My cat might have ear mites. Should I treat or see a vet first?

Ear infections in cats can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and are more common causes of ear infections in adult cats. Ear mites are more common in kittens. In order to treat Belle properly, she does have to see a vet, and vets will see pets for sickness. This counts, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. Give her vet a call to make her an appointment.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he truly has mites, they are not going to completely go away with the peroxide so if the ears get dirty again as before, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If properly diagnosed, ear mites can be easily treated. Best of luck!

It sounds as though Bo is quite uncomfortable since she's scratching her ears excessively to the point of bleeding. While this is not a life-threatening emergency, it is certainly causing some degree of pain and discomfort, which necessitates a more urgent vet visit. It's likely that the ear mite medication didn't work because her issue may be caused by an ear infection with bacteria and/or yeast. At this point, your best option is to call your vet to ask about scheduling an urgent visit. I hope that she feels better soon!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks possibly consistent with ear mites. If not, an ear infection would be considered likely. I recommend you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so this suspicion can be confirmed and he can be treated for it. Treatment usually result in quick relief. Good luck!

It sounds like Pojii could have ear mites. You usually can't see ear mites without a microscope but they could be moving ear wax around. Other types of mites, lice and fleas could also be near the ears. Ear mites usually cause a very dark, dry waxy debris in the ears and can cause secondary ear infections. I would recommend seeing a veterinarian for a diagnosis - they might take a swab from the ears and examine it under the microscope - and treatment options. Ear mites and ear infections are not particularly serious and are easily treatable, but if they are untreated they could lead to permanent damage to the ear.

It is possible that Motu may have a bacterial and /or yeast infection of the ear. It is also possible, but less likely that he has been reinfected with ear mites. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Do not clean the ear so that your veterinarian had debris present to assist in making the diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I'm sorry to hear Lily is having this issue! Mites can be a common cause of itchy ears in younger cats but in older cats ear infections are more common. Food allergies can be a trigger for ear infections in older cats as well. Unfortunately because the problem has been going on for over a year she really needs to be examined by a veterinarian. They can take an ear swab to look for mites or bacterial infection. They can also make sure Lily's ear drums are okay. Without knowing what kind of infection is causing the issue and not knowing if her ear drums are okay there's really nothing safe you can do at home. Most veterinary clinics accept Care Credit so this may help you with payments and make Lily's treatment more financially feasible for you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Lily's ear issue resolves quickly!