Ear Mites In Cats

Ear mites are a common infestation and are easily spread between cats and other animals.

Ear mites in cats. Some cats will shake their heads so much that an hematoma of the ear will form with blood pooling in the ear due to breakage of a blood vessel. Ear mites are microscopic parasites which infect the ears of a cat. Cats that are afflicted with ear mites will typically scratch at the ears excessively and shake their heads even pulling out their own hair and drawing blood as they scratch. These particular mites then create irritation and itchiness which leads to the cat scratching its ears.

The most frequent ear mite infestation in cats is otodectes cynotis. In extreme cases untreated ear mites can cause a ruptured eardrum or permanent hearing loss. Their presence causes inflammation and can also lead to secondary ear infections. Highly contagious and as common to cats as fleas ear mites can lead to bacterial and fungal infections and cause inflammation of the cat s outer ear canal.

They like to live in the warm dark environment of the ear canal where they feed on skin debris. These mites create irritation and itchiness which cause the cat to scratch its ears. Though there are several different types of ear mites that can affect cats the most common one is otodectes cynotis which essentially resembles an eight legged crab. They also like to live in warm dark environment of the ear canal where they then feed on the skin debris.

The most common ear mite of cats is otodectes cynotis and therefore an infestation with ear mites is sometimes called otodectic mange 1 ear mites primarily live in the ear canal where they feed on skin debris. Mites on cats can travel all over the cat s body. You may even notice a darkish discharge resembling. While cats of any age are susceptible to ear mites they are most often seen in kittens.

Ear mites will lay eggs in the ear canal which have a gestation period of roughly two to three weeks. Ear mites think other species are tasty too and they are very contagious. Ear mite infestations usually itch so cats with ear mites will scratch excessively at the backs or insides of their ears sometimes to the point of producing raw patches shake their heads or hold their ears at an odd angle. Of course you will not be able to see them properly with the naked eye but you should be able to see them under a microscope.

Ear mites in cats are not just found in the ears. Ear mites or otodectes cynotis are microscopic parasites which can infect the ears of a cat.