My Cat Has Ear Mites????

[libertylover]

She's always taking her paws and rubbing her
ears and shaking her head.. She doesn't have
fleas or ticks.

Would you say there is a good possibility
she has ear mites?

If so, is there a natural remedy for ear mites?
I don't like taking her to the vets.

[leera]

No need for the vet unless her ears are infected.

There are LOTS of ear mite remedies out there store bought and otherwise,pick and choose and follow the instructions.

Try looking up treatments on the web too.

Ear mites are very common in cats,nothing too major unless you don't get it taken care of soon,could lead to ear infections if left untreated.

Try just using a gentle ear cleaner first,you'll be surprised what'll come out of her ears,especially if she goes outside at all.

I would clean her ears one day,and then use an ear mite remedy the next,so as not to traumatize the kitty too much at once,they tend not to like have things put in their ears.

[12vman]

In a small glass, pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol, enough to fill a dropper several times. Add a small amount of boric acid (1/2 tsp.) and stir. Let the extra boric acid settle to the bottom and draw off the clear liquid. Put a few drops in each ear and the mites will disappear..

Try it in your own ears.. It feels really good! ;)

[MNMOM]

Thanks 12V,
I will have to try this the next time my dog gets this, I've had to take them to the vet before when they have had ear mites. You'll find that dogs that have long ears get them pretty easy.
I have found by cleansing the ears regular I have had less problems with this.

[12vman]

I've used this mixture on my dogs, cats, (and myself) for the last 16 years and they can still hear me gettin' into the fridge.. LOL

If you check out a bottle of swimmer's ear drops, it's about the same thing but costs a whole bunch more..

[libertylover]

12, are you talking about liquid boric acid.
I only have powder. Does it come in liquid.

thanks leera.

[12vman]

It's the powdered stuff. The alcohol will only support so much and the excess will settle to the bottom. Just use the clear liquid part of it. You can use a small jar with a tight fitting lid to store it in. If there is still some of the powder in the bottom, all you need to do is add more alcohol and shake..

One of my nephews had ear problems and it seemed he was always going to the doctors. I told the SIL to try this stuff once. She did and he never needed to go back! She just gives him a dose every now and then..

[libertylover]

Thanks 12, for information.

It worked. One dose and she's not
pawing her ears or shaking her head.

[12vman]

Glad I could help.. Keep an eye on those ears. If they start looking dirty, give 'um a shot..

I've found if you let it go too far, the inside of the ears gets raw and the mixture burns them. If you keep up on it, the animals will let you put it in a lot easier because it feels good to them..

I have a dalmation and he's a jerk! He used to try to bite me everytime I wanted to clean his ears. I can tell when he needs a shot and he lets me do it without much resistance anymore..

[MNMOM]

Remember when dosing, clean the ears out before you put in the meds, it will look real icky the stuff that you get out. If the ears are really dirty, it may take a few days to get them cleaned up.

[dave-lee]

I have bee told to use mineral oil for cats; just a few drops per ear.

[Suzy]

I have also used just the oil on cats and on my Angora rabbits and it's always worked great....only have a couple of cases a year...

[Mitzi]

One thing you didn't mention was whether your cat will be still and let you put something in the ears - most won't. I went through this several years ago and used to roll my cat up like a burrito using a beach towel. Worked like a charm.

[LaDonna]

I have a cat that knows where I keep the ear mite medicine and if I go to that cabinet he starts to growl at me. I gave up doctoring him at all. He gets nothing, no wormer, no ear mite, nothing at all. Every time I doctored him when he was little he would foam at the mouth and run out in the road and waller around like he was 'mad'. I told my husband, the neighbors will think I am killing him or something. HE always went to the road and just rolled all over it (we live on a dead end road). So, he is just on his own. BUT I have heard that cooking oil straight in the ear will smother out ear mites.

[MattPair]

I do not like messing with stuff like that. I had to take my cat to the vet for removal of stitches this morning and had them do his ears too. He didn't have an ear mite problem, but I think cleaning his ears while at the vet is the best way for me to keep an eye on it.

You know they only charged me approximately $12.00 to do it for me. I think any cat that has an owner deserves to have that kept up with, but of course not everyone can afford to do certain things for their pets like to go the vet unless absolutely necessary. I'm too squeamish to play nurse with my cat, which is kinda bad but I admit it.

I believe once mites are cleaned up properly, with or without a vet's help, they are gone for awhile but cats will 'catch' them again sometime down the road. Mine's been pretty lucky because this is the first time I had his ears cleaned in 4 years or so.