ear mites in cats
How do I know if my cat has ear mites?

We adopted “Mittens” from a shelter. She was underweight, possibly malnourished, but otherwise seemed healthy. Except she kept shaking her head. We worried about ear mites, especially since they’re contagious and cats in shelters are in close quarters. How do I know if my cat has ear mites?

Marnie at. Melbourne shelter

This is what we were looking for

ear mites in cat’s ear

We checked her ears, but saw nothing. We took a Q-tip and cleaned her ears, but no telltale little black clumps.

Her head shaking got worse, so we took her to the vet.
A cat’s ear canal is L shaped

cat ear canal
photo by shari smith dunaif 2016

The vet took a sample from “Mitten’s” ears, digging deeper than I’d be comfortable doing.

special long q tip at vet office

Poor “Mittens” did have ear mites.

This is what those disgusting ear mites look like, under a microscope.

ear mite under a microscope

The South Animal Care Center (5100 West Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32934, Phone: 321-253-6608) where we adopted “Mittens” from, is a clean shelter, and the staff helpful. “Mittens” must have already had the ear mites for quite awhile; she was rescued from a hoarder’s house, and without a doubt contracted them there. Once at the shelter, she was spayed and recovering from the surgery when we adopted her. She’d been there about a week.

The vet gave us drops. The treatment was 4 drops per ear for ten days.

NOTE: drops must be refrigerated.

refrigerated ear mite medicine for cats

Yay! it worked!