There are many types of parasites your pet can catch. Parasites that live in the ears are not easy to spot. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to handle ear mites in cats.
What are the Symptoms of Ear Mites?
Of the several types of ear mites, you have to watch out for Otodectes cynotis. It’s the most common species which feeds on the earwax and oils in the cat’s ear canal.
• Your cat scratches its ear or shakes its head often
Ear mites can cause mild irritation in the ears. To relieve the itch, your cat may scratch at its ear or shake its head. Check your cat’s ears if you notice it doing this often.
• There is a dark wax build-up in the ears
Take a look at your cat’s ears. If you find dark wax build-up, your cat might have ear mites.
Ear mites feed on the cat’s earwax and oil. The ears will produce more of this in response.
• There are hair loss and wounds around the ear?
Hair loss around the ears can occur when your cat scratches at it often. Sometimes there are even wounds. Untreated wounds can lead to infection.
It’s best to figure out the main problem. If it’s ear mites, get treatment for it.
Treating the wounds alone will not make the problem go away.
What are the treatments for Ear Mites?
It takes an average of three weeks for the mites to grow. It’s hard to notice these mites. Even when you discover the problem, it’s already an infestation.
Here are some of the things you can do for your cat.
Buy over the counter medicines
There are many over the counter ear drops. You can choose one recommended for your cat’s breed.
Consult a vet
For pet concerns, it’s always best to consult a vet. Acarexx and Milbemite are some prescription options.
Some specific medicine you can buy
Revolution or Advantage Multi will also take care of fleas. These two contain Selamectin to help prevent mites, fleas, intestinal parasites, and heartworms.
How to prevent ear mites?
Check all your pets for mites
If one of your pets has mites, treat all your pets. Mites are contagious. It can live on the cat’s paws or fur. However, it doesn’t spread to humans.
Use flea treatments
Take care of fleas and prevent ear mites at the same time. Revolution and Frontline are flea treatments that also prevent ear mites.
Regularly check for symptoms
Regularly check for symptoms of parasites. Treating the mites is easier if caught earlier.
Keep pet items and your home clean
Prevent mite infestations again. Clean the items your pet plays with and keep your house clean.
Hot water and detergent should be enough to clean their bedding and toys.
Bathe your pets regularly
Mites can still stick to fur even after treatment. Bathe your pets regularly or as prescribed to keep them clean.
It’s easy to handle ear mites in cats. Take care of your pet and keep an eye out for symptoms.
Call your vet if you have any doubts or still confused.
Cat Diseases That You Should Be Aware Of
As a cat parent, you should know everything about your cat. It’s daily routine and habits, the kind of food it likes to eat, and its general whereabouts.
Also, you should know the different ailments and diseases a cat can get so that you would know how to help it.
There are over seventy million stray and feral cats roaming the streets in the United States, according to the Humane Society of the US.
Stray and feral cats often carry diseases. As a domestic cat owner, the best thing that you can do to protect it from acquiring the same ailments as the strays is to keep it indoors.
If your cat stays inside, it will less likely get into catfights and spread diseases through wounds.
You’ll also keep your cat away from fleas, ticks, and other infection-spreading parasites.
Once your cat develops an illness, it can be difficult to treat it.
However, most cat diseases are preventable, and every minor illness can suggest major health problems.
Some are more severe than others. Here are the most dangerous diseases that your cat can get:
*Feline Leukemia
It is a disease that spreads through saliva, urine, and nose discharge.
It can catch the virus through sharing water and food bowls, from bites, and by living with another disease-ridden cat.
Mother cats can give it to their kittens.
The kittens are more likely to acquire it than the adults.
Some cats will become sick immediately after getting it. Yet in some other cats, the symptoms will not manifest for many weeks.
It can result in many conditions, including diarrhea, skin infections, respiratory tract infections, bladder infections, anemia, cancer, and system-wide infections.
Any intense chronic sickness can be a sign of feline leukemia.
There is no cure. However, it is preventable.
Just keep your cat indoors, away from other cats.
Maintain a clean living space and have your cat vaccinated.
*Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
This virus can be spread through bite wounds.
However, contact by sharing water and food bowls doesn’t increase the risk of getting FIV.
A mother cat can still pass the disease to her kittens, but this happens rarely.
The virus can remain dormant after it enters the bloodstream.
It is a terminal disease and targets the immune system.
To prevent it, have your vaccinated, and keep it indoors.
*Kidney Disease or Renal Failure
It is the leading cause of death in older felines.
The causes include genetics, old age, and environmental factors such as consuming poisonous substances.
Acute kidney disease is connected to a halt of kidney function.
Chronic kidney disease is the continuous deterioration of kidney function.
If you suspect that your cat has renal failure, your veterinarian can check through urinalysis.
There is no cure for this disease, yet you can treat it through medication, adjusting your cat’s diet, and hydration therapy.
*Feline Panleukopenia or Feline Distemper
It is a highly contagious viral cat disease.
Kittens are highly at risk. They almost always die after getting it.
It can spread through contaminated water and food bowls, bodily fluids, fleas and feces, clothing, and litter trays.
It affects the feline’s immune system and intestinal tract.
This disease can kill within the day of the cat’s contraction.
Vitamin injections, blood transfusions, and antibiotics can fight the disease.
To prevent it, vaccinate your cat and keep it away from other feral animals.
*Feline Rabies
Cats are reported to be more rabid than any other domesticated animal in the US, based on veterinary experts.
It is one of the most dangerous diseases because it can pass along to humans.
This degenerative disease attacks the nervous system.
There is no treatment or cure for this disease.
The best prevention is to keep your cat indoors and have it vaccinated.
Your Pet Cat’s Common Health Issues
*Fleas
It is a common cat health problem, yet treatable. Your cat has fleas if it is frequently licking and scratching, has irritated and infected skin, and hair loss.
Treatment for this includes powders, foams, oral and topical medication. Consult your veterinarian, which would be best for your cat.
*Vomiting
It is a common problem in cats.
It has many causes like urinary tract infection, consuming something poisonous or inedible, diabetes, and hairballs.
It can lead to dehydration. If your cat doesn’t stop vomiting and looks to be sick, call your veterinarian right away.
*FLUTD or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases
It occurs in cats that often eat dry food, overweight, and not fit. Stress is sometimes a factor or a sudden change in the cat’s life.
Its symptoms include bloody urine, crying when urinating, urinating in strange places, licking around the urinary area, depression, loss of appetite, and dehydration.
Call your veterinarian if you think that your cat has FLUTD.
*Diarrhea
Causes of diarrhea include spoiled food, intestinal parasites, liver disease, allergies, infection, and cancer.
Symptoms are a loose, liquid, or watery stool. Depending on the causes, it can last for a day, a week, or many months.
Offer your cat clean drinking water to prevent dehydration.
If symptoms persist, consult the veterinarian.
*Tapeworms
It can live inside your cat and sometimes grow to two feet.
Once expelled from the anus, it will break apart.
Symptoms include weight loss and vomiting.
If you suspect that your cat has tapeworms, check its feces, its anus, and its bedding. It will come out while your cat is sleeping or relaxed.
It looks like sesame seeds or grains of rice.
Treatment includes oral or topical medication and injection.
*Eye Problems
The causes include viruses, cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, inflammation, and retinal disease.
Symptoms include tear-stained fur, watery eyes, white or red eyelid lining, cloudiness, gunk in the corners of the eyes, pawing at the eyes, squinting, or a visible third eyelid.
Consult your vet immediately if your cat has any of the symptoms.
