Ear mites are usually the first thing you worry about if your cat starts scratching her ears. This is no surprise, as ear mites in cats are common, and many of us have adopted kittens with them. Plus, they do make cats’ ears itch like crazy. But, cats scratch at their ears for many reasons.
“While we certainly need to rule out ectoparasites (parasites that live on the outside of the host), such as otodectes (ear mites), notoedres (mange mites), or even demodex (another species of mange mites) on occasion, when working up pruritic (itchy) ears in a cat, there are MANY other conditions that cause itch in this location,” says Dr. Mitzi Clark, assistant clinical professor of dermatology and dermatology section chief at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Cats are never boring, and their causes of itchy ears can be numerous!”
Causes of itchy ears in cats include:
- Ear mites
- Mange mites
- Allergies
- Yeast infection
- Bacterial infection
- Fungal infection
- Polyps/tumors in ear canal
- Foreign bodies in ear canal
- Infected wounds
- Immune-mediated skin disease
- Drug reactions
- Mosquito-bite hypersensitivity
If your cat has itchy ears, a veterinary exam is critical. Cats can cause significant damage to their ears while scratching, regardless of the cause.
At the Exam
Your veterinarian will start by assessing not only the ears, but the skin, paws, and oral cavity as well. Using an otoscope, your veterinarian can visually assess the entire external ear canal all the way down to the ear drum. Sometimes this is all that is needed to diagnose ear mites, as the mites can often be seen partying in there with an otoscope. If they are not visible, the dark waxy discharge that is often found with ear mite infections may provide a useful clue.
If it looks suspiciously like mites, but none are observed this way, a sample will be taken and viewed under a microscope. If they are there, they can usually be found with this closer look. There are many effective treatments for ear mites these days, including some spot-on treatments used for flea control. Be sure to have all cats and dogs on the premises evaluated and treated, as ear mites are very contagious. Ignoring this important step could result in mite infestations going back and forth between your pets.
Once ear mites, foreign bodies, polyps, and tumors in the external ear canal have been ruled out by otoscopic examination, samples are taken from the ear canal for cytology. Cytology identifies inflammation, yeast, and /or bacterial infection. These conditions are typically treated topically. A follow up exam at the end of treatment is recommended to ensure full resolution of the problem.
Your veterinarian may also take samples from the skin and coat to rule out the other mites and fungal skin infections like ringworm, as these can cause itchy skin in cats.
“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of ear cytology, in addition to the mite preparations, skin scrapings, and fungal cultures performed,” says Dr. Clark.
Allergies
The biggest thing causing itchy ears in cats, once ectoparsites and infections have been ruled out or treated, is allergies. Allergies in cats cause normal healthy-looking skin, including that in the ears, to itch.
“I see cats with allergic otitis as the only sign of their food or environmental allergy,” says Dr. Clark. Cats with allergic otitis often develop secondary bacterial or yeast infections, so underlying allergies should always be considered for cats with recurring ear infections.
Bottom Line
To assure proper treatment, you need to get a proper diagnosis, which means involving your veterinarian. Just remember that itchy ears are not always due to ear mites, so don’t run to the pet store for “ear mite treatment.” See your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and the best targeted treatment, so your itchy kitty can get relief as soon as possible.
