Ear mites in cats: signs, treatment and how to stop them spreading

Ear mites in cats are common, very itchy and easy to pass around the household. The good news is that they’re straightforward to treat once a vet confirms them. Ear mites aren’t usually an emergency, but the red-box signs above mean the problem may have spread deeper into the ear.

What are ear mites in cats?

Ear mites are tiny parasites called Otodectes cynotis. They live in the ear canal and feed on skin debris, and they can sometimes wander onto the head and body. They’re barely visible to the naked eye. At most you might see a white speck moving against the dark discharge.

Otodectes cynotis is more common in cats than in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that ear mites are the second most common external parasite on pets, after fleas. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), infestations are more common in cats under 1 year old and in feral cats. Cornell Feline Health Center adds that outdoor cats are most often affected.

The whole life cycle, from egg to egg-laying adult, takes about 3 weeks and happens on the animal. Adult mites live about 2 months and keep breeding the whole time.

What are the signs of ear mites in cats?

The mites irritate the ear canal and trigger a lot of wax and debris. Typical signs include:

• Dark, crumbly discharge: a dry or waxy brown-black material that looks like coffee grounds, often with a bad smell
• Scratching at the ears and the head, sometimes almost nonstop
• Head shaking, as if trying to get something out
• Ears held flat or drooping
• Red, inflamed ears and a crusty rash around them
• Hair loss around the ears and face from scratching

Some cats have huge numbers of mites and hardly seem bothered. Others have only a few and are very itchy. Itching from mites often spreads beyond the ears. If your cat is scratching elsewhere too, see our guide to a cat itching, since fleas and allergies are also common causes.

Are ear mites contagious?

Yes, very. Mites pass between animals during close contact, such as grooming, sleeping together or play. Cats, dogs and ferrets can all carry them. A new kitten or rescue cat is a common way they arrive in a home.

Survival in the environment isn’t thought to play a big part, so you don’t usually need to deep-clean your house. What matters is treating every pet. CAPC advises that when one dog or cat in a household has ear mites, all the dogs and cats in the home should be treated, even the ones with clean-looking ears. Otherwise mites simply pass back and forth.

People rarely get ear mites. Occasionally they cause a temporary itchy rash in someone living with infested pets, and it clears once the pets are treated.

Is it ear mites or an ear infection?

You can’t reliably tell by looking. Bacteria, yeast, allergies, polyps and objects stuck in the ear can all cause scratching and discharge that look similar. Mites also often lead to a second infection with bacteria or yeast, so a cat can have both at once.

That’s why a vet needs to examine your cat’s ears before any treatment starts. They’ll look deep into the canal with an otoscope, a lighted scope, and often take a swab of the debris to check under a microscope. The microscope shows whether there are mites, yeast, bacteria or a mix. It matters because mite products don’t treat yeast or bacteria, and the reverse is also true. Your vet will also check whether the eardrum is intact. If the ears are very sore, your cat may need sedation for a proper exam.

What is the best ear mite treatment for cats?

Your vet will choose a product based on your cat’s age, weight and any infection they find. Options include:

• Ear medicine put into the ear canal
• Spot-on or oral parasite products that work through the whole body. CAPC notes that longer-acting products are preferred, because they keep working as new mites hatch
• Medicine for yeast or bacteria if the swab shows a second infection

Treatment usually starts with a thorough ear clean, because wax and debris can shield mites from medicine. Your vet may do this in the clinic, under sedation if the ears are painful, and show you how to continue at home.

No medicine kills the mite eggs. With some products, a second treatment about 3 weeks later is needed to catch mites that hatch after the first. Your vet may want to recheck the ears to make sure the mites are gone. Your vet sets the product and the dose for each pet. Dog products are not safe to use on cats unless your vet says so.

Why shouldn’t I use cotton buds or home remedies?

It’s tempting to clean out the black debris yourself, but it can make things worse.

• Cotton buds (Q-tips): VCA Animal Hospitals warns they can damage the eardrum or the ear canal, and push debris further in. Use only cotton balls or gauze on the parts you can see, and only as your vet shows you.
• Hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and other home remedies: the Merck Veterinary Manual advises against them. They irritate an inflamed canal and increase secretions, which encourages bacterial and yeast infections.
• Treating without a diagnosis: if the problem is really yeast or bacteria, mite products won’t help. In severe mite infestations the eardrum can tear, and your vet needs to know that before choosing ear drops.

When should I worry about ear mites?

Most cats recover fully with the right treatment. Call your vet soon if you notice any of these.

A swollen ear flap. Constant scratching and head shaking can burst blood vessels inside the ear flap. Blood collects between the skin and cartilage and the flap puffs up like a balloon. This is an aural hematoma. Cornell Feline Health Center notes that it can heal on its own over weeks, but the ear often ends up permanently thickened and crumpled, a “cauliflower ear”. Vets usually drain it, and surgery gives the most lasting fix.

A head tilt or loss of balance. Untreated outer ear infections can spread to the middle and inner ear. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists signs such as a head tilt toward the sore side, poor coordination, trouble walking or jumping, and side-to-side eye movements. Some cats get a drooping eyelid on one side. These need a vet visit the same day, because early treatment gives the best chance of protecting hearing and balance.

Signs that don’t clear. If the scratching or discharge returns after treatment, another pet may still be carrying mites, or there may be a second infection. Your vet can recheck and adjust the plan.

For kittens, ear checks are a normal part of early vet visits. See our kitten vaccine schedule for when those visits happen.

Written by the CatsMed Team from the sources above. This guide isn’t reviewed by a veterinarian and isn’t a substitute for one. See how we research.