Cat’s Mites Require Prompt Treatment

Q: Two weeks ago, a young stray cat wandered into our lives and decided to stay as a permanent house guest. He appears to be about 3 or 4 months old, is black and white, and has a voracious appetite. However, he does a lot of scratching, especially at his ears and face. He does have a lot of dark stuff from his ears and we try to keep it clean with alcohol and cotton swabs, yet he always seems to have more. He’s starting to get a little sore around his ears and it’s becoming very difficult to treat him. Is there anything else that we can buy to help clean his ears that won’t hurt him?

Pam Whitford, Tustin

A: The sore ears on your cat could be due to ear mites, tiny white arachnids called Otodectes cynotis , which live in the ear canals and reproduce. During their life cycle, they cause intense itching and pain from invading the lining of the ear canal. There is another mite, called Notodectes , which also invades the ears but can affect the face, eyes, and feet of your cat as it spreads and reproduces. Either mite will spread to other cats and should require prompt treatment.

You should have this kitten examined by your veterinarian who may need to take a sample of the debris from the ears to determine if either mite is present. Your vet will also check the ears for the possibility of a foreign body, such as a plant awn, which can cause a severe infection and needs to be removed.

Your cat may need to be sedated or even anesthetized in order to gently wash the ears with a cleaning solution that will get the ear canals completely clean and allow for easier treatment of the ears. You will get the proper medication for the ears and your cat may even need antibiotics if the ears are infected. A recheck examination within two weeks will be necessary to follow the progress of your home treatment and to make sure no other problems are occurring.

During your pet’s examination, it would be very wise to have him vaccinated and a blood test taken for Feline Leukemia virus. You should also bring a fresh stool sample to have the lab check for intestinal parasites.

In a recent article concerning the possibility of back surgery for a dog with a disc problem, I failed to mention another form of therapy that is available to pet owners. Dr. John Pennington of Huntington Beach wrote to me about a similar situation with his 8-year-old dachshund, and he sought the services of a veterinary acupuncturist who successfully improved the condition of his pet. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment in the world and only in recent years has it been available to pets in the United States. For referral to a veterinary acupuncturist, talk to your regular veterinarian or contact the Southern California Veterinary Medical Assn.