The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Olive Oil, Garlic Oil
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Tx) on 01/01/2009
★★★★★
the VERY best thing i have found for ear mites in cats, rats, etc. is olive oil mixed with garlic oil. usually i just rub the olive/garlic mixture on their ears and then do it again a few days later.
i've also had pretty much the same results with just olive or coconut oil by itself if you are afraid to use garlic. i personally don't believe garlic is poisonous to cats but some people do. also, i had rats that had ear mites and rubbed VCO all over them ears and everywhere and did it again a few days later (it doesn't hurt them to lick it off) and the mites were gone.
Campho Phenique
Posted by Jody (Stowe, VT, USA) on 12/31/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just a reminder that felines are radically different, physiologically, from both dogs and rabbits. Cats are able to absorb many things through their skin, including oils and other solutions, and even many essential oils can be harmful to them, whether by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. Just because Campho Phenique works on a dog or rabbit does NOT mean it is safe for use with a cat ;o) Their livers are unable to process these things in the same way other species can, and it can quickly toxify their system. I am using warm water with a few drops of witch hazel, and a drop of gentle pet shampoo to cleanse my cat's ears. I gently wipe out, then use slightly warm olive oil to soothe.
Hand Sanitizer
Posted by Kenny (El Paso, TX) on 11/25/2008
I HAVE A FEMALE PIT BULL AND SHE IS SUFFERING FROM WHAT i THINK TO EAR MITES i THINK THAT i WILL TRY HAND SANTIZER ON HER BECAUSE IT WORKED ON ME WITH POSION IVY AND OTHER PEOPLE S YUKY HANDS
Olive Oil, Vitamin E and Yellow Dock
Posted by Michelle (Montreal, Canada) on 03/15/2008
Hi, I have a holland lop with ear mites and i have been trying so many things. They work for a little while only. I would like to try the yellow dock root extract since I have heard about this from a few people here and elsehere. I went to my homeopath to get some and he asked me what strength cause apparently there are different ones. Can someone please tell me the strength they are using, Thank you
Mineral Oil
Posted by Jenny (Augusta, Georgia) on 11/13/2008
★★★★★
we were very worried about our kitty, mint greene. she had been scratching her ears constantly. i dipped a cotton swab in mineral oil, rubbed it on the outer ear (not the ear canal) and she hasn't scratched since!! YAY!! tomorrow i will do this again, and massage some into her ear canal as well. if this works for mint then the other four cats, and three dogs will be next!! i am so glad i found your website. it has been a very big help.
Medications
Posted by Janis (Renton, US) on 11/10/2008
I always used mineral oil for any animal that I have had for ear mites. Just use an eye dropper and put about 5 or 6 small drops in each ear. Check the ears each day. As long as you keep seeing the blackish or dark color,looking like the ears are dirty then keep doing it until that goes away. The mineral oil will suffocate the ear mites.This has always worked for me. Good luck. Hope the cat gets better soon.
Medications
Posted by Marilyn (Shelton, Washington, USA) on 11/09/2008
Donna,
Balance is a function of the inner ear back of the ear drum. Your cat is suffering greatly and may even begin spinning in circles or begin to go crazy. As a child I suffered multiple ruptures of both ear drums. The doctor had us pour hydrogen peroxide into my ear and hold it there with my head tipped till it quit fizzing. I seriously doubt any mite can survive multiple doses of hydrogen peroxide plus a lot of them will come out when the peroxide drains out. The H2O2 will not hurt the cat's ears though you might dilute it by half. The cat will not like the crackling noise in its ears from the H2O2 foaming but if the ears feel better after, it will soon put up with the procedure. Do it with dropper or even a spoon held well away from the ear so no chance of the cat wincing and getting its ear stabbed. I have used this on a cat with a vets direction to do so. Perhaps once a day is enough. Be sure the solution is strong enough to foam.
Medications
Posted by Doris (Orland, Ca) on 11/09/2008
I have used a 50 50 solution of Hydrogen Proxide and Rubbing alcohol I rub it really good and then clean it out with a cotton swab it works well and our big dobberman just loves it...
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Amazon Thyrteen (Fresno, CA, USA) on 11/09/2008
First of all I want to say "NEVER" try anything on your pets you won't try on yourself. I won't give anything to my pets that I wouldn't take myself. The best rule of thumb is use human grade (whatever)you're using on your pets! I've noticed a lot of comments on Diatomaceous Earth. I would like to say that the only grade that is good for animals is the same grade that humans use, Freshwater, food-grade DE. If it doesn't state on the package that it is certified, food grade then you don't want to give it to your pets, period! I also noticed that on this site someone mentioned the use of "Neem Oil" it is a really good oil to use that is 100% natural. If anyone is interested in finding out more about Neem Oil go to, www.organixsouth.com or call 1-888-989-Neem(6336). This oil is good for human use also for dry skin and scalp treatments. The one that I use is Thera Neem ,skin soothing 100% pure cold pressed. I'm one of their customers and have no affiliation with this company and I'm not getting anything for this endorsement, this is just great stuff!
Trim Fur on Inside of Ears
Posted by Deborah (Half Moon Bay, CA, U,S,A,) on 11/08/2008
★★★★★
Regarding the topic of ear mites, and, itchy ears in kitties.. I found with my older cat who was scratching his ears naked, that the tufts of fur on the inside of his ears was the culprit. Once I trimmed the 'old man hair ears' he stopped scratching. Whenever it was time to trim, he came and sat patiently while I carefully trimmed the hairs, (being careful to not let the hair fall into the ear canal). Happy kitty, with no more scratching or neeked ears! Worth a looksie!
Medications
Posted by Donna (Savannah, GA USA) on 11/08/2008
My kitten has ear mites (I think) and I put Ear Miticide in his ear last night. It didn't seem to do anything but irritate his ears worse to where he shook his head and scratched at his ears more than before. Today I rinsed his ears with two drops of vinegar/water mixed 50/50. I then put two more drops of Ear Miticde in each ear. He is sleeping all of the time and when he does get up he wobbles. I am really worried about him. Can someone PLEASE tell me if this is normal?
Medications
Posted by Linda (South Bend, IN) on 10/28/2008
I would like the Ivomec chart that Linda (BertsBabe2008) talked about Thanks so much.
Medications
Posted by Melissa (Hilton Head, South Carolina) on 10/26/2008
I would like to purchase Milbe-mite but cannot find it at PetSmart or WalMart. Please tell me where I can purchase this product. Thanks.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Marsha (Wichita Falls , TX) on 10/24/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
FYI! I lost a beautiful German Shepherd and the sweetest kitty because they ingested pool grade diatomaceous earth. Keep it away from your beloved pets!
Vegetable Oil and Iodine
Posted by Crystal (Spokane, WA) on 10/19/2008
★★★★☆
I used to raise rabbits. For ear mites I used a solution of quarter cup vegetable oil and teaspoon of iodine. The solution needed to be shaken before I applied it with an eyedropper and rubbed it into the rabbits ears. Each day I would clean the waxy build up from the ear and reapply the oil until the infestation was gone. Is this remedy safe for dogs?
Vinegar, Oil
Posted by Christy (Dallas, TX) on 10/01/2008
★★★★★
My bull terrier picked up a nasty case of ear mites from an encounter with an especially filthy ferral cat. Because she's vet-shy here's the cure our vet had us do at home with ordinary earth-friendly products.
First we irrigated the ears with vinegar, which changes the pH and kills adult mites. Then we put 5 drops of heavy oil (olive would have been okay but we used jojoba) in each ear and gently massaged the base of the ear before allowing her to shake it out again. The jojoba really did wonders to stop itching and speed up healing.
The vinegar changes the pH in the ear, killing the eggs and the oil drowns live mites and soothes the ear. We irrigated and bathed weekly and oiled every other day.
Irrigations took place in the tub to restrict mess and so I could immediately bathe her in a pyrethium-based flea/tick soap; treating only the ears and not the entire body allows mites to flee the ear during treatment, then move back in. Our other dogs had their ears swabbed with hydrogen peroxide daily to prevent transmission.
We continued treatment for 5 weeks to be extra safe, but things noticably improved after the first treatment.
Advice
Posted by Christina (Des Moines, NM) on 09/29/2008
Thanks for the tip. I've been treating my kitten with olive oil & tea tree oil (one tablespoon w/ 3 or 4 drops tea tree), cleaning every 2 - 3 days. I have been wondering how long the mite life-cycle is... knowing I need to get the new hatch before we get JR cured. I'm two weeks into treatments and will keep up the schedule for another two.
Thanks again! Christina
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Missy (Toronto, Ontario) on 09/28/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household.
Quote from: Wolf Creek Ranch web site: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Stephani (Tallahassee, FL) on 09/25/2008
★★★★★
to Delores in Hobe Sound - ear mites:
09/22/2008: Dolores from Hobe Sound, Florida writes: "What is the formula for ACV? My cat has eye problems and also ear mites. I use a commerical ear cleaner but they keep coming back. I hate putting her through the ear cleaning so often."
I have used NutriBiotic ear drops with tea tree oil & grapefruit seed oil in my dogs & cats ears. They had a lot of scratching and black gunk (i think that is from mites). Their ears are clear now. I got the drops at vitamin shoppe, but you can find them online too. Hope this helps.
Mineral Oil
Posted by NYCandre (New York City, USA) on 09/23/2008
I did use oils to clean the mites initially - then using TED's mange cure worked after the requisite 3 week period to get the second mite egg generation as well. Followed the advice to use Borax also on the floor, and now a year later still no problem. Since it does work and I had tried a few other approaches, I thought it worthwhile to repeat here the older posts below:
09/29/2007: Andre from New York, USA writes: "I tried the oil based treatments, actually using coconut oil since I heard it has antiseptic properties, and hdrogen peroxide. This only slowed down the ear mites. After a couple of weeks of this, I started with a mix of Borax (20 Mule Team), hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and a little Dr Bronner soap. After just two days the mites are disappearing. To prevent my cat from lcking off his wet fur, that I allow to dry naturally as indicated, I got him a collar. See his picture on Fickr, tag: ear.mite.cure.for.cats, or go directly to the page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/1459080973/
Thanks a lot, Ted and everyone else here! nycandre"
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Thanks for the information! The Dr. Bronner soap has the lavender and tea tree oil that I always like. So its great you use it. The house should lightly be sprayed with some borax solution or sprinkled borax powder if possible to prevent reinfection. You can also use a small amount of borax, and sprinkle it like a talcum powder on the localized area. Not only the borax kills them, the powder also cause the insects to be suffocated. Those are optional.
Neem Oil
Posted by Steven (Camas, USA) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★
NEEM OIL is a rapid cure for ear mite infections. I used it with my cockapoo and it worked in a couple of days where three weeks of using other treatments failed (olive oil, mineral oil, olive oil with garlic, water/vinegar ALL FAILED). The effectiveness of Neem Oil was impressive and I recommend it highly.
Start by warming the Neem Oil by sitting the closed bottle in a bowl of hot water for about 10 minutes. This is important because Neem Oil becomes viscous or solid when cold and you must warm it up so that it flows easily into the ear.
Then, using a dropper, fill the ear canal with pure Neem Oil, then massage the ear canal for about a minute, then wipe off the excess with a cotton ball. Do this once a day at bedtime for a few days so the dog sleeps with the oil in its ear. Neem Oil seems to be absorbed into the tissues so do not use it for more than a few days.
Hand Sanitizer
Posted by JaJa (Zebulon, NC) on 09/03/2008
★★★★★
I am happy that hand sanitizer was suggested for the cure of ear mites. It was something I already had in the house and I didn't have to go out to buy anything. My two year old peekapoo was scratching his ear like crazy and I truly did not know what the problem was. A family member suggested that he may have ear mites. I went online looking for home remedies to cure ear mites so that i could save on a costly vet bill. I came across several remedies, however the sanitizer was at hand and I decided to use it. I used a bottle with a hand pump and used two sqirts in each ear and massaged it in. Within an hour he scratched once and by the end of the night he wasn't scratching at all. Thanks for the useful information. You guys saved me a trip to the vet. jaja
Medications
Posted by Lisa (Theodore, Alabama) on 08/28/2008
While I have used Ivomec in the past to (succesfully) prevent heartworms in larger dogs, I have never attempted the ear mite remedy here described. Also, at this time I am the owner of a guinea pig sized "dog" whose tiny weight makes me apprehensive to attempt the application of Ivomec to protect his tiny self from heartworms. A chart would be GREATLY appreciated!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Margaret (Upper Darby, PA) on 08/24/2008
★★★★★
I am being a foster mommy to an abandoned kitten with ear mites. I use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning only. It should not be thought of as a remedy. To avoid getting it into the cats' eyes, dab a clean q tip into the bottle, shake some off the q tip, then wipe only the parts of the ear that you can see. It is best to only wipe in an upwards direction to avoid debris from falling into the ear canal, and hold the cat on its side, so that anything falling will fall out. Next take kitty to the vet for some ear mite drops, and follow the directions EXPLICITLY! Otherwise, you will see how the mites will keep coming back.
Medications
Posted by Margaret (Upper Darby, PA) on 08/24/2008
RE: Holding down a cat:
An easy, friendly way to hold a cat so that you don't get shredded during care is to toss a quillt over their back, as they are unsuspecting, then wrap them up in your arms and hold them like a baby. you can hold them with one hand and give care with the other. Have all your supplies on a table beforehand, so you can easily grab them with your one hand. Eventually your cat will know that when you do this he/she does not need to be scared. My cat no longer needs to be wrapped up when I cut her nails. She growls quietly, but is never violent.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lori (Beacon Falls, CT) on 08/10/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) for Ear Mites: Just a warning for cat and dog lovers out there treating their pets with hydrogen peroxide in the ears:
H2O2 in an animal's (or human's, for that matter) eyes can blind them permanently. My vet told me that, and I also learned that in nursing school, but I'm not certain about the mechanism of action. I would personally try other remedies first, unless you have a very quiet and cooperative kitty.
Just wanted to warn ya!
Medications
Posted by Dar (Montgomery, Texas) on 07/18/2008
Wow, does it only take one treament? Also would love to have the chart for the heart worms. Thank You
Medications
Posted by Linda (New Caney, TX) on 07/11/2008
★★★★★
To treat ear mites in dogs I have very successfully used injectable Ivomec. Using a 1cc syringe, without a needle, you administer .25 for each ear. Ivomec can be found at feed stores, such as Tractor Supply. A bottle might cost $30 but last a real long time and can be shared with friends. Ivomec can also be used to prevent heartworms. I do have a chart if anyone wants it.
Medications
Posted by Meredith (Greenwich, CT) on 06/16/2008
I know that I'm not supposed to mention a product name, but perhaps the filters will let this through for the sake of information. Revolution kills ear mites. I have used it with great success (and no harmful side effects) on two of my cats. My mother is a vet tech, and she advises 2-4 drops in each ear. Be advised that Frontline does not kill ear mites, so make sure that you buy Revolution. The good news is that even though it's expensive, you only need to apply it once. For the cat who will not suffer ear drops, you can apply Revolution topically to the neck (a normal application as described in the Revolution info packet) and it should kill the mites. This is, of course, not a holistic remedy. However, when cats have chronic ear problems, it really affects their quality of life. Sometimes you need to bring out the big guns. Hope this helps!
EC: We've had a lot of requests for the name of the medication from Lisa (who never responded to the questions), so thanks for this...
Ear Wash
Posted by Natasha (Olympia, WA) on 06/15/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just wanted to reinforce what another poster has already said: ALL essential oils are dangerous for use on cats, including tea tree and clove! Cats lack the enzyme needed to eliminate the build up of EO compounds in the liver. Terpenes in essential oils build up and create toxicity in the cats body.
Ear Wash
Posted by Arlyn (Needles, California) on 06/06/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Please, stop using this ear wash on cats. Tea-tree oil is very toxic to cats.
Medications
Posted by h8erboy (Jerome, ID) on 05/26/2008
Funny how some people are seeking products with pyrethrin because "it's natural and comes from chrysanthemums" and others here are wanting to avoid Hartz Mites Drops because "it's pesticide." Newsflash folks, the active ingredient in Hartz drops is pyrethrins, same as the natural cures you're paying so much for. And yes pyrethrins do come from chrysanthemum flowers.
Medications
Posted by Merit (Phoenix, Arizona) on 05/15/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I used too much lanolin-based ear miticide (Zema) in my cat's ear. He continues to shake, now 12 hours after treatment. I know I have used rubbing alcohol to get water out of my ears. Can I use that on him to try to draw out the extra Miticide in the inner ear?
Ted's Mange Cure
Posted by NYCandre (New York, USA) on 05/13/2008
★★★★★
Remedy for ear mites in cats: Borax and Peroxide -- YES! Just thinking in gratitude to Suzy whose reading got me started trying her remedy (and variations of, after many unsuccessful other attempts). My cat is now still mite free, though at times I have done a quick clean-up, especially when I see him scratch. From Suzy's post: (search for borax and hydrogen peroxide) "Thank goodness I made the association between ear mites in cats and mange in dogs and used Ted's wonderful mange cure. (My mixture was 2 parts apple cider vinegar, to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part Borax; diluted in a gallon or so of water) And it worked like an absolute charm."
Ear Wash
Posted by Fawn (Monroe Center, IL) on 05/12/2008
I would like to know if I can use this remedy on a bunny's ears? I know that their systems are very delicate and I do not want to threaten my rabbits health. Some things are better not used on rabbits. Thank you.
Medications
Posted by M. R. (Odessa, Missouri) on 05/01/2008
I appreciate the vet comments on 4/16. There are several items available like Revolution. Milbe-mite is one. I have one indoor/outdoor cat and 8 barn cats. Revolution, Advantage, and Milbe-mite range in price from $20+. I cannot afford these things. So I welcome affordable alternatives. Does any one have info about what to do about a kitten while treating the other cats?
Medications
Posted by Tia (Auckland, New Zealand) on 04/29/2008
Hi Cecily, and others with similar problems, I know how this is going to sound, but when we love our cats sometimes we have to do things they hate in order to help them, what I've done with cats that I've rescued and needed things like ear drops, pills, etc, is to use the sleeve of a thick coat, and literally put the cat through it so the head only comes out the end, and YES the cats in question would dislike me for a few days, but with patience and treats they always trusted me again.You can buy a cheap thick coat at an op shop, ones with liner are better, as it helps get the cat in and out, and you can cut the sleeve off with extra material around the entrance.
Medications
Posted by Samantha (Sarasota, FL) on 04/19/2008
★★★★★
Well yesterday my cats ear swelled up. She had been lying around for about 2-3 days. Kind of depressed. For a small time before that every so often she would scratch her ears. Im in my early 20's and this is my first cat. Though its like she had always been there. Anyway, so yesterday her left ear swelled up . I called a emergency vet because it happened to be later on the weekend. But I really couldn't afford a emergency vet visit. So I went to the store and I bought Hartz Guard w/ Aloe. But first I put a small amount of Hydrogen Peroxide in a dropper to clean out the ear wax (which the mites feed off of.) So I put the peroxide in her ears and massaged it and then used a cotton ball. The cotton ball thing is alot more difficult then it sounds!! After administering that I gave her some time because if anybody has ever had peroxide in their ears you know it starts crackling as it eats the ear wax. Then I put one drop of the Hartz on the outer part and 5 drops on the inner, because she is a runt and under 15 pounds. It tells you on the back how much based on their weight. But it is a pesticide so I advise against putting too much in the ear. Well that was last night so we went to bed and this morning she's not 100% but she's up running around holding her head up. She seems happy again. Now I know what I need to do and how frequently. Please don't be as ignorant as I was to let it get that bad. We all love our kitties or we wouldn't be here. I got the idea for the peroxide off of this site. Because it was so late I had to go to Wal-Mart and all they had was the Hartz and no cleaning solution I needed something so thanks!
Medications
Posted by Stella (USA) on 04/19/2008
★☆☆☆☆
re: Feline Mite Remedies. My feline had a scary seizure type reaction from a single dose of Revolution. I will never use it again. It is not worth losing my friend over, especially when there are safer methods for prevention and eradication.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Marisa (San Jose, USA) on 04/18/2008
★★★★★
My cat was miserable and his ear stank. I put a pinch of diatomaceous earth (swimming pool filter grade)in each ear. He seemed to be a bit better in about 40 minutes. He has stopped shaking his head and seems less lethargic. We'll see if he needs something more,(if he has a bacterial infection. His ear smelled like feces. ewwwwww!
Medications
Posted by Tim (Winters, California) on 04/16/2008
★★★★★
While trying to find out more about tea-tree oil's medicinal applications, I came upon the threads on Earth Clinic about ear infections in pet animals. I was disturbed and alarmed by the degree of inaccurate and incorrect information I encountered. Particularly of concern were the readers' comments soliciting unapproved and off-label uses of unknown parasite control products, especially in exotics.
A basic issue is the prevalence of ear mites. While very common in cats, it is virtually nonexistent in dogs under most circumstances. The people posting comments about the pros and cons of various treatment protocols for ear mites in dogs are most likely not even dealing with mites. And treating ear mites in cats these days is extremely simple and not worthy of prolonged discussion; a one-time (two at most) application of feline Revolution or Advantage Multi for cats should eliminate the pests. While a good product for flea control, Frontline is probably completely ineffective against mites.
I would recommend that this site be refereed by a competent veterinarian who embraces integrated (Eastern and Western) responsible practice.
Respectfully,
Tim Krasnansky DVM
Berryessa Veterinary Services
Winters, CA 95694
(530) 795-6090
BerryessaVet.com
Medications
Posted by Mike (Charlotte, NC) on 04/15/2007
★★★★★
after an extensive search i found milbemite for dogs. haven't had an opportunity to try it yet it but should have been spelled w/ an E instead of an O. good luck.
