Itchy Ears and Head Shaking

Twelve years ago, I joined a group of women who came to the aid of feral cats living in colonies in our community.  We initiated a TNR programme and those cats  deemed unadoptable were re-released, others were socialized and adopted.  We were very successful at finding many homes for cats and kittens and it was one of the most fulfilling endeavours of my life.

Babe was a young cat too aggressive for adoption and spent ten years living out her years in a colony.  Two years ago, during a cruel and bitter winter,  I paid a visit to the colony and saw Babe, enduring one the coldest winters in my lifetime, her eyes  begging me for help.  I trapped her and she blended in seamlessly with my brood. 

At her initial vet examination (two years ago) her ears were severely inflamed and infested with mites.  She received Revolution x 2 and an antibiotic ointment for the inflammation.   She has recently been shaking her head and itching around her ear.  She is difficult to pin down and examine, but with limitations, I do not see any brown crumbly material and cleaning with a cloth and my baby finger does not produce more than a very light brownish tinge.  I'm trying to see what else I can do for her before I subject her to the trauma of a long car ride to the vet clinic.  Any suggestions?

Thank you!

How long ago was the revolution given?  It could be a yeast infection in there too.  My cats get that all the time.  One had dirty ears and the other didn't.  I think they both have a food allergy.  

She received the revolution two years ago,  one dose at the vet's and one  a month later.  I haven't considered a yeast infection, so I'll have to do some research for more info.  Is it something that she must see a vet for, or can it be treated at home?

Mites are common in indoor and outdoor cats, but they are also prone to infections, and can get objects in their ears which can cause irritation.   If you are worried about the distress of any crating and visit to the vet you could try giving your vet a call, and if possible show them photographs and even video of what is happening if you are able to send them.  They might be able to rule some things out or suggest an initial course of action without having to take Babe in to the surgery.

Good luck finding out what is happening for her.

Revolution is a preventative medicine and should be given once a month to keep fleas and mites off our kitties. She may just have mites. Anything else would need to be tested by doing an ear culture... They would need to figure out what bacteria to treat and they would be able to determine if she has too much yeast. Tresaderm is used for yeast infections but everything requires a prescription.

Thanks everyone.   I better take her to the vet clinic to make a correct diagnosis.  It's going to be stressful for her and for me, but it's all for the best.

Keep us updated, hopefully it is something straght forward to sort out so she isn't uncomfortable for long.  

If you usually have her carrier out hopefully it won't be as scary as it was for her.  If not, try to get it out as soon as you can, put something like a little blanket she likes in there which will have her smell on it, and if you have some you can use Feliway / similar pheronome spray to try and keep her anxiety to a minimum.  (Having prepared a little might help ease your anxiety about her too - I used to have a vet phobic cat and would joke with the vet that it was me that needed the sedatives not my cat when he gave them to her).   I had to go out, come back in again, make a cup of tea, put my pajamas and slippers on and make out I was in for the duration before I could get near that cat when her crate was out,     but it worked, I could then pick her up and bundle in to the crate.

I pulled out four cat carriers last night, one per cat, and put individual dishes at the entrance to each carrier.   I thought she would be less suspicious if all cats have to eat from a carrier. Daily I'm going to push the dishes further and further into the carriers until they all have to go all the way inside for their dinners.  On the morning of the appointment I'm going to close the door once she's inside for her meal.  The vet I'll be taking her to is experienced with rescue and feral cats and the staff are all well equipped to handle cats like Babe.  Hopefully by next week I'll have her at the vets. 

Thank you!

That sounds like a great plan, and hopefully enough to get her where you need her.  I'll have my fingers crossed it all goes smoothly so neither you nor she get too stressed.  

Thank you for purraise!   Will keep you posted next week.

Babe was very wary on the morning of the appointment.  But once she got into the kitchen I nudged her easily into the crate and off we went. She has an ear infection in her left ear and is being treated with Baytril and Surolan drops.   No mites were visible.  She has fibrosis in her ear canal so the vet believes she has a chronic type of infection.  But he believes that after this course of medication she will be feeling much better and the itching and discomfort will subside. 

Thanks to everyone for convincing me to take her to the vet sooner rather than later before the infection got a lot worse.

Thank you for the update on Babe.  I am so glad that the vet was able to see what was happening and also advised you on there being some chronic infection there.  Hopefully Babe will feel  comfortable really quickly now she has medication for the infection.  If it is ear drops I wish you luck as I had to give Mouse those for a while and he HATED them.      It was really hard to stop him shaking his head so quickly that I'd end up with more on me that left in his ear canal.