Cat ear mites: signs, treatment and what else it could be

Cat ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal and feed on wax and skin debris. They cause intense itching and a dark, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds. They are uncomfortable but very treatable, and a vet can usually confirm them in a few minutes.

The catch is that dirty, itchy ears are not always mites. Ear mites are mostly a problem of kittens and cats that go outdoors or have just come from a shelter. In an indoor older cat, the same black debris more often has another cause.

What ear mites in cats look like

The mites themselves are about the size of a pinhead and hard to see without magnification. What owners notice is what the mites leave behind and how the cat reacts:

• Dark brown or black, dry, crumbly debris in the ear, like coffee grounds.
• Scratching at the ears and the back of the head.
• Frequent head shaking, or ears held flat or to the side.
• Scabs, scratches and thin hair around the ears, head and neck.
• Redness inside the ear flap.
• Usually both ears, though one can look worse.

Hard scratching and head shaking can burst a blood vessel in the ear flap, which makes it swell like a small pillow. That needs a vet visit of its own.

Black stuff in a cat's ears: mites or something else?

A little pale brown wax is normal. Black or dark brown material can come from several things, and they look alike from the outside.

These clues overlap, and a cat can have two problems at once. Mites often leave a yeast or bacterial infection behind them. Nobody can tell these apart reliably by looking at the outside of the ear.

How a vet confirms ear mites

The vet looks down the ear canal with an otoscope, a lighted scope with a magnifying lens. Mites sometimes show as small white specks moving across the dark debris.

They will usually also take a swab of the debris and look at it under a microscope. That shows mites and their eggs, and it shows yeast and bacteria if those are the real problem or an added one. The vet also checks that the eardrum is intact, which decides what is safe to put in the ear. A very sore or blocked ear sometimes needs sedation to examine and clean properly.

Ear mite treatments that work

Treatment has a few parts, and your vet will choose among them:

• Cleaning. The clinic clears the debris so that medicine can reach the skin of the canal. They will show you whether and how to clean at home.
• A prescription parasite treatment. Many are spot-on products applied to the skin at the back of the neck. They work through the body, so they also reach mites that have wandered onto the fur.
• Medicated ear drops. Some kill mites directly. Others treat the yeast, bacteria and inflammation that came with them.
• Treating every pet in contact. Cats, dogs and ferrets in the home usually all need treating, even if only one is scratching.
• A recheck. Mite eggs hatch over the following weeks, so the vet confirms the ears are clear before treatment stops.

Which product, how much and for how long depend on your cat's weight, age, health and other medicines, and only your vet can set that. With the right treatment ear mites usually clear completely. Cats can catch them again from an untreated animal.

Home remedies for ear mites in cats

Home remedies fall short for two reasons. They do not reliably get rid of the mites, and half the battle is knowing it is mites in the first place.

• Olive, coconut or mineral oil. Oil may smother some adult mites, but it does not kill the eggs or reach mites on the fur, so the mites come back. It also leaves a greasy canal where yeast and bacteria can grow.
• Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. These sting and irritate skin that is already inflamed.
• Tea tree and other essential oils. These can poison cats and should not be used on them.
• Garlic preparations. Garlic is toxic to cats.
• Store-bought mite drops. Some need long, strict courses and treat nothing else that may be wrong. Only use one if your vet has examined the ear and confirmed the exact product, and never use a dog product on a cat. Some dog parasite treatments contain ingredients that are toxic to cats.

There is also a safety problem. If the eardrum is damaged, liquid put into the ear can reach the middle and inner ear and affect hearing and balance. You cannot see the eardrum at home. And if the cause is an infection or a growth, weeks spent on oil are weeks without the right treatment.

Do ear mites spread to other pets or people?

Ear mites spread easily between cats, dogs and ferrets through close contact, such as sleeping together and grooming each other. That is why the whole household is treated at once.

People are rarely affected. Occasionally someone gets a short-lived itchy rash, but the mites do not set up home on humans. See a doctor about any rash that concerns you. The mites do not survive long away from an animal, so washing bedding on a hot cycle and vacuuming is usually enough for the house.

Other cat mites

Ear mites are the most common mite in cats, but not the only one. Other types live on the skin and cause dandruff along the back, crusting on the face and ears, or patchy hair loss and itching. Some of these are also contagious. They are diagnosed from skin scrapings or tape samples, and treatment is again a prescription parasite product. If your cat is itchy and losing fur, see why an old cat is losing hair for the other causes.

Dirty ears in an older indoor cat

A senior cat that lives indoors and has had no new animal contact is an unlikely candidate for ear mites. Black wax and scratching in that cat more often points to a yeast or bacterial infection, an allergy, a polyp or an ear tumor. Growths of the wax glands in the ear canal become more common with age, and some are cancerous. The article on cancer in senior cats explains how lumps are investigated.

Clues that it is not simple mites include a problem in only one ear, discharge that returns after treatment, blood, a visible lump, or a bad smell. An older cat with ear trouble needs someone to look down the ear before anything is put in it.

Ear disease that reaches the middle or inner ear can cause a head tilt, wobbling or flicking eyes. Those signs are described in vestibular disease in senior cats. Sore ears also hurt, and cats hide it well. Hiding, flinching when the head is touched and eating less are among the signs of pain in senior pets. Never give a human painkiller. Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen and aspirin can seriously harm or kill cats. The senior cat guide has more on routine checks at this age.

Call the vet today if

• Your cat has a head tilt, is losing its balance or walking in circles.
• Its eyes flick from side to side, or the pupils are different sizes.
• The ear flap is swollen, hot or puffy.
• There is blood, pus or a strong smell from the ear.
• Your cat cries or pulls away when the ear or head is touched.
• You can see a lump or growth in the ear.
• One side of the face droops, or your cat seems suddenly deaf.
• It has stopped eating or is hiding.
• It has scratched the skin raw around the ears.

If your own clinic is closed, call an emergency veterinary clinic.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Dark ear debris and scratching can point to ear mites but do not confirm them, and in older cats other causes are more likely. Do not put oil, drops or cleaners in your cat's ear until a veterinarian has examined it, and let your veterinarian choose any treatment.