Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears and often lead to ear infections.
Cat ear mites treatment uk.
Those tiny white specks are in fact the adult ear mites present in the ear.
These mites can.
Ear mites are a type of parasitic surface mite that live primarily in the outer ear canal of a host animal.
Fleas ticks ear mites intestinal worms and heartworms can get into any home.
The mite will consume the host s skin and blood then leave behind a characteristic brown waxy residue.
The cat s claws may break the skin surface leading to additional soreness bleeding and in some cases bacterial infections.
If your cat s ears are generally unclean and there is a build up of wax this creates an environment where the ear mites are more likely to survive and thrive.
They get inside your cat s ear canal where they feed on the ear wax and skin debris.
It is a common occurrence that people confuse cat mites symptoms with other cat ear problems like allergies and ear infections.
Ear mites live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils.
Any cat can catch ear mites but they are most common in kittens.
Ear mites are barely visible to the naked eye yet you can spot them inside your cat s ears with the assistance of a magnifying lens.
However one thing that should put your mind at ease is that cats rarely transmit their mites to humans as we are immune from them.
The most common type of ear mite in cats is otodectes cynotis.
The most common way for a cat to catch ear mites is from another cat but they can also be picked up from the home garden and environment.
A cat that has suffered from ear mites for a long time can develop inflammatory polyps i e.
If you look inside the ear by gently folding back the ear flap you can spot tiny white specks amongst the reddish brown debris.
An adult normally lives for approximately two months but can multiply quickly with eggs taking just four days to hatch and a further three weeks to develop into an adult mite ready to breed.
The most common variety otodectes cynotis can live on dogs cats and ferrets.
Parasites hitchhike indoors on other pets or creatures on shoes and clothes or get inside through doors and windows.
These are barely visible to the naked eye but may be seen as very small white dots.
Cats and kittens of all lifestyles indoor only indoor outdoor outdoor only can regularly come in contact with parasites and their health risks.
What are cat ear mites.
Further in rare cases ear mites from a cat or a dog can cause a skin sensitivity in people resulting in a bad reaction and a rash.
What do cat ear mites look like.
Diagnosis usually requires looking for the mites under a microscope.
However cat and dog ear mites cannot infect humans or live on your skin.
Watch for scratching or shaking.