Feral cat with ear mites

Hi, WOW I love the enclosure. I want to make one for my 3 indoor cats. The male feral had blood on his neck, so I had to trap and take him in urgently. It turns out he ear mites and had been scratching so much he had sores on his neck. So had him sterilized at the same time. I have noticed that his ears look dark inside now (2 weeks later) . I have no idea how to treat for mites a cat that I can't touch. Will have to keep an eye on it. I cant afford another vet visit, thinking maybe I could trap and treat him like the vet
would??

Unfortunately, from what I'm reading, a lot of pages say either need to be able to administer meds into the ear, or take them to the vet.    http://www.feralcatbehavior.com/516/the-ear-mite-fight.html

But here are some other pages...in case you want to look into these alternatives.

http://www.revivalanimal.com/product/deworming-feral-cat-colonies/ 

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/70505/ear-mites-in-feral-cats

http://www.urbancatleague.org/MedicatingFerals

I would definitely look into getting him treatment.  Are there clinics in your area that might help?  Perhaps your vet can work with you - lowered prices or a payment plan.

I am only saying this because we have a cat who is now deaf because she had a bad earmite infestation and was not treated.  By the time she wandered into our yard and we got her to the vet, it was too late.

In addition to the damage to her ears, those sores where he scratched can get infected; he may need antibiotics as well.

Thank you for helping him.

I would 100% get him to a feral friendly vet ASAP----perhaps the clinic you took him to to be fixed? There are options on the mites- but they won't go away on their own. And if he's digging so hard that he's that bloody, as ondine mentioned, cats can literally dig so deeply that they can mutilate their eardrumsxetc to the point of deafness. He may also be scratching deeply in the area around the ears, which may need to be flushed and treated. If you do take him to a vet (or clinic) that's knowledgable about ferals, they'll have plenty of ways not only to examine him & diagnose him, but likely have done sneaky ways to treat him once he's home!!!!

Please keep us posted on him!!!!

Thanks, I will look at those.

When I took him in, they sterilized him, and treated the mites and the scratches. they gave him an antibiotics shot that lasts a month.

I think, that the mites wern't all eliminated, I imagine I will have to take him in again. I  worry if I trap him again he will stop comming around.

Even if he stops, he's been treated for the mites and any possible infection, so he's a lot better off than he was.  I'd take the chance.

Blessings on you for helping him!

Will he allow you to get close to him at feeding time? I ask as Revolution is a topical flea/tick/heartworm/worm and ear miticide all in one and is just drops that goes on the back of his head/shoulders. I've had good success using it as an ear miticide on ferals. The only thing is, you have to be able to get close enough to drop it on his shoulder/head area and you need to get it from the vet. rx only.

I've had good luck with that too---and works GREAT for kitties that won't let you pet them but kind of "forget about you" when you're feeding a "high value food/treat" (something they go a little nutty for- like wet food....our ferals love chicken) since you don't have to physically touch them (it's best if you can part their fur so that the full dose gets delivered---but getting some onto them is better than none!!! But please, if you can afford it at all, stay away from most over-the-counter/grocery store types ---they tend to be less effective and can cause a lot of nasty reactions.

Whenever I take a cat to the vet, I but whatever special they have on Revolution.  It can be pricey but they often have buy two, get one free deals.