My cat has been scratching his ears and I've seen him shaking his head. I think he might have ear mites, but I can't really see anything inside his ears to know for sure. I haven't gotten too good of a look at them because he pulls away from me. Does he need to see a veterinarian or is this something I can cure at home?
There are a variety of things that could cause your cat's itchy ears, but the only way to identify the culprit is to have a veterinarian take a look. Not all ear problems are easy to see, especially if a cat is "ear shy" and reluctant to let someone take a peek.
Vetstreet.com says that besides ear mites, causes of a kitty's itchy ears include allergic skin disease, yeast or fungal infections, foreign bodies and bacterial infections. A cat suffering any one of these will scratch and paw at his ears as well as shake his head vigorously, but there are symptoms specific to each possible cause, according to Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.
• A cat suffering from an infestation of the prolific Otodectes cynotis ear mite will be affected in both ears. If irritation from the mites has caused an allergic reaction, there will be a dry, crumbly, waxy-looking discharge in the ears. The discharge, which looks like coffee grounds, sometimes is mistaken for dirt.
Another mite, the Demodex cati, also leaves behind a waxy residue. To diagnose mites, the vet will examine a swab from the cat's ear. After diagnosis, the vet will prescribe a medication such as Nolvamite, Mitaclear or Tresaderm. He'll also give you instructions on cleaning the ears and using the medication.
• Bacterial infections can be caused by scratches or bites, but may also be secondary infections related to ear mites or wax buildup. Along with head-shaking and incessant scratching, the ears will be stinky. A bacterial infection can go deep into the ear canal and become very painful. If the infection is severe, the veterinarian may have to sedate the cat to do a thorough cleaning before beginning treatment with an antibiotic.
• Yeast or fungal infections may be caused by antibiotics being used to treat a severe bacterial or ear mite infection. A food allergy may also be the culprit. Signs of a yeast infection might not be as obvious as with the other problems, but the ears can be inflamed and painful. Sometimes the ears will look red and moist. There could be a dark, waxy discharge with a rancid odor. The vet may treat this issue with an antifungal medication.
• Foreign bodies in the ear can be just about anything that doesn't belong there, but they're usually grass seeds, fleas or ticks. Grass seeds find their way into the ear canal by first clinging to the hair outside the ear, then dropping down inside. Fleas and ticks crawl inside and latch onto the skin. When the foreign matter is inside the ear and not attached to the outside skin, it needs to be removed by a veterinarian. If it's deeply embedded, the procedure may require anesthesia.
After your cat's problem has been identified by a veterinarian, he can show you how to clean the ears and apply medication. The Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook outlines the process: To clean, apply a few drops of warm mineral oil, olive oil or a veterinarian-supplied ear-cleaning solution to the external ear canal. Gently massage the base of the ear to loosen dirt, wax and debris. Then use a cotton ball (not a swab) to wipe out the ear.
Summer ear tip: Outside cats with white or light-colored ears are susceptible to sunburn. To prevent sunburn, apply a sunscreen that has a protection factor of 15 or 30 to the sensitive areas. The sunscreen needs to be fragrance-free and nonstaining, according to veterinarypartner.com. Also, read the label to make sure the sunscreen's ingredients don't include octyl salicylate, which is toxic to cats. Sunscreens formulated for babies may be a good option. Another way to keep a light-skinned cat from being sunburned is to keep him indoors.
Family on 05/13/2015