pesky ear mites!

My cat has had ear mites off and on for months. I got rid of them in one ear but they persist in the other. Not as much but I can tell they aren't gone. The vet just keeps giving me the same stuff and I use it (can't recall the name, sorry)
and it works briefly. But then they are back. I got sick of it and saw in an alternative remedy book that simple olive oil warmed and then placed in the ear is effective. Has anyone else tried this? It apparently coats the mites and drowns them, and also is good for cleaning.

I tried olive oil, it works good! I dip my finger in the oil and massage my kitty's ear and wiped it with cotton balls.

I would first make sure it's ear mites. It's possible your kitty has an ear infection from the original mite problem. Medication for mites won't help an ear infection, which may be why you still see discharge or ear scratching. I would have the vet do an ear cytology to be sure.

Originally Posted by Sandie

I would first make sure it's ear mites. It's possible your kitty has an ear infection from the original mite problem. Medication for mites won't help an ear infection, which may be why you still see discharge or ear scratching. I would have the vet do an ear cytology to be sure.

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I agree with Sandie here. I have a cat whose chronic ear problems absolutely BREAK my heart. She's always shaking her head and irritated. Has a vet actually clearly identified the mites? I ask this because my cat had all the classic symptoms of earmites- coffee grind-looking stuff in her ears, constant irritation and shaking of head. I took her to the vet, and she had mites. The vet actually showed me the mites through the microscope.

Unfortunately the ear problems persisted. For nearly a year, I kept taking her back to the vet. The vet said she couldnt see any mites, but "just in case" we needed to treat her for them. Since she had a "history" of mites. Well, I was unfortunately taken for a ride by either a lazy, greedy, or ill-informed vet. My poor angel had series of shots, pills, you name it. It estimate I spent about $500 over the course of that year. Plus all the anxiety of going to the vet. And I always knew that it wasnt mites. I had one other cat at the time, and his ears were crystal clear. And as you have read, ear mites are highly contagious. So why wouldn't he have them too???

Finally I got a recommendation from my family for another vet, and he hit the nail right on the head. Turns out, some cats have allergies that produce yeast infection in the ears. It manifests itself the exact same as earmites, only there are no buggies to be found. This is something she will have all her life, but atleast I know how to check it, and i've got the appropriate meds to treat it, because the earmite meds do nothing for that.

So just be aware that there is a possibilty that it MAY NOT be mites, so be sure your vet isnt just writing it off as mites without evidence. It's your baby, so ask if you can see the mites under the scope. And if you feel like you might be taken for a ride, find someone who can confirm whats going on for you.

I did get a diagnosis of mites. The weird thing is he doesn't shake his head, or scratch anymore. I just notice the coffee grinds thing in one ear again. And it's isn't a lot but since he had them before I looked I noticed it slightly again. But they are there and I clean his ear and I put oil in them yesterday (he hated it but got over it...)