
Are ear mites contagious to other pets?
Yes, ear mites are extremely contagious to other pets in the household including dogs, ferrets, rabbits, or other cats. Ear mites can’t fly but they can crawl or jump. They can move from one cat to another cat or dog in close contact and eventually make their way to the ear. It can also be transferred through a mutual item such as a bed or other furniture.
If ear mite infestation is suspected, all pets in the house must be quarantined and separated. You should do this even if other pets aren’t showing symptoms of ear mites. You should also quarantine your cat with tapeworms if you suspect there are some on their skin.
You should closely inspect each pets skin for any sign of ear mites or other parasites. Cats are particularly prone to catching ear mites due to their cuddling nature, especially among outdoor cats.
How to prevent ear mites in cats
Ear cleaning is a part of your cat’s hygiene requirements. You should check your cat’s ears for allergies, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin. You can take the following steps to maintain your cat’s ear health:
- Check and clean your cat’s ears, when needed, with a gentle ear cleanser to remove dirt, debris, and moisture.
- Your cat’s ears should smell good with no exceptional amount of wax.
- Don’t use a cotton-tipped applicator as it can damage the ear canal.
- Thoroughly dry your cat’s ears after bathing.
- Avoid using cotton or paper towels for cleaning your cat’s ears as they may leave fibers behind and cause itching.
- If your cat appears to be in pain during the ear cleaning process, stop it and speak to your vet.
- Feed your feline members a high-quality diet to boost their immune systems and provide complete nutrition.
- If your kitty is showing any symptoms of ear mites, seek treatment to ensure the issue does not become severe.
- Make regular visits to the vet for a checkup.
Regularly cleaning your cat’s ears is important for two reasons. First, it reduces the amount of ear wax buildup, which means an ear mite would have less wax to feed on. Secondly, if you regularly clean your cat’s ears, you will be able to detect any signs of mites or other parasites much quicker.
Finally, if you have an outdoor cat, you probably should not let your cat snuggle with you in your bed. This can result in a wide range of parasites attaching to your bed. If you insist on cuddling with your cat, you should give them a bath beforehand.
In closing
Outdoor cats that come into contact with other animals are more likely to catch ear mites. It is extremely unlikely that you or your children become infected from ear mites.
Ear mites are easily treatable. You should check your cat regularly for signs of ear mites and make an appointment with their vet if you notice any. Your vet will clean your cat’s ear canal and most likely give you topical medication to apply.
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