For a few days or even weeks now, you have noticed that your cat is scratching its ears. At first, it didn't worry you. But the itching seems not to stop. What are the most common causes? How to explain that your cat scratches his ears so much? How to relieve it? Here are some tips to identify what is causing your cat to itch and fix it.
Ear scabies in cats
Ear scabies in cats, also called ear scabies or otodectic scabies, is a very common parasitic pathology, especially in cats that are in community. Highly contagious, the disease is caused by a mite named Otodectes Cynotis. The parasite lodges in the ears of the cat. It feeds and reproduces there. Its presence leads to intense itching and some discomfort. Ear scabies is not serious if treated quickly.
Here are the signs that will allow you to recognize the parasitic disease.
- Inflammation in the ears
- Intense itching
- Presence of crusts due to itching
- Presence of dry, blackish earwax similar to coffee grounds
If you are concerned that your cat may have ear scabies, make an appointment with the veterinarian. The animal health professional will examine your pet's ears. If ear scabies is proven, here is the treatment that will be prescribed for your cat.
- Antibiotics in the form of ear drops
- Anti-inflammatory ointment
- Anti-inflammatories in the form of tablets
- Antiparasitic pipettes
Cleaning the cat's ears, with lotion, is imperative before the administration of treatment. The latter must be given for the entire recommended duration, i.e. 3 weeks. If you have other animals in your home, they should also be treated. Finally, a good cleaning of your interior is necessary because parasites can settle in the fabrics. Ear scabies that would not be treated can be the cause of otitis in cats.
Cat otitis
Cat otitis is an infection that can be caused by bacteria, fungus, tick and as we have seen previously, ear scabies. Otitis can be external or medium. Vigilance is required with this type of condition because poorly treated otitis can have serious consequences. Indeed, the bacteria in question can infiltrate the blood. Symptoms of cat otitis are as follows
- plaintive meows,
- red ear canal,
- inflammation
- Itching
- heat in the ears (without fever),
- Flows
- pain (in the case of otitis media of the cat).
In case of otitis, it is imperative to consult a veterinarian to quickly relieve your cat. Indeed, the disease generates pain that can be intense. Treatment consists of ear drops. Depending on the condition of the cat, the veterinarian will choose the anti-inflammatories associated or not with antibiotics. It should be noted that one in 20 veterinary consultations is related to otitis.
Cat allergies
We may suffer from a cat allergy, but our felines may also be affected by this condition. A cat can suffer from different types of allergies namely:
- Allergies related to the environment (dust, pollen, pollution, aerosol);
- Allergies to flea bites that take the form of dermatitis;
- Food allergies.
Allergies in cats are recognizable thanks to certain signs. Among them there is itching. Also, if your cat scratches its ears, the cause may be allergic. Check for the presence of parasites. Fleas can be the cause of discomfort. In addition to itching, the cat may suffer:
- hair loss (pelade),
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- diarrhoea,
- inflammation of the skin,
- asthma,
- respiratory problems.
Allergies in cats require a visit to the veterinarian. The latter will offer a treatment based on antihistamines, cortisone and sometimes anti-inflammatories. If an infection accompanies the allergy, antibiotics can complement the feline's treatment. To relieve dermatitis, soothing shampoos exist. Desensitization can be proposed but it is expensive.
The presence of a foreign body near the eardrum
If your cat has a foreign body in the ear, it will scratch. This situation is common in cats that have access to the outdoors. The disturbing element attaches to the hair and then slides into the animal's ear. If you live in the countryside, your cat may end up with a spikelet, a small pebble or a seed in the ear. If the foreign body migrates to the eardrum severe pain may appear. Be aware that in this case, your feline will only scratch one ear.
An appointment with the veterinarian is required to identify and remove the foreign body. If you delay, it is possible that inflammation settles in the ear canal or that an infection develops.
The presence of a cyst in the ear canal
More rarely, the cyst can be the cause of itching. As a reminder, the cyst is a lump that can be filled with fluid. If placed in the ear canal, it can clog the ear and create discomfort for the cat. The latter persists in scratching without managing to improve the situation.
Once again, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. Depending on the nature of the cyst, the professional may pierce it or schedule surgery to remove the lump.
Parasites settle near the ear
Parasites are a scourge. They harm the well-being of our pets, including felines, and alter their well-being. Your cat may catch:
- lice,
- fleas,
- ticks,
- of the Augustats.
It is possible to act preventively to combat parasites. Just apply an antiparasitic to your cat every 3 months. You can even apply a pipette every 2 months if your cat has daily access to the outdoors.
My cat scratches his ears: when to consult?
A cat that scratches its ears for a long and intense time should alert you. You can start with a cleanse using a lotion. If you find that your cat has injured himself while scratching, if he has red or warm ears or if there is inflammation, something is wrong.
If no improvement is found, then you need to make an appointment with the veterinarian. He will ausculate your cat and dwell on the examination of the ears. Depending on what he observes, he can complete the physical examination by doing a blood test or a sample. If you leave with a prescription, respect the dosage and the duration of the treatment, even if your cat is better!
How to treat ear scabies?
It is never easy to treat a cat especially when it hurts its ears! Hence the interest in taking matters into your own hands before the otitis becomes really serious.
Local treatment in the ears
The classic local treatment is to clean the ears to remove accumulated debris and liquefy earwax, and then instill an acaricidal product into the ear canal. This treatment should be carried out for at least 3-4 weeks, with one application every 3-4 days. Local treatment does not destroy the eggs and therefore parasites must be eliminated as they develop.
Experience shows that many owners quickly get discouraged from having to fight with their cat to care for it. The product is then poorly administered or the treatment is stopped too early, which facilitates the recurrence of otitis. If your cat reacts vigorously as soon as you try to touch her ears, don't insist. There is no need to start a showdown because there is another solution.
Dermal treatment
The alternative to local treatment is to administer to the cat a veterinary medicinal product marketed specifically to combat ear scabies but generally. This antiparasitic product can be given even to a kitten, provided that it is more than 6 weeks old. It is applied directly to the skin, like spot-on flea pipettes. Administration is done between the two shoulder blades, a place where the cat can not lick itself. If the cat has access to the outside, avoid going for a walk in the rain within 2 hours of administering the drug! When several cats live together, they should all be treated at the same time and it is better to separate them a few hours after treatment, to prevent them from licking together.
The composition of the excipient of the product allows the active ingredient (selamectin) to diffuse into the skin and act on the whole body, including in the ear canal. Treating dermally has the advantage of also eliminating mites that have become localized in the coat, outside the ears.
Otodectes are normally killed within a few days after treatment and the cats' behavior then improves very quickly: they stop shaking their heads and scratching. The general treatment of ear scabies is sometimes renewed once as a precaution after a month, to avoid recurrence.
If no improvement occurs in the days following the start of treatment, the otitis may be due to another cause. This is why a prior veterinary diagnosis is essential.
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