Leah (TX) on 04/12/2024
Fi (London) on 09/14/2020
I had a flea issue to deal with and one of my cats had horrible itchy scabs from his reaction to the fleas. Solution? Flowers Of Sulphur! ð
I mixed 1 part Flowers Of Sulohur to 2 parts corn flour and worked it onto their skin, being careful not to make a dust cloud near their faces. I also treated their ears as I suspected mites too.
Result? Fleas slowing down or dying so it was easy to comb them out of my cats' fur with a flea comb.
Also, within a week the itchy scabs were gone.. the Flowers Of Sulphur is a great skin soother. It also deals with fungal issues.
Now my cats seem much happier and if they're happy I'm happy.
Raquel (South Carolina) on 09/06/2018
I first clean the cat's ears with a cotton ball with coconut oil (makes it easier to remove the dirt) and then moisten a couple of cotton balls with the solution I prepared and press it on each of the cat's ears so some of it goes in the ear. The cat will shake but this mixture works fast, relief of the itching is almost immediate. It must be applied at least 2x/day, usually only 3 days are necessary but I believe the first time I did it for a whole week. Anyway, when the ears remain clear and the cat's not scratching anymore you'll know he's cured.
NOTE: Borax can be used in place of boric acid, I think it's more stable, boric acid tends to lose potency after a couple of days.
S.F.Hyde (Deridder, La.) on 07/01/2018
Natural (New York) on 05/02/2018
Warning
Recently noticed he would walk with his ears back. Didn't think too much of it at first thought it was strange. A few days later he started walking with his head tilted.
I googled and it came up with ear mites. I checked the ears and it looked like the pictures. I used Olive oil for a week one ear that wasn't that bad looks pretty clean now but the bad one, the one he was tilting his head on still looks like a lot of gunk inside. The cat didn't mind the olive oil. Was really good about letting me put in with a dropper, esp. Considering its a stray. No scratching or trying to bite. Just shook his ears and wanted to get away after his treatment.
I tried the diluted 50/50 apple cidar vinigar and water and it hurt him really bad. He meowed a bunch of times then got really crazy and got away still didn't scratch or bite..poor thing. I felt horrible.
I figured the week of olive oil would've healed up any open sores.
He doesn't come when I call.and just wants to hide all.day. totally different personality.
I'm not sure if I should give the olive oil more time on the bad ear or try something else. I don't want to hurt him again.
Amanda (Wichita, Ks) on 09/14/2017
I've found to use a makeup brush to apply DE to dogs ears works very well, especially with animal that doesn't cooperate. Be sure to tap off brush before applying it. Doesn't take much to be effective.
Dale (California) on 06/27/2017
Of course, my cats hated having anything blown into their ears, however gently, but it worked beautifully in a short time and was minimally messy. The powder contained 3 ingredients, and I only remember that boric acid was one of them. I wish I remembered the other 2, but in any case, the person that was selling the powder mix didn't say what proportions they were in. I have been searching online in hopes that someone will have posted about something like it.
Tara (Texas) on 04/10/2017
Beth (Austin Texas) on 03/30/2017
Which leads to my question. While I haven't bathed her in the borax/peroxide/water solution yet, I'm still planning on it. She is very fluffy, looks like she might have Norwegian Forest Cat in her. My plan is to fill a mop bucket with the solution, then put her in the bucket and literally soak her. Trying to get it to the skin and then have it dry is going to be a challenge because of the under-floof in her coat. And liquid tends to run off. I figured I would then put her in a cat carrier for an hour to give the skin a chance to absorb the solution before she could dry herself. Does this sound like a reasonable plan to anyone else? Would appreciate any input anyone else has.
THANKS!!!!
Beth (Austin, Texas) on 03/21/2017
I noticed my beloved fur ball Violet had gunk around her one ear. Not really scratching at it, but also recalling last year when this happened it was ear mites, which I took her to the vet for. We did that gel, plus Revolution. Right now a $200+ vet bill is out of the question. So I googled. And y'all came up. And I started reading ... and cleaning her ear .. and reading.
I started with colloidal silver in the ear, and internally. Kept reading. Saw the olive oil/garlic. My husband is a naturopathic GP ... so we have lots of remedies around the house. Grabbed the ear drops that had the olive oil and garlic, plus something else. At this point her ear starts to look worse. She's scratching more, and the exterior in front of the ear is looking really irritated. So I keep reading, and reading, and reading. Ted's formula keeps coming up. I had to get to the store to get Borax, but I had peroxide at home. So I started cleaning her ear with straight 3% peroxide. As a rule, I don't like peroxide on an animal's ears. It's very very drying to tender skin. BUT ... I needed to get something going better. I used cotton pads (Shiseido, expensive but worth it. They don't shed, they're strong, and they are SUPER soft.) soaked but not dripping, then q-tips. It hurt. Her ear was bright red and I thought I did some real damage. I left her alone for the night and checked her the next day. Blood crusts, her ear was loaded with them. Which told me something in the right direction was happening. I bathed her using Dawn, paying attention to butt and feet. She has long hair - we think Norwegian Forest cat- so you have to work thoroughly to make sure it gets to the skin.
I got the borax, and read more. I needed to know if I could use it directly in the ear. Yay Ted!! YES I COULD. I mixed up a 1/2 batch, storing it in a glass jar in a drawer. For the last 3 nights I've soaked cotton pads and worked them inside her ear to loosen everything, then used q-tips. Violet has a "pocket" in her ear that was holding a lot of crust. The first night she wouldn't let me get anywhere near this pocket. The next night I started on the pocket with a q-tip before cleaning the ear with the pads. Success!!! She was in less pain, so I had more time to work with it. I pulled out a lot of crust. After cleaning it as thoroughly as I could, I took a dropper and put in 3 or 4 drops in the ear directly -- 2 into that pocket -- and massaged the ear then let her shake. Last night, very little crust, pocket still pretty clean. We're in the right direction.
My husband is going to fashion me a "cone of shame" so we can make sure she stays wet long enough for the solution to dry into the skin (which is what Revolution does). Then the dog will get done. I plan on keeping this up for at least a month, and treating the carpet.
I just noticed behind the ear she had matted hair "dred locks" and she's scratching behind that ear .. so it's going to be a Ted bath tonight. At least I know this is the right direction. If it happens again .. and it probably will .. I will go straight for Ted's solution. I don't think the oil etc did what was needed. So thank you one and all for all of your comments!!! Your comments gave me the direction I needed to go in!!!
Sam (Texas) on 03/02/2017
April (In) on 01/04/2017
It's the peroxide that can blind a cat if too much gets into this it's just like the peroxide washes for contacts if you don't give it to 12 hours to break down it burns your eyes like crazy.
Elizabeth (Ny) on 10/21/2016
Sonya (Britain ) on 02/16/2016
I had my cat Sooty to the vets twice with ear mites in 1 month, she had severe ear mites, I never thought of checking her little ears and felt terrible when I noticed little grey blisters and white specks seen by the naked eye and scabs. I was horrified. Sooty is indoor cat and didn't catch from another pet directly. One thing I've noticed that hasn't been mentioned is visitors visiting the house, you may be the cleanest person but visitors may live differently I know there pet as had them but don't know about having to vacuum the house and keep things sterile as they're like a human scabies.
If a pet at home as them or think they have dealt with it but don't realise they live on the animals body and make there way back after treatment and on bedding your clothing pet hair and u go to a friends house and there pet sits on your knee get the picture transmitted. I let people know and warned them when they came in and insisted they washed there hands and use hand sanitizer before leaving as only fair not infest there pets also its a kind way of saying these are contagious and report back or check your pet the suffering they go through and what there hear and endure is devastating. Prescriptions didn't work, expensive solutions did t work, if u ask I will tell u what iv used the list is endless.
It is important though to get the vet to do a check and then when your confident what your dealing with take it from there. After confirmation from the vet and there Prescription med as been used and it sure will continue mine did even after second visit and frontline and antibiotics they continued and constant daily ear cleaning before medication applied. She started September 2015 and think where nearly there feb 2016. Ear mites are very clever and when the ears have had server attack for some time there are deap scabs inside right to the eardrum packed with thousands of them buried in the wax and debris. I found the best solution was mineral oil and olive oil was the best for treating these poor ears its kind and gentle and stops the mites nibbling on there flesh and drowns them and softens the debris working its way out of the ear drums. Yes in the end I used q tips which this is when I noticed things where getting better. I didn't go into the ear canal totally just at the entrance and where the back of the ear is because this is where the hide out and just at the beginning of the ear lobe and if your gentle and your cat is showing no sign of discomfort your ok. If u go further down the canal u are causing damage cause you're pushing the debris back what is trying to work its way out and it will work its way out but not in a day this called TLC tender loving care. Alls you can do is make your cat as comfortable as possible till u have managed to clear most of the debris. I found Johnson ear mite treatment to be safe to use twice a day. Id put a drop on the qtip and apply it in all the hidden cracks and little lobes they have that mites tuck them selves under when the ears become clean this is when u cant see the mites by the naked eye and hidden eggs. I found that when I trusted the medication from the vet using the cream for 2 weeks to treat the yeast and bacteria infection which is always there when there is mites due to there poop and goop was another infestation so more damage was done should of stuck to the ear flushing daily and dosage of olive oil and mineral oil twice daily. Use plenty cover the whole ear inside out and wash with around the ear the cheeks and under the chin ensuring when they shake there head your stopping them from hiding in there fur. Iv bathed sooty twice with a cat shampoo and neem oil 100% pure neem only needing small amount its safe just make sure u completely rinse them off yes the neem is pleasant but the mites hate it. Verbac house spray is good stuff 10.00 amazon or ebay for bedding carpets soffo tables chairs where ever the rub pass basically every where.
At the moment now most of the debris as gone still little bits still coming that's from the eardrum airer so u can imagine how sore and packed and recaring ear mites go on for sept to feb. That's because they hide in all nicks and crans and live under scabs so don't be upset when u think everything is failing and can be a long process.
Now I've started to put day time colloidal silver in, first I flush her ears with home made solutions... mixture, Chamomile tea bag in a cup of hot water add 1 drop ONLY... LAVENDER oil high quality only ensure it recommend for pets first from the supplier. Never use tea tree oil as its poisoning to cats and 500ml vitamin e oil capsule and 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil 100% pure pressed looks like lard but melts down fast mix it up take the chamomile tea bag out and transfer into your own bottle ... your own solution. When I apply it its just luke warm I fill her ear and hold for as long as possible stroking her head I let go and let her head shake it out and wiped the ear clean. At the present I'm not using the ear mite ointment I only use it when her ears are twitching and constant shaking when this dies of I go straight back to the oil treatment I hope I'm not confusing u guys when you read this ... feel free if I can be any help in advice in any way and if u have any good ideas I'm also interested. So iv flushed her ears done a gently wipe pure clean today gentle qtip ensuring she is dry and clean in little curves u cant see let her go feed her 2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt its like pro biotic for a cat I also put 1/2 teaspoon a day of apple cider vinegar in her wet food to help flush any toxins from the ear mite treatment iv used as cats livers aren't as good as a humans or a dogs so all products for dogs may not be suitable for a cat. After her ears are dry I apply colloidal silver its a 25ml bottle with an ear dropper and apply 1/4 and massage... mites come alive at night..Night time I clean her ears gently with a qtip with the oil I put in for the night which is extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil mixed together as I say I oy used the q tip checking theres no loose debris which as worked out of the canal. I got a little scab tonight but I no its from the ear canal and I'm close to the end. I'm ready for and eggs if they have managed to hatch any this time cause I've been thorough for solid 3 weeks constant cleaning and ensuring her ears or fully oiled to drown them. I've got the neem oil if there is another infestation. When the neem applied in their ear it will make the mites disabled so they can't reproduce and no more chemicals as this is a big concern with cats best to be chemical free when possible. She always runs of fast when I finish treating her, then 5 mins after she comes back smothering me in kisses. We're getting there, keeping positive.
Hope all this makes sense "))))))
Melissa (Saskatchewan) on 01/02/2016
Beverly (Usa) on 07/24/2015
Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 02/03/2015
With my cats I use neem oil after cleaning the outer ear. Then repeat every three days or so. Because neem oil interrupts the productive cycle of these mites, there is noticeable improvement. I keep checking though. Kittens need the neem oil diluted with another oil because of their delicate skins. Coconut oil is also good for sensitive ears with a touch of turmeric powder if bleeding. Turmeric stops bleeding internally and externally.
For the bleeding I use turmeric powder in small amounts as it also is a natural antibiotic. For fluid in the ear I use turmeric powder and alum in 1 - 20 ratio to dry out the ear, later following up with coconut oil. This will prevent inflammation and provide cooling for red hot ears. Hope this helps.
Namaste, Om
Cleo14 (Wisconsin, US) on 12/11/2014
Johanna (Oklahoma, US) on 11/22/2014
1. Panting
2. Stumbling
3. Mild head jerking
4. Confusion
After each one of these 30-minute events, she would go the kitchen and clean out any left over dog or cat food. Then she would appear fine. Vet visits showed she was in good health...with her thyroid a bit low. We tried prozac, thinking it might be anxiety attacks, with no relief so we weaned her off. We started her on thyroid meds and her general overall well being improved, but the attacks came regularly throughout the day. I gave her 12.5 benedryl and it helped...but it kept her sleepy, and she was getting weaker. I was at my wits end!!! It looked like I was going to have to put my sweet Tuffie down. I noted one day, she was occasionally shaking her head...not often, but I did notice it. It occurred to me she could have ear mites.
I treated her for ear mites and she literally stopped the attacks overnight! Am I crazy? Have you all heard of such a thing?
Om (Hope Bc Canada) on 11/18/2014
No need to warm the semi solid oil as the body warmth does it and also it is easier to pack the oil into the orifice. For kittens the neem oil has to be mixed with coconut oil as their skin is too delicate for neem on its own. On EC was another post on this, confirming my own observation on the shorter duration of mite treatment.
Namaste, Om