Earmites in Kittens
I gave away
two kittens about a week ago and now the lady is asking me to take them
back because they have ear wax that her sister claims is dried up blood.
None of the other cats/kittens that I kept had this ear wax problem. She
claims that it came from my house and now I have to take them back.
Anyway, I need to know what this could be, if it is contagious and what
can I do about it? I don't want my other cats to get this thing
whatever it is. Your help would be appreciated
Excessive dark ear wax in one or both ears of a cat is usually indicative of ear mites. These minute spider-like creatures infest the ear canals of cats. Like fleas, they irritate the skin when they drink blood. The cat's ear responds by producing wax in attempt to defend itself. Cats or kittens with ear mites often shake their heads and scratch at their ears.
Ear mites spread to the environment, then to other cats. They are considered highly contagious. Elimination includes keeping the environment clean, and treating the kitten or cat with topical mitacidal ointment. It often takes a week or more to eliminate the problem. Since the mites infest the home, recurrence is common. Treat each occurrence aggressively, and eventually the problem will leave your home.
Ear infections, excessive ear canal hair, and foreign bodies in the ear can also cause dark wax and discharge. Keep this in mind if the problem doesn't resolve with ear mite treatment.
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