Cat Illnesses - Ear Mites

Ear mites are one of the parasitic cat illnesses. They are highly contagious and spread rapidly between cats and other pets. They are not transmittable to humans.

As with other cat illnesses that affect the cat's ears, they will shake their heads and paw at their ears. A build up of dark crumbly dried blood will usually also be present. When examined under magnification, the ear mites look like small crabs.

Ear mites are a very common cat illness but need treated to prevent them becoming serious nonetheless. It is best to consult a vet who will recommend the best treatment, which could involve cleaning, ointment, drops, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories over two to four weeks.