| Cats, more than of the other common | | | | are common cures to alleviate the condition. |
| house-pets, are susceptible to ear mites. | | | | These are: topical treatments, oral medication and |
| Fortunately, when caught early, an ear mite | | | | injections. |
| infestation can easily be treated. Knowing the | | | | Topical preparations should be used for about a |
| early warning signs makes the difference | | | | month, or enough time to cover the life cycle of |
| between a minor inconvenience and a major | | | | the ear mite. The reason is that creams and |
| irritation. If your cat experiences these warning | | | | ointments kill only the mites themselves but not |
| signs, you should see a veterinarian as soon as | | | | the eggs they have laid inside your cat's ear. |
| possible: | | | | Hence eradication will be complete only when the |
| * Itching | | | | mites born out of the hatched eggs are |
| * Scratching the ears and/or head | | | | eliminated. |
| * Head shaking, as if trying to shake the mites | | | | Some topical ointments like Tresaderm contain |
| out | | | | antibiotics and other ingredients that treat |
| * Scabs and/or hair loss on the head or around | | | | secondary effects, such as inflammation and |
| ears | | | | infection. They are more potent and can be used |
| To completely eradicate the ear mites is, | | | | for as short a period as two weeks. Most of |
| unfortunately, difficult. On the bright side, your cat | | | | these types of ointments are popular among |
| has a number of treatment options to alleviate | | | | veterinarians. |
| the irritation. | | | | Some veterinarians continue to administer |
| As many people know, including practicing | | | | medication directed at curing ear mites in cats via |
| veterinarians, the flea treatment called "Frontline | | | | injection, without approval of the FDA for mode |
| Topspot," can also be used for treating ear mites. | | | | of drug delivery. Ivermectin is an anti-parasite |
| Frontline has been tested on cats and approved | | | | delivered in shots numbering from two to four in |
| by vets to treat both fleas and ear mites at the | | | | frequency, depending on the severity of the cat's |
| same time. | | | | condition. Frontline, a proven eliminator of ear |
| Ear mites can spread! Sometimes, they leave the | | | | mites, is another veterinary drug known to be |
| ears and settle on different parts of your cat's | | | | dispensed in injectable form. Pet cat owners |
| body. Ear mites especially like to settle on the | | | | should proceed with caution if they want to try |
| head. This is when flea control products work | | | | these injectables, since possible adverse reactions |
| best. Another option is to use a "once-a-month" | | | | they may cause are not well known. |
| topical treatment. | | | | Remember that build up in the cat's ears, |
| Ear mites can spread! Yes, we say it again, | | | | especially those brown crusty debris caused by |
| because ear mites are highly contagious and can | | | | the mites, should be dislodged thoroughly prior to |
| easily spread from cat to cat. If you have two or | | | | treatment proper. You can ask for help from the |
| more cats in the household and one of them | | | | veterinarian if you do not know how to flush |
| exhibits symptoms, it would be wise to have all | | | | feline ears, or are not comfortable with the |
| your cats examined for ear mites. | | | | procedure. |
| Armed with knowledge, and the latest medical | | | | As mentioned earlier, it is indeed fortunate that |
| products, you can protect your cherished pets | | | | there are common cures that alleviate the |
| from the terror of ear mites. | | | | problem of cat ear mites. Perhaps a complete |
| Even if cats can't talk and tell us about it, we can | | | | solution or preventive system is just around the |
| guess fairly well that mites in their ears are a | | | | corner? |
| terrible discomfort for them. Fortunately, there | | | | |