How to Treat Cat Ear Lice

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Cats, our beloved furry companions, are susceptible to a variety of pests and parasites, and one common issue they may face is ear lice infestation. Ear lice, also known as Otodectes cynotis, are tiny insects that can cause great discomfort to cats. They thrive in the dark and warm environment of a cat’s ear canal, feeding on their host’s blood and reproducing rapidly. If left untreated, these pesky insects can lead to severe irritation, inflammation, and even hearing loss for our feline friends. Hence, it is crucial for cat owners to be aware of the signs and symptoms of ear lice infestation, as well as the proper methods to effectively treat and prevent this bothersome condition. In this guide, we will explore the world of cat ear lice, discussing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and most importantly, the various treatment options available to provide relief to our beloved cats.

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This article was co-written by Ray Spragley, DVM. Ray Spragley is a veterinarian and owner/founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care in New York. With experience working in a variety of institutions and private organizations, Spragley’s expertise includes the non-surgical management of superior anterior cruciate ligament tears, spinal disc disease (IVDD), and pain management in inflammation. Osteoarthritis. Spragley holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from SUNY Albany University and a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) working at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and a Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) of Chi University.

There are 12 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 59,710 times.

Ear lice (scientific name: Otodectes cynotis) are microscopic parasites that can cause ear infections in cats. They like to live in dark and warm environments such as ear canals to eat scraps of skin. ^{[1] X Research source Reaginic hypersensitivity in Otodectes cynotis infestation of cats and mode of mite feeding. Powell et al. Am J Vet Res 41 (877).} Ear lice can cause irritation and itching that causes cats to scratch their ears constantly. When constantly scratching their ears, cats are very susceptible to skin problems such as inflammation or swelling of the earlobe and need to be examined by a veterinarian immediately. You should identify and treat your cat’s ear mites quickly to avoid future problems and keep your cat healthy and happy.

Table of Contents

Steps

Identify cats with ear lice

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Pay attention if earwax is too much. Ear lice often irritate the lining of the ear canal and cause increased earwax secretion. This wax is usually brown/black and sometimes looks like normal cat earwax. ^{[2] X Research source Reaginic hypersensitivity in Otodectes cynotis infestation of cats and mode of mite feeding. Powell et al. Am J Vet Res 41 (877).}

• If a cat’s ears are healthy, they usually secrete very little earwax. If you notice something like coffee grounds or dirty black spots in your cat’s ears, there’s a good chance your cat has a problem. ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
• Cats secrete earwax as a defense against infection.
• You may also notice a foul odor coming from your cat’s ears.

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Notice when the cat scratches and shakes its head. Ear lice can cause irritation that causes cats to scratch their ears repeatedly with their hind legs and/or shake their heads frequently. ^{[4] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}

• Cat claws can tear the skin, causing pain, bleeding, and even infection. ^{[5] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}
• Cats with long-term ear lice are at risk of developing ppypitis (tumour-shaped lesions) in the ear canal, which will swell and bleed from the cat’s constant scratching and scratching. ^{[6] X Research Resources Elaine Wexler-Mitchell, <i>A Healthy Cat</i>, p. 174, (1999), ISBN 1-58245-057-9}
• In addition, the cat’s outer ear may become inflamed and drain pus, or the eardrum may rupture and lead to loss of balance or other problems that require medical attention. ^{[7] X Merck/Merial Research Source , <i>The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health</i>, p. 501, (2007), ISBN 978-0-911910-99-5}

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Observe the cat’s posture. Cats with ear lice often tilt their heads to one side. This is a general sign that your cat has an ear problem, not just ear lice. ^{[8] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}

• Regardless of the cause, you should take your cat to the vet if she constantly tilts her head to one side.

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Check out other animals. If you have multiple pets and suspect one has ear mites, you should check all of your pet’s ears. Ear lice are very contagious from one animal to another when they sleep together or lick each other’s fur.

• If you treat only each cat with ear mites, the other cats are also likely to carry the parasite but show no symptoms, so the lice can spread and cause reinfection.
• If one pet has ear mites, you should treat all pets in your home to prevent the risk of infection.

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Take your cat to the vet. If you notice any of these signs, you need to take your cat to the vet. Veterinarians can diagnose a cat’s illness in several ways.

• Your veterinarian can examine your cat’s ear canal with an Auroscope – a device similar to an amplified flashlight to look deep into the ear canal. Veterinarians can directly observe small white lice running back and forth due to the impact of the Auroscope light. ^{[9] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}
• Some doctors may collect a cotton swab sample of earwax and place it on a microscope slide for observation. Ear lice can be clearly seen under a microscope. ^{[10] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}
• Your veterinarian may also check to make sure your cat’s eardrum is not damaged prior to treatment, as the eardrum acts as a barrier to help prevent water from entering the middle ear and causing imbalance in the cat.

Treating ear lice with ear drops

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Get medication. After diagnosing and determining that the eardrum is not damaged, your veterinarian can prescribe ear drops that are safe and effective in killing ear mites for your cat.

• Many pet stores sell over-the-counter flea treatments that are less effective and can be harmful to cats. Ideally, you should only use medication recommended by your veterinarian.

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Read the bottle label carefully. You should carefully read the instructions on how often to instill the medicine on the label. The frequency and dose of ear drops depends on the medication, but you can usually put them in your cat’s ears once a day for 7-10 days. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Prepare ear drops for the cat. Before instilling medicine on your cat, you should place all necessary supplies on a table or flat surface.

• You will need a large tablecloth to keep your cat from slipping, ear drops, and some cotton balls.
• If possible, you can ask a cat sitter for you to free your hands to administer medicine.

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Clean cat ears. Before instilling the medicine, you need to clean the cat’s ears. It is advisable to consult with your veterinarian about the procedure to clean the cat’s ears before inoculation. ^{[12] X Research Source}

• Buy an ear cleaner that is labeled as safe for cats and follow the instructions.
• You need to be careful if there is too much earwax in your cat’s ears, as earwax can act like a cocoon around ear mites, preventing the ear drops from getting in.

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Drop drugs. Position the cat facing you and have someone gently press down on the cat’s shoulders to stop the cat from moving. Cut off the tip of the medicine bottle and put the correct amount of medicine drop by drop into the cat’s ear canal.

• Use your thumb and index finger to gently rub the cat’s ears so that the drops pass through the earwax and penetrate deeper into the ear canal. ^{[13] X Research Sources[14] X Credible Sources Washington State University Cplege of Veterinary Medicine Go to Source}
• If your cat resists during the application, you can wrap her in a towel to keep her still. ^{[15] X Trusted Source Washington State University Cplege of Veterinary Medicine Go to source}

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Wipe the ears. Use a cotton ball to wipe the wax off the surface of the ear.

• Do not push the cotton pad into the ear canal. If the cat moves during the cleaning process, the cotton pad can easily get deep into the ear and cause injury to the cat.

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Repeat drops as directed. You should give your cat drops every day for the prescribed amount of time. If your cat still shows signs of irritation at the end of the treatment, you should take the cat to the doctor for a follow-up visit.

• Stop treatment and contact your veterinarian if the cat continues to tilt its head during treatment.
• Some cats may be sensitive to the ingredients of the ear drops and become unbalanced from the effects of the medication even if the eardrum is not damaged. You should take your cat to the vet right away if this is the case.

Preventing re-infection of ear lice

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Use Selamectin for all cats. Selamectin is a powerful parasite control available for both cats and dogs. This medication helps fight lice, fleas, heartworms, and some intestinal worms. ^{[16] X Research Source} You should externally administer to all domestic cats with a Selamectin-containing medicine such as Revpution (or Stronghpd from the UK).

• Selamectin helps prevent reinfection and protects other cats from parasitic infections.
• You should apply Selamectin on the nape of your cat. Do not apply Selamectin to the cat’s ears. ^{[17] X Research Source Efficacy of selamectin administered topically in the treatment of feline otoacariasis. Blot et al. Veterinary Parasitpogy. 112, p241-247}

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Take your dog to the vet. Selamectin is not licensed to treat ear lice in dogs. If your dog is infected with ear lice from cats, you should take your dog to the vet for preventive treatment.

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Protect your cat’s paws. You should spray Fipronil topically on your cat’s hind legs to kill ticks, fleas, lice, and other parasites. ^{[18] X Research Source} This drug can directly kill the lice that get on the fur after the cat scratches the ears.

• This medication helps prevent reinfection from scratching a clean ear with a paw that still has the lice on it. ^{[19] X Small Animal Dermatpogy Research Source . Muller & Kirk. Publisher: Saunders.}
• Fipronil is found in many medications such as Frontline, Effipro, Barricade and EasySpot. ^{[20] X Research Sources} You should consult your veterinarian about antiparasitic drugs and a reliable source.

Advice

• You should not be too concerned because cat ear lice cannot be transmitted to humans. ^{[21] X Research Source}
• You can also treat cat ear lice with topical medications containing Selamectin to prevent reinfection. Once applied to the skin, Selamectin is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the ear canal to kill lice that feed on debris. Selamectin alone is enough to treat an infection caused by ear lice. Although this method is very convenient, ear drops are still preferred because of their anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties to fight secondary infections. ^{[22] X Research Sources Efficacy of selamectin administered topically in the treatment of feline otoacariasis. Blot et al. Veterinary Parasitpogy. 112, p241-247}

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Warning

• Ear lice infections can become serious if left untreated. A serious ear mite infestation can damage your cat’s ear canal and eardrum. Ear lice are highly contagious and can be spread from cat to cat or from cat to dog and vice versa, so you should treat all pets in your home at the same time.
• Over-the-counter medications are generally less effective and dangerous for cats. These drugs can cause serious nerve damage to cats.

X

This article was co-written by Ray Spragley, DVM. Ray Spragley is a veterinarian and owner/founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care in New York. With experience working in a variety of institutions and private organizations, Spragley’s expertise includes the non-surgical management of superior anterior cruciate ligament tears, spinal disc disease (IVDD), and pain management in inflammation. Osteoarthritis. Spragley holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from SUNY Albany University and a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) working at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and a Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) of Chi University.

There are 12 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 59,710 times.

Ear lice (scientific name: Otodectes cynotis) are microscopic parasites that can cause ear infections in cats. They like to live in dark and warm environments such as ear canals to eat scraps of skin. ^{[1] X Research source Reaginic hypersensitivity in Otodectes cynotis infestation of cats and mode of mite feeding. Powell et al. Am J Vet Res 41 (877).} Ear lice can cause irritation and itching that causes cats to scratch their ears constantly. When constantly scratching their ears, cats are very susceptible to skin problems such as inflammation or swelling of the earlobe and need to be examined by a veterinarian immediately. You should identify and treat your cat’s ear mites quickly to avoid future problems and keep your cat healthy and happy.

In conclusion, treating cat ear lice requires a systematic and thorough approach. It is essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of ear lice infestation and seek veterinary assistance for an accurate diagnosis. Treatment options include topical medications, shampoos, and powders that effectively eliminate lice and their eggs. Regular cleaning of the cat’s environment, including bedding and brushes, is also crucial to prevent re-infestation. Additionally, preventative measures such as regular grooming, checking for signs of ear lice, and maintaining a clean living environment can help ensure the overall well-being of your cat. By following these steps and working closely with a veterinarian, cat owners can successfully treat and prevent ear lice infestations, providing their feline friends with optimal health and comfort.

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