Ear Mites

Ear mites are one of the most common parasitic problems in cats, and one of the most uncomfortable. Despite being almost invisible to the naked eye, a colony of Otodectes cynotis living inside the warm, dark ear canal causes ferocious itching — affected cats shake their heads, scratch at their ears with their back feet, and can scratch themselves raw in the process.

The classic sign is the discharge: a dry, dark brown or black crumbly material often described as looking like coffee grounds. This is a mix of ear wax, blood, mite debris, and inflammatory material. Combined with a noticeable odour and red, irritated ear canals, it gives a fairly recognisable picture, though a vet will always confirm by finding the mites or their eggs under the microscope before treating — because other conditions, such as bacterial and yeast ear infections, can look similar but need different treatment.

Mites are highly contagious between animals that share close contact. Kittens very often acquire them from their mother in the first weeks of life, and in homes with several cats or with dogs, an infestation can pass around the whole group. They cannot complete their life cycle on humans, so they are not a meaningful risk to people, but every furry pet in the household should be treated at once to stop them simply bouncing back and forth.

Modern treatment is straightforward and effective. Many of the same spot-on products used for fleas and worms also kill ear mites in a single or monthly application, and your vet may clean the ears and dispense a medicated ear drop as well. The itching usually settles within days. Left untreated, however, the relentless scratching and head shaking can rupture small blood vessels in the ear flap, producing a painful swelling called an aural haematoma that sometimes needs surgery — which is why a quick vet visit at the first sign of dark, itchy ears is always worthwhile.