Ear mites in cats: signs and cleaning

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are tiny parasites that live in a cat's ear canal. The signs are constant scratching at the ears, head shaking, and dark brown, crumbly debris that looks like coffee grounds. They spread easily between cats and dogs through close contact and are most common in kittens. Only a vet can confirm mites, by looking into the ear or checking the debris under a microscope. Treatment is usually an ear clean plus a prescription spot-on, tablet or ear drop, with every cat and dog in the house treated together. At home, clean only the part of the ear you can see, with a cat-safe cleaner and cotton wool, never cotton buds. In Subang Jaya, PGH includes ear cleaning in every cat basic groom (RM90 to RM130 for adult cats) and offers it alone for RM10 to RM20, but a groom is hygiene, not a mite treatment. In Malaysia, ear mites are often called kutu telinga kucing.

This is general information from a grooming and boarding team, not veterinary advice. PGH is a grooming shop and pet hotel, not a vet clinic, and we do not treat pets. If you think your cat has ear mites, see a vet.

What are the signs of ear mites in cats?

• Scratching and head shaking. Cornell describes cats that scratch at their ears almost nonstop and hold them flat against the head.
• Dark debris in the ear. A dark, gooey or crumbly build-up of wax and mite debris, often with a bad smell. Vets say debris that looks like coffee grounds strongly suggests mites.
• Both ears affected. PDSA notes mites usually affect both ears.
• Scabs and hair loss around the ears and face from scratching.
• A swollen, puffy ear flap. Hard scratching and shaking can burst a blood vessel in the ear flap and cause an aural haematoma, which needs a vet.
• A drooping ear in more severe cases.

The mites themselves are about the size of a pinhead. With good light you may see them as tiny white specks moving against the dark debris.

Is it ear mites, ear wax or an ear infection?

You cannot tell for sure by looking. VCA notes that other ear problems cause the same signs, and International Cat Care says bacterial and yeast infections often follow ear mites. Use this as a guide to what to do next.

What you see	What it can mean	What to do
A clean ear, no smell, no scratching	A healthy ear	Nothing. Keep checking during brushing
Dark brown, crumbly debris like coffee grounds, with scratching	Ear mites are likely	See a vet soon. Do not clean deep into the ear first
Discharge, a bad smell, redness, heat or pain when touched	Infection, with or without mites	See a vet. The ear may need medicine before it can be cleaned
A swollen, soft ear flap	Aural haematoma from scratching	See a vet
Head tilt or loss of balance	Disease of the middle or inner ear	See a vet today
A kitten with dirty, itchy ears	Mites are most common in kittens	See a vet

Cornell advises seeing a vet without delay if you suspect mites. Left untreated, they can cause otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear that can spread to the middle and inner ear, damage the eardrum, and permanently affect hearing and balance.

How do cats get ear mites, and can they spread to people?

Mites crawl from one animal to another during close contact, such as play, fighting or sleeping together. They cannot jump or fly. They live on cats, dogs and ferrets, so one infested pet usually means every pet in the house is exposed. Cornell says infestation is most common in outdoor cats, and VCA and PDSA say it is most common in kittens.

Mites can survive off the animal for a short time. International Cat Care puts it at up to 2 to 3 weeks, so wash bedding, blankets and grooming tools in hot water during treatment.

People rarely catch them. VCA says ear mites may cause a temporary itchy rash on people in a home with infested pets, and it clears once the pets are treated. See your doctor if you have a rash that does not go away.

How are ear mites in cats treated?

A vet first confirms the cause, then usually:

1. Cleans the ears to remove the wax and debris that shield mites from medicine. Very sore ears may be cleaned under sedation.
2. Prescribes a product that kills mites. This may be daily ear drops or a single-dose spot-on or tablet. Some monthly flea and parasite products also kill ear mites, so ask your vet whether the one you use does.
3. Treats any infection. Bacterial and yeast infections are common alongside mites.
4. Treats every cat and dog in the house, even those without signs.

A mite takes about 3 weeks to grow from egg to adult, and no medicine kills the eggs, according to VCA. That is why a cat often needs more than one dose or a course of several weeks, and why your vet may want to recheck the ears. Products sold without a prescription are usually less effective than a licensed one from a vet, PDSA says.

Two safety points. Never use a dog flea or ear product on a cat: some dog products contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats. Household flea sprays used on furniture often contain permethrin too, so never spray them on your cat.

How do I clean my cat's ears safely?

PDSA says there is no need to clean a cat's ears unless your vet asks you to, usually as part of mite or infection treatment. Check them regularly instead. If your vet has asked you to clean:

1. Use a cat-safe ear cleaner. Never a dog ear cleaner.
2. Hold your cat gently on a towel or bath mat, or sit with your cat between your knees.
3. Put the nozzle at the ear opening, squeeze in some cleaner, and take the bottle away.
4. Massage the base of the ear for a few seconds to loosen wax and debris.
5. Let your cat shake its head.
6. Wipe the part you can see with cotton wool. Never push cotton buds into the ear. They pack debris deeper and can burst the eardrum.
7. Reward your cat with a treat.

If your vet has prescribed ear drops as well, PDSA says clean first and give the drops about 15 minutes later. Stop if you see blood on the cotton wool, and call your vet if your cat will not let you clean its ears.

How much does ear cleaning cost at PGH?

Ear cleaning at PGH is routine hygiene for healthy ears. It does not treat mites or infection.

Service at PGH	What ear cleaning comes with	Price
Ear cleaning, à la carte	Ear cleaning on its own	RM10–20
Cat basic groom, short coat, under 5 kg	Bath, blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning, sanitary shave, paw trim	RM90–110
Cat basic groom, long coat, under 5 kg	Same as above	RM100–130
Kitten basic groom, under 2 kg	Same as above	RM60–80

Prices checked October 2026. Final price depends on coat condition and behaviour. Full prices are on the cat grooming page.

Can a cat with ear mites be groomed or board at PGH?

Treat the mites first. What PGH asks:

• Tell us in advance. Our grooming terms ask you to tell us about skin problems or health issues before a groom.
• Hotel check-in. PGH may decline pets showing fleas, ticks, mites, illness or injury, to protect the other guests. Flea and tick prevention is compulsory at check-in, and cats get Advantage for RM25 to RM35 by weight.
• Finish the course. Book a groom or stay once your vet has finished the treatment and the ears have settled.

Fleas are a common partner to ear mites. Our cat fleas guide covers safe products for cats and clearing them from your home. For a vet near us, see vet clinics in Subang Jaya and USJ.