The common ear mite is a tiny organism that resembles a tick. They can infect many species of animals, but are prevalent in the feline population. Infestation causes the animal to scratch at the ears. When dealing with ear mites, it can be helpful to understand their life cycle.

Adult mites are almost microscopic. They are white in color, with live and breed within the ears, surviving by eating tissue, wax, skin oils and debris from the ear and ear lining. They usually stay in the ears, but may migrate to the fur around the ears and onto the face. The females lay their eggs in the lining of the ears, approximately five eggs each day.

After a four day incubation period, the eggs hatch into larvae, which also survive on material within the ear. After several days, they begin to molt into the next stage, which is the nymph. There are two stages to the nymph part of the life cycle, the first is the protonymph, and is followed by the deutonymph.

The deutonymph, which has yet to establish a gender, then mates with the adult male ear mite. Following this, it develops into either a male or female mite. If it is a female, it is gravid, or with eggs, from mating with the male and will begin the cycle again. If a male, it will mate with deutonymphs, and keep the life cycle going. Ear mites have a lifespan of approximately two months. The entire life cycle of these irritating pests takes about three weeks from beginning to end.

An ear mite infestation can look like coffee grounds within the ears. It is a combination of ear waxes and material, blood, mite feces, and the mites themselves. They can easily be spread from animal to animal, and can be a huge problem in shelters and kennels. They are troublesome in multi-pet homes, and for treatment to be successful, every pet in the home should be treated simultaneously.

A suspected case of these pests should be confirmed by a veterinarian. Once a positive diagnosis has been made, treatment of topical, oral or injected medication can be administered. All treatments must be done as prescribed by the vet, and may not be successful if not done as required, Failing to stop the life cycle will allow the mites to continue living and breeding in the ears. Animals that have scratched furiously may have areas of open skin and scratches that may require attention as well to avoid infections.

It is of utmost importance to ensure treatment for all the animals in the home, or reinfection is inevitable. Keeping pets away from strays and other unknown animals, and in particular, keeping cats indoors can help prevent an infestation of ear mites.

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