Understanding and Treating Ear Mites in Cats: A Complete Guide

Key takeaways:

Ear mites are contagious parasites. They spread easily in places where many cats gather together.
Also called otodectes cynotis, ear mites can cause your cat to itch or scratch at their ears.
A vet may prescribe topical antiparasitic ear drops or flea and tick preventatives to kill ear mites.

Ear mites: Just the words alone can make you itchy all over. When these extremely tiny, contagious parasites take up residence in your cat’s ears, it can create a problem that takes a trip to your veterinarian to resolve.

Here’s how to spot ears mites in cats, how they’re diagnosed, and what treatments will rid your cat’s ears of these unwelcome critters for good.

What are ear mites?

Ear mites, also known as otodectes cynotis, are “an opportunistic parasite that likes to eat wonderful things like ear wax, some of the serum that comes up from the ear, and epithelial skin cells,” said Mitzi Clark, DVM, DACVD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

They tend to favor the inside of the ear canal, she said, “but can also exist and eat debris in the skin around the ear.”

Ear mites have a life cycle of about 3 weeks.

What do ear mites look like?

Ear mites are spider-like, round in shape, and have eight legs that allow them to crawl. They can be seen with the naked eye. But they’re best viewed under magnification like with a veterinarian’s otoscope.

What causes ear mites in cats?

Ear mites are commonly spread through contact with other animals, typically in places where they live together, like animal shelters. Ear mites need a host to survive and can easily spread when one cat is in close contact with another.

“We see it more in kittens and puppies than we do in older animals,” said Clark. Kittens and puppies have immature immune systems, “so they’re not able to fight off as much as an older animal would.”

Signs and symptoms of ear mites in cats

The most common signs your cat has ear mites include:

Itchiness
Head-shaking
Scratching at the ears

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But as cat owners know, felines don’t always show us how they’re feeling. So some cats may show no symptoms of ear mites at all.

You may also notice debris in your cat’s ear when they have ear mites. The debris typically has a “coffee ground appearance,” Clark said. That waxy debris can be bloody due to cuts or sores created by the cat’s scratching.

How to get rid of ear mites in cats

To get rid of ear mites, your cat will need treatment from a veterinarian. Your vet may clean your cat’s ears to remove debris and then prescribe topical antiparasitic ear drops that kill mites.

What happens if ear mites are left untreated?

If left untreated, your cat’s ear mites and the infection could get worse. This may cause more debris and potentially a more severe infection in the middle or inner ear.

“That can lead to a whole host of problems, including neurologic dysfunction, systemic disease, even sepsis. That’s really rare but not out of the question,” Clark added, noting that the cat can experience hearing loss.

Frequently asked questions

Ear mites can technically live in a human ear. But it’s not easy to catch ear mites from a cat, said Clark.

“This is not one that’s going to hop off the animal to a human. You have to take some of the crust out of the cat’s ear and put it in your ear,” she said. “Don’t do that, and you’re pretty much fine.”

You should isolate your cat with ear mites from other cats, dogs, ferrets, or rabbits in your home. Clark doesn’t feel strongly that you need to isolate a cat undergoing treatment for ear mites from humans. But regularly washing your hands is recommended.

It’s not recommended that a cat with ear mites sleep next to a human ear, even though there’s little chance of the mites spreading.

“We’re not seeing a lot of owners complaining about clinical signs [of ear mites],” Clark said. “I would say the risk is pretty darn low; it’s just not zero.”

The bottom line

Just the thought of tiny ear mites living inside your cat’s ears is enough to make you cringe. The hungry parasites can make your cat pretty itchy and uncomfortable.

That said, ear mites are relatively easy to treat. Your veterinarian can diagnose the problem and come up with the best treatment plan for your cat. That could be a topical drop you put in your cat’s ears or an anti-mite treatment that’s applied in between your cat’s shoulder blades.

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Written by:

Amy Jamieson

Amy Jamieson worked at People for more than a decade. While there, she covered a variety of topics including celebrities, television, pets, and human interest stories.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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