MEDICATIONS

[YEA]  04/19/2008: Samantha from Sarasota, FL writes: "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!"

Berryessa Veterinary Services
Winters, CA 95694
(530) 795-6090
BerryessaVet.com"

[YEA]  02/26/2008: Lisa from In The Country, Massachusetts writes: "Ear Mite Remedy - Perfection. Here is one I heard from a vet....who also admitted they will never tell you this in the office since it will cause them to lose out on some profit. This worked for my male adult cat who would never let me near his head - ever. Take the flea and tick medication (I cannot for the life of me remember which brand I used) and put one drop and one drop only in each ear. I did this for my cat, literally all I did was put one drop in each ear, no rubbing, no rinsing, nothing. The ear mites disappeared, never came back again, and he was a brand new cat that just loved attention!  Give a try and see for yourself!"

[YEA]  04/15/2007: Mike from Charlotte, NC writes: "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."

[YEA]  02/27/2007: Deb from New Orleans, LA writes: "I managed a veterinary hospital for 6 years. The only truly effective and safe method of ridding your pet of mites is "Milbo-Mite". It is a one time treatment and they don't come back. All my cats are free of mites... dogs too! Don't balk at the price. If you think of all the money you waste on things that don't work and the discomfort it causes your pet, it's worth it's price and then some!"

MINERAL OIL

(New York:  Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1970, p. 46). The fact that mineral oil does not penetrate the skin well makes it inappropriate for use in an absorption base in a skin cream of any kind.  In fact, mineral oil-containing cosmetics can produce symptoms similar to dry skin by  inhibiting the natural moisturizing factor of your skin. Petrolatum, paraffin or paraffin oil and  propylene glycol are other common cosmetic forms of mineral oil. Toxic. Avoid them      (Hampton).   Has tendency to dissolve the skin's own natural oil and thereby increase dehydration.  Mineral oils have been found to be probably the single greatest cause of breakouts in women who use a new product (Chase). Serious carcinogens are commonly found in Mineral Oil."

[YEA]  04/14/2007: Lynn from Pottsville, PA USA writes: "BACK IN THE 1970'S I USED A VETERINARIAN WHO SPECIALIZED MAINLY IN CATS AND ALSO DID RESEARCH ON CATS AND THEIR DISEASES, ETC. I HAD 12 CATS AT THE TIME AND HE WAS A GREAT BELIEVER IN NATRUAL WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HE RECOMMENDED I USE MINERAL OIL IN EACH OF THE CATS EARS CLEANINING THEM DAILY. IT WORKED SPLENDIDLY. THIS VET LEFT HIS VETERINARIAN BUSINESS IN THE 80'S AND WENT INTO FULL TIME RESEARCH. WHAT I LEARNED FROM HIM HAS SAVED ME MUCH EXPENSE AND HAS BEEN INVALUANLE OVER THE YEARS."

[YEA]  03/14/2007: Candice writes: "Hi! I just wanted to reply to my previous remedy for mineral oil. I treated our 9 cats with the oil and so far all is well! Try not to use too-too much...haha otherwise they get funky hair do's!!! haha otherwise it worked perfect thanks, and good luck!"

[YEA]  02/17/2007: Candice from Victorville, USA writes: "Hello. I just spent my saturday morning (today) at the vets office with one of my cats. She had been shaking her head lately for the past 2 weeks; and when I looked inside her ears (at first it was only in one ear), there was reside in them resembling small coffee grounds. Two nights ago she scratched her ear raw inside one of them. So I decided it was time to take her to the vet. He went ahead and started putting the MINERAL OIL in her ear and massaging it in (via the outside of the ear, so that she wouldn't shake it all out, right away), and then he used the long, medical Q-tips to remove some debris (the blackish gunk). I helped him hold her as he did this and he notified me that this should kill of of the living ear mites and to reapply in a couple of days, because of the eggs. So its gonna be a process but apparently mineral oil is what is used by professionals. I am going to try it but kind of weary of the q-tip! yikes...I am not going to try and go too deep in the ear since I am not a professional. I hope this helps someone! I will repost again to tell you if this worked! Thanks."

[YEA]  09/17/2006: Sharon from Vancouver, BC writes: "I have been using mineral oil for years.. unless you think there is an infection this works very well..if an infection is suspected you might need the vet for something to heal deep inside.. I like the idea of first cleaning it out with green tea, too bad I had not looked this up first before Itreated the cat.. I might try that tomorrow morning.. thanks for this site."

[YEA]  10/31/2005: Jennifer from Illinois writes: "i have been told by a vet in new jersey to use baby oil in my cats ears. it drowns the ear mites. i didn't have baby oil in my home so i used cooking oil. and it has worked."

MULTIPLE REMEDIES

[YEA]  06/29/2007: Nimueh (nimueh1@gmail.com) from Phoenix, Arizona USA writes: "Hi, Nimueh back again. Still working with this situation. Since previous notes, have done three rounds with the vet, separated by 2-3 weeks, of: 1) fogging the house with a pyrethins-based fogger to stop mite cycle of mites scattered around the place. [Took all 6 cats out of the house for 3 hours each time; also plants; covered kitchen surfaces. Didn't mind the fogging too much as it dissipates afterwards quickly and left no discernible residue.]; 2) simultaneous to the house fogging, treated 3 cats with Acarex topical treatment in ears - these 3 were doing pretty well and do not have much symptoms, and 3 cats with my vet doing "off-label" transdermal shots of Iverectin (same stuff as Acarex - I think it's the same as Milbemite)as these 3 haven't yet shaken all the symptoms.sigh; 3) the first time, I also flea-shampooed the cats too. This has been quite costly and a hardship for me. (I am trying to set up another job to help us through this.)

In the last few days I am trying one more natural approach. Like I said, we may have tough mites here in the desert. My vet is trying hard to help us, but it's not gone yet. In the time between treatments, it gets almost all better, but then starts up again when the cycle starts over in about 2-3 weeks.

In the intervals between treatments, for relief, I have used: -- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - but prefer not to, because it's so drying on all our feet and the surfaces in the house; -- also flea shampoo in their ears - very toxic! done in desperation! - not perfectly effective either. --Now I thought of ENZYMES. I found a human shampoo and mousse formerly called "Not Nice To Lice"- totally natural, not harmful - from Walgreen's, then re-ordered online. Now it seems to be selling at the same website www.notnicetolice.com but with with the new name "Lice R Gone", plus Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint that can be used as a pet shampoo. I have been putting my remaining Not Nice To Lice shampoo in their ears, first cleaning with Qtips with this solution, then squeezing a dipped cottonball in the ear and rubbing the ear base while attempting to keep it shut. (Yes, I'm covered with it from their shaking afterwards.) It's a very thin shampoo solution that doesn't leave much residue, and in the last few days I think it's helping. The 3 cats who need it most, their skin is not as irritated as with the poison flea shampoo (duh!), and in fact, all is healing up well, AND they aren't shaking and scratching. It is so much better for these 3, that tonight I used it also in the ears of the 3 who don't need it too badly, and now no one is scratching. It is peaceful. Aaaahhhhhh.

Enzymes digest anything and everything. Enzymes are how we digest our food and do any chemical function in the body. So I am picturing this solution dissolving the critters and their eggs. Thus, no matter what immunities the little mite-monsters have managed to develop, the enzymes have the potential to just dissolve these invaders regardless. Enzymes don't hurt the cats or me or my hands or feet, or the household surfaces. I am once again hopeful.

Don't know if the desert mites here are super-bad, or what. But this seems like a lot of treatment. I agree it seems to be needed. I hope others can solve more easily than I. Just letting you know what I have done. I appreciate the sharing, the support, the idea to find this vet solution - which I didn't hear from the vet...! I will check back. Much appreciation."

[YEA]  04/23/2007: Nimueh (nimueh@bigplanet.com) from Phoenix, Arizona USA writes: "Friends, I don't know why but the wet application of DE failed to help my 6 cats, even as much as the dry DE application. I am back to applying the DE, dry, on a cotton ball to ears - pressing a good amount into the ear, paws, tails' tips and privates, and anywhere else they are scratching. At least they have immediate relief, and it surely minimizes the mite excrement and ear wax that is in the ear. I will research getting the Milbemite from my vet. I will keep this DE up until I can arrange for the vet treatment, hopefully it will start to end this as it has been going on so long (3 months). I will let you know. Many thanks for all the sharing."

Thank you for this site. It has helped me and my beloved felines. Hopefully some of this experience will help others."

03/28/2007: Nimueh (nimueh@bigplanet.com) from Phoenix, Arizona writes: "Diatomeceaous Earth/Cat Ear Mites: One writer refers to Milbo-Mite. I wm interested but cannot find it on the web with just that name. Please advise, if possible. Thank you!"

Today searching for that product that I mentioned but couldn't get a hold of, I found online that pyrethrins (from chrysanthemum flowers thus natural) can be used like I've been using DE. Local to Arizona, I found a place that sells DE with pyrethrins (about $20, 1 lb. bag). I got some and have been applying to the cats now with the cotton ball to ears, neck, paws, tail tip and privates. So far, I can see that they are scratching less. Hopefully, this will help them. The source - www.pristineorganicproducts.com - will send to you. The pyrethrins may actually kill all stages of the mites, and so I may have reached the end of this tough challenge. I will let you know."

[YEA]  03/28/2007: Nimueh (nimueh@bigplanet.com) from Phoenix, Arizona writes: "After trying Revolution monthly, I am now trying it twice monthly as I read online somewhere. Still, with various cleaners from the vet and from online, my beloved cats are still shaking their heads and scratching.I have also been using DE powder whenever they display these symptoms. I grab a cotton ball and dip it in the DE powder and press it firmly into each ear, also to their paws front and back - just dust the top of the paw, to the tip of their tails - as the paws and tail tip contact the ears, and their private parts - just dust there with the DE-coated cotton ball. Plus any place else that they are scratching. These are places where the parasites, eggs and such may be, so the DE will just stop them from developing. DE microscopically is very sharp shards as well as very dehydrating, so it wipes out all kinds of parasites and pests, in the garden too, etc. However, I am tired of them having more problems with this coming up still day after day. I am glad that the DE gives them immediate relief. I will continue for a month, as one writer suggests here, though I may have already done that. DE is very drying, so wash your hands thoroughly as it will dry your nails; also floors, etc. Still I would do anything to have their suffering end. I will try Milbo-Mite, as the oil didn't work for me & wasn't manageable - oil everywhere! Thank you!"

NEEM OIL

OLIVE OIL, VITAMIN E AND YELLOW DOCK

PURE ALOE VERA GEL

TEA TREE OIL

TED'S MANGE CURE