My new kitty is still suffering from ear mites. I have tried home remedies

[Paper Roses]

and have covered both me and the cat with Mineral Oil. I can't seem to get it right.
She needs a professional to do the job. I have been told that only a Vet can do the job but they will insist on giving her a complete physical. Is this right? She is recently adopted from a shelter. Has had all her shots, physical exam,and was spayed.

She does not need anything but a real ear treatment. I don't have extra money for an unneeded exam.
Would I probably be wasting time calling pet groomers?

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Why not call vet's offices in your area and find out if they will

treat the ear mites only. Ask how much it will cost too, since I am sure there will be an office visit charge, I just don't know if there would be additional charges. Just let them know what you just told us---she just had all the shots and exams.

With that said, how did she pass the physical exam at the shelter with untreated ear mites? Can they help you? If the vet seems to be too expensive, it can't hurt to ask them.

I have no answer about a groomer. I don't know if they treat for anything. There are over the counter remedies at pet supply stores, but it seems that they are "less effective", whatever that means. It is also suggested that you start with a clean ear, and if your kitty is like my kitty, that ain't gonna be easy!

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/a/CW-EarMites.htm

[elleng]

2. I agree, call vets offices and ask them.

This is a way to interview them for down-the-road needs, too, so you'll know who's in the neighborhood and what you might expect.

[Lisa0825]

3. The shelter I volunteer with does ear mite treatments...

Have you called them to let them know that it has been a problem? They might be able to help.

At the shelter I volunteer with, ear mite treatment is not considered invasive or prescription only, so they are able to order the meds and administer them. We do have a relationship with a vet, so it may be that this is how we get them, but other rescues might have the same ability.

Have you checked online for meds? A lot of what we use for various issues are sold at 1-800-petmeds. ( www.1800petmeds.com )

[Paper Roses]

4. Kitty update.

I felt so badly for the kitty, I took her to the Vet this AM. She does not have ear mites. The Vet feels sure she is reacting to some kind of an allergen. I now have a topical cream that I have to put on her ears 3X a day. It will treat the problem and kill the itch.
If things are not better in a week, I have to take her back to try something else. She is now asleep and I think feeling better.

This is the same kitty that would not eat any canned food except for two I finally found. Fancy Feast Select Chicken or Turkey with herbs. (Green Label)
I have never seen such a fussy eater.
If food is the problem, I don't know what to do. I have given about 100 cans of stuff she did not like to our local shelter. Very expensive for me.
Thank you all for suggestions, Love the kitty and want to help her get rid of whatever problem she has. I hope this cream works, I'm on a tight budget.

[emilyg]

5. Leave a bowl of dry

food available. Mine love 9-lives indoor. Try a small amount of Friskies chicken or turkey. Don't give in - kitty won't starve herself.

[Paper Roses]

8. Just bought your suggested food. She turned away from Friskies Chicken.

I am not going to do,anything tonight, just leave the chicken on her plate and see what happens in the AM. If she has eaten any, I will be thankful. If not, it is back to the Fancy Feast Chicken and I will try a few others. What a pain in the pa-toot! The ears are better with the cream from the vet but there has to be an underlying source of this problem.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Thanks for the update. Best wishes that this works.

If kitty does have allergies to food, this could be why she is so picky. Some foods may cause discomfort for her. But I do hope it is not a food allergy. Damn, at least ear mites are easy to fight. I hope you find answers.

[CC]

7. Glad you found out what it was.

Don't automatically assume food allergies if it is just her ears. If you have been using home remedies to get rid of ear mites it might of been one of them. Also the rescue probably treated her for fleas, find out what they used because it could of been it. Hell they probably treated her for ear mites and she might of been allergic to that medication. I would suggest keeping records of everything she eats and everything you use on her, down to soaps etc if you bathe her. That way if it starts up again you might be able to find what she is allergic to without testing.

I had a cat with food allergies that could only eat Purina dry cat food with out breaking out in sores all over her body. Once we learned what it was we never let her near anything else to eat (except green beans, she loved green beans and they did not break her out.) She lived for 18 good healthy years in spite of having a rough first year.

[LisaL]

9. Mine has the same problem.

His ear is all black and gunky inside, but he doesn't have ear mites.
The vet also thinks it's allergies.

[Warpy]

11. I agree with leaving kibble out for her

She might even prefer it to wet food, my cats did. Once you find a brand she really likes, stick to it. Cats really don't like a varied diet, they're creatures of habit. Be careful sharing people food with her, too, since onions and garlic destroy their red blood cells.

My cats have been kibble kitties, exclusively. An added benefit is that the crunchy kibble keeps their teeth cleaner. The 18 year old cat I have left has never needed dental care. YMMV.

[Warpy]

10. Shelter kitties usually get one wellness check from a vet

so call the shelter and find out which vet they use and get an appointment.

The miticide the vet uses has additional medication in it. It's not very nice stuff so it's not sold over the counter, but one or two applications will kill her ear mites. It used to be pink, so realize the kitty is going to look pretty grubby around the ears for a week or two but she'll feel so much better without stuff crawling around in her ears she'll be a completely different critter.