My new kittens, help!!

Me and my girlfriend have just moved into our first flat together and are taking our one gorgeous cat, Miu Miu with us but because she's been around other cats her whole life we got two amazing little ginger kitties, Juvia and Emi for her to become friends with!

Now the problem is once we got them home we noticed they both had an absolutely dreadful ear mite infestation so we went and got some ear mite medicine to deal with it and it seems to be working thus far (they shake their ears a lot but don't seem to be scratching much any more).

My concerns, however, stem from whenever we have to apply the ear mite medicine and massage it in they always seem to begin frothing from the mouth and sometimes vomit but only after we've done it and let them go.

We've switched them from the wet DOG food the lady was feeding them to dry kitten food as well, which I think had upset their stomachs a little.

I'm just very worried as they're already my little fluffy girls and i'd hate anything to be wrong with them! I've been told i'm just over reacting and they're just being sick over the stress involved in all the change that's going on in their lives as this is the second night we will have had them.

Can someone suggest something to me to ease my fears or should I take them to the vets? Any advice or help would be really appreciated.

Thanks for your time and patience!

Jak.

Please tell me ur not using over the counter ear mite meds on kittens. If you are stop it immediately and give them both a bath to wash it out of their ears. Someone else may have some insight on what kind of soap to use.

Oh, the reason I ask is OTC meds are not safe. Take them to the vet for treatment. You will need a dose for your other cat as well, but you don't have to take her.

First thing you need to do is get those babies to the vet for a thorough check up, deworming, and treatment for the ear mites.  I hope you've not exposed the babies to your older cat yet as earmites can be contagious.
 

By the way, dog food might not have the supplement taurine in it, which cats require for good health.  Sounds like you have two lovely kittens who need your help to get a better start on long, healthy lives with you.
 

You may need to use Revolution on them, if it's available in your area.  It treats worms and ear mites, in addition to fleas.

We've not introduced the older cat to the kittens yet, for that exact reason: I don't want her getting the mites, so she's stayed at my parents house and will do so until they're sorted. We've wormed/flea'd them.

The lady who owned them had them on a farm had no clear sleeping area/inside place for them and was feeding all the animals (dogs/cats) with a tin of dog food, we only intended on buying one kitten but after seeing the state of the place we had to buy both, because I couldn't bear seeing them like that.

I don't understand RE: the ear drops being toxic, just to kittens or in general? Because I highly doubt they'd sell something that was harmful to cats in general.

I'll upload a picture of them soon, once they're a bit less stressed!

Regardless, thank you all for the help and I will get them both to the vets tomorrow morning.

mrblanche said:

By the way, dog food might not have the supplement taurine in it, which cats require for good health.  Sounds like you have two lovely kittens who need your help to get a better start on long, healthy lives with you.
 

You may need to use Revolution on them, if it's available in your area.  It treats worms and ear mites, in addition to fleas.

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or Advantage Multi aka Advocate

I sure hope you check this again before you go to bed. I don't know what part of the world you are in, but if you were in the US you are most likely using either a Hertz or Sergeantz (sp) product. You would think that these products are very safe, most naive pet owners do. You are very mistaken. You said yourself that your kitten is frothing at tje mouth & throwing up after application--THAT IS NOT NORMAL! If you want to do what is right for your animals, I would wash the product off immediately.

Please see the website link below and read about all or the people who have lost pets to these products. The first page I'm linking is to an ear mite remedy. All OTC ear mite remedies share these same active ingredients- Pyrethrin & Piperonyl

http://www.hartzvictims.org/2010/12/11/hartz-ear-mite-drops-made-my-cat-very-ill/

I'm from the UK, what I was implying was rather that we've just taken on these kittens, they aren't used to our home and they were being sick out of fear and stress, because of the way you have to apply the drops.

I don't think it's very fair to call someone naive because of that, though. I've owned pets all my life and have never seen any of them suffer if i've used over the counter remedies.

However, i've taken your advice and washed it out- for now. I will go to the vets tomorrow and see what he suggests.

Thanks again for the help and advice.

Jak.

I certainly wasn't trying to insinuate that you were naive, although it sure reads that way. I certainly apologize. Your vet can prescribe something fairly inexpensive that you will only have to be applied one time. It will be much easier on them "nerves-wise" if that is the issue.
I've never known kittens to throw up from being nervous, although I have had one to poop on me I'm sure it is very possible.

Welcome to TCS by the way. This is a wonderful site and a great source of information to help your fur-babies. Good luck at the vet.


We want you to be around here for the long haul so welcome to TCS by the way.

Yeah, it seems like a really great site, especially with helpful people like you here.

No, don't take it personally i'm just really stressed about this, you know how people can get I imagine. Sorry if I did seem rude or out of tone, though.

I know the best course of action usually I just like to hear what other more experienced pet owners have to say, to ease my own worries more than anything! Haha.

I will stay around. It seems like a really cool place to be and considering I love cats more than anything, I hope i'll fit right in!

What is the treatment you are using for the ear mites?  Did you know that you have to clean out their ears as well?

Yes, they need worming (you can get Milbemax from the vet since you are in the UK) and yes they probably need flea treatment, which a spot-on from the vet for the ear mites will do as well.

And remember to get them neutered by the time they are 5 months old.

Yeah, we've sorted most of that already.

They've been wormed, been treated for fleas and yes, we removed all the gunk from their ears.

We've already paid the vet for their neutering as he's local and known my family through all our pets, when they reach the right age it's merely a matter of taking them there.

Worth every penny, though.

EDIT: The treatment is called Otodex.

Originally Posted by Jak the Lad  

My concerns, however, stem from whenever we have to apply the ear mite medicine and massage it in they always seem to begin frothing from the mouth and sometimes vomit but only after we've done it and let them go.

We've switched them from the wet DOG food the lady was feeding them to dry kitten food as well, which I think had upset their stomachs a little.

Click to expand...

The frothing at the mouth and sometimes vomiting when/after applying the ear mite medication is a clear sign of poisoning, not stress. They definitely need to see the vet.

To get your babies off to a great start, have you considered a grain-free tinned (canned) kitty food? Kitties derive moisture from their food, so by feeding kibble they aren't getting the moisture they need to keep from being in a state of dehydration. Kitties just do not drink enough water to off-set the lack of moisture in kibble--they don't have the thirst mechanism that dogs and humans do--therefore they remain dehydrated. Kibble is convenient for humans, but not a good choice for kitties. Just something to consider.

Yeah, I was discussing this with my partner earlier, I think we've agreed on a kibble and wet food diet for them. Wet food for main meals and kibble out all day if they get hungry.
 

I suspect Otodex works by drowning the mites.  They have a 3-week life cycle so I'd reapply in 3 weeks whatever the ears look like as there could be some eggs left behind.  You also probably have to clean any gunk out of the ears before applying it.

that the ear mites go away!!!

Big welcome to TCS!!!!!!

Ask ur vet if a drug called "Acarexx" is available in the UK? It's for mites only and kills them dead w/ one application.

Edit; I think 1 dose can be split between 2 kittens. Ask ur vet.