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Natural Remedies for Pets with Mites

| Modified on Mar 06, 2025
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The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Suzy (Abbotsford) on 10/10/2021
 ★★★★★

For my cat's ear mites, I used Diatomaceous Earth with a Suction Silicone Baby Nose Cleaner Pump That you can get in the infant section of your store. I put diatomaceous earth into it and it puffs deep into the ear and worked very effectively and easily for getting in deep.

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by Sher (Winter Garden) on 10/07/2021

This won't help any of us if you can't remember what it is. Do you know now what it is? It would surely help all of us who are on a limited income. Thanks much.

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Debra (Nj) on 07/10/2018

Tea tree oil is very toxic to cats, especially is they orally ingest it; considering how much grooming they do, Tea Tree Oil is not a good remedy for cats. Vets "say" that if it is used, the concentration should NOT be above 0.1% concentration. Again, since cats are known for their grooming behavior, I would stay away from it.

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Jeri (Chicago) on 10/02/2017

For Ear mites:

For myself cat's or dogs.

I have a 1 inch small plastic bottle.

I fill the bottle with "Light Olive Oil" and "1 drop of Teatree Oil."

(Too much "Treatree Oil" will burn so it needs to be diluted)

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by Sherrie (Texas) on 05/06/2017

I have used Diatomaceous Earth (human organic food grade) NOT POOL DE... in the food of various feral kitties (1 teasooon a day) mixed into wet food and WOW!!! It cured internal worms (round worms), ear mites, and tape worms as well. I couldn't believe the change in one kitty in particular. He was so very thin and just beat up from fights and in very ill health. I could tell he had worms from his anal area. He had wounds as well that I was doctoring. I fed him every day for three weeks straight the DE in his food. No more worms, no more ear mites, no more tape worms. I was able to then revolution him on the sly on his neck which also battles mites. He gained weight immediately and turned into a beautiful tom cat. I finally caught him, and got him in my carrier n got him nueterrd as well. He is cured now and in great health!! Use DE!!!!! I feed him one week a month a teaspoon a day for maintanence against ALL parasites. Best of luck!!!! :)

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by Pjb (Jackson, Tn) on 04/03/2017

Do you mix the dawn with vinegar or water before putting in the ear? I use this to kill fleas on the cats sometimes...but it only kills the adult fleas and not their eggs, etc.

Lavender Oil and Citrus
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 11/01/2016

Hey Debra,

Humans cannot get red mange/demodex canis mites from dogs, but as you clearly know from experience humans sure can get scabies mange mites from dogs. The mites itch like crazy but cannot reproduce on YOU -but they can still reproduce on your dog :-(

You need to treat the entire house to get rid of them, and you also need to treat all the critters with fur, and yourself.

Food grade diatomaceous earth might be the best way to treat the environment, but it is super messy and the dust is irritating to the lungs and nose. You might have better success with sulpur dust - the kind you buy to dust tomatoes that have mold or wilt. You could take a gallon jug and fill it with as many citrus rinds as you have and then fill it with white vinegar and let it sit in the sun for a week. This lets the citrus oils come out from the rinds, and then you can use that as a spray to clean with. If you read up on Ted's Mange Remedy that probably is the only remedy you need - you can make a rubbermaid tub full and first dip the dog - and if you can submerge the dog as much as possible so much the better, and the cat and then the ferret, you can then also use the same solution on YOU. The solution once mixed must be use right away as it does not keep. You have to wash bedding each and every day so the mites cannot hide in your bedding. If you have a cluttered house it means clean down to the bare floors and walls and living like a hermit until you have the mites under control/extinct before you bring any clutter back. Now I can't recommend this for its intended audience [pets] but humans with scabies have had success with a dog product called Freedom 45 - they buy it at the farm and fleet store or Costco. This is what one person did when she got scabies - taken from an online forum:

“I got Freedom 45 for dogs. It is 45% permethrin. Sulphur dust for plants 90%. I mixed 4 tubes of the Freedom 45 and about a tablespoon of the Sulphur dust with 5 tablespoons of Vaseline. I applied it at night from neck to toe. I dusted my whole house with the Sulphur. “

Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

Lavender Oil and Citrus
Posted by Debra (Columbus, Ohio ) on 10/31/2016

What is the percentage mixture. U know, like 1/4 tsp. of Lavender Oil and 1/4 cup of lemon juice? I am going through PURE HELL! I am infested with the Dog scabies mites. They will tell u that u can't get infected with the dog kind but they're nuts because I am living proof u can. I have 3 animals that need to be treated and I don't want to kill them in the process. Some oils are DEADLY to pets. I guess clove oil is and someone said Tea Tree Oil. But I dipped my dog in Tea Tree Oil to kill fleas and he didn't die thank God! So is this mixture TRULY SAFE TO PUT ON UR PETS? I have a 2lb. Ferret, a approximately 10lb. Cat and a 6lb. Dog.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Sandra (Az) on 10/05/2016

I have had some luck with APRICOT OIL. You should try it. It's great for any wounds, even for skin cancer.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Kat (Wilmington Nc) on 09/18/2016

All that I can say about these mites is Kleen Free or Kleen Green ... Get it on amazon .. Get to cleaning your house ... Throw all the "stuff" away that just clutters your closets ... Vaccum vaccum vaccum!! Then spray spray spray!!! These enzymes work!!!! This is the cure!! You feel results immediately - but don't quit for at least 4-8 weeks .... And this e bugs will be gone --- great for the animals ... Go easy on the cats ... They are so sensitive!!

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Rhonda (Ga.) on 09/07/2016

Sounds to me like chiggers with the needle like stinging, but how they got in ur home I don't know. Chiggers usually are in swarms! Ever been outside an all a sudden u feel tiny stinging pin like sensations all over ur body? An u can barely see them in their swarms so don't know if can see individual or not! I think chiggers are tiny red like thing an hurt an needle like stings pricking you. Not sure but good luck!!!

Lavender Oil and Citrus
Posted by Mele ( Maui) on 09/01/2016

Curious as to the formula - How many drops of lavender & citrus? How much water?

My poor Eli-Eli has it pretty bad. If she has them is my house bedding where she sleeps infested?

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Eve (Nv) on 08/20/2016 22 posts

Oh thank for your input. One thing you want to check is some mites do jump. this mite is the Cheyielellta mite and as you say, you can't see them with the naked eye. I recently read about Green Kleen and ordered a bottle of that, it is concentrate, an enzyme, its not 100% but you can spray, a diluted mixture, all your body and hair as well as the pet, use it as a shampoo for each of you. It takes 24 hours for it to work and what has helped me the most, I've continue to use straight 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to spray house, me BUT NOT PET, YOU NEED TO DILUTE IT FOR PETS, plus Green Kleen. As I said, its not doing a 100% job but the mites have sure slowed down. I've tried closing off each room to use both sprays and let it set over night; if you can seal/close off each room it would be best because once you open a door all the mites from the space not sealed off rush in and there you are, have to start all over again.

Also, check on some of the Morgellons sites and you'll find that people have what they call "no-see-ums" (and other names) hitting their legs, they are not fleas but a tiny gnat/mite, unseenable. The State of FL is loaded with these things.

Hope what I am doing now will help someone, guess we just have to keep looking, reading, listening; maybe some day the pest people will find the answer for us. Thanks again for your input, anything and everything is helpful.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 07/26/2016

I used food grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - it is light and cheap and 10 pounds will last you decades. I started with my bed room - I stripped the bed, and dusted the room wearing a face mask. I worked the DE into the crevices of the mattress, under the mattress, into the floor boards, against the wall where the wooden molding edges the floor - everywhere; the room was one billowing cloud of dust when I left and closed the door. I let it sit for 24 hours, and in the mean time I used another bedroom to sleep in. Once I had established a 'ground zero' I stood the mattress up and gently beat off the excess DE and again the room was a dust bowl. I gave it a few hours and let the dust settle and then gently swept up the excess, leaving plenty behind in the cracks and crevices in both the mattress and the floor boards. The floor was still very dusty - you could feel it on your feet if you walked bear foot. I then laundered the bedding and dried it thoroughly and back on the bed; no cats were allowed to sleep on the bed during this process, as to avoid re-infesting the room. I then did the second room and created another 'ground zero' space. Into this now cleared room went freshly flea bathed cats with sanitized liter boxes and all fresh laundered kitty bedding. The cats were not allowed to leave this room until treatment was completed. Then room by room I did the same - I dusted the couch cushions and put them into large plastic bags, dust and all, and let them sit for 24-48 hours. I had to put a bag over the electronics with moving parts to avoid getting DE dust in them as it is very hard on moving parts - in fact I am sure sucking up all the excess DE shortened the life of my vacuum cleaner. I left the DE sit for 24-48 hours - this a time frame I thought was sufficient exposure to any fleas in the area, and in the mean time washed every piece of bedding, every rug, anything the cats could encounter. I had carpeting in one room and I sprinkled the DE on and worked it deep into the carpet fibers with a broom. Again, wear a face mask as you will be working in a billowing cloud of dust that will irritate your sinuses and mucous membranes. After the wait time/exposure time was up I gently swept and brushed off the carpet, taking care to leave plenty behind deep in the carpet fibers and in all floor cracks and crevices; for under the couch and under the couch cushions I didn't even bother to vacuum, I just left it down - in fact anyplace that I could not see, or had to lift up furniture to get under, I just left the DE down. Doing all laundry at the same time is crucial, so I bagged up items until I could process them. A proper flea bath is crucial to the process as well. I used dish soap, starting with the cat in a dry bath tub [clip claws before you start] and started with soapy water and a wash cloth at the nose and worked from the nose outward; once I had the head and behind the ears saturated with the soapy water I then went on to the next cat. When all of the cats' heads were treated I filled the tub and did the bodies, again in the dish soapy water. I then drained the tub and used clear water with a cup of white vinegar to remove all traces of the dish soap and to balance the PH of the skin to avoid drying. You could see the fleas as black specks as the water drained. I followed up by blow drying the cats and flea coming. It was work, I was persistent, and the cats hated it, but I got them clean and clear and into the holding room they went while the rest of the house was treated. I want to say it took me 4 days to get the house treated and before I could release the cats. The basement and attic were not used by the cats so they were not treated. I did not have to treat the house again ever - and 10 years later I still found DE in the floor cracks. I made a point to stop letting the cats out in the late summer and fall until the first frost. I also dusted the cats with DE by putting them in a sack with DE - the head was out but it was snug at the neck so the cat was dusting ala 'shake-n-bake' style. By not letting them out during prime flea-hitch-a-ride-inside time, and by dusting the cats in the fall, plus the initial house debugging, I never had a problem again.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 07/26/2016

Hello Eve,

You are NOT dealing with mites. Mites don't jump, and mange mites in particular cannot be seen with the naked eye. From what you describe, it sounds like you are dealing with fleas and if you feel them hitting your legs and arms in your home then your home is badly infested.

I recommend using lamp flea traps - as many as you can - and also consider using DE as described in the following post.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 07/25/2016

Eve, I would go with olive oil for you dog and a flea bomb for the house. Take your dog and leave for the day. That should nip them in the bud. I don't think you could get rid of them with just spraying oils around.

Ted's Borax and Peroxide Remedy
Posted by Eve (Nv) on 07/25/2016 22 posts
 ★☆☆☆☆

I have been using Ted's formula for my little dog who is also being eaten alive by these tiny jumping mites and all it is doing is drying out her fur and still being literally swarmed by these mites. I spent about 4 hours last nite dousing her with the formula and finally poured 50/50 ACV over her to get relief, they had gotten down to her anus and she was running around like crazy, thinking she need to go outside, let her out and back in running to room to room. What else can I try to kill these mites in my house. I've been fighting them for 5 years, I have done all the cleaning, vacuing, everything I have found on line, good hygene for her ad me and still they fight you back. Last night she had decided that it was time to sleep on Mama's bed, she has her sheets and blanket and sleeps at the foot of my bed, for the height she has usually feels safe, she will not sleep in her custom made bed because the of the mites buzzing her ears and face so she took the sofa but last night I even felt more activity than I had for some time and when I took her off the bed, where she was standing and I put my hands around her it felt like a million stinging nettles on my hand, they had not come up too much at my pillows but it was amazing how much they had swarmed around her. Even today, most any place I use my hands I'll get bitten by them, I gave her a bath and used a tiny amount of Toni"s formula with dry mustard in her shampoo, just hoping the tiny amount would be strong enough to kill the mites on her. I had burned a citronella candle just a day before hoping they would somehow find a way out. I don't leave my windows and doors open because they are in the air outside and sure make their way to my place. I don't know if they are the same thing I feel on my legs and arms, especially if I have on shorts, I feel them hitting my legs and arms, these don't seem to bit but nothing will kill them. The best luck I've had is straight 3% HP and my whole house is sprayed every day in the am and pm. I know God created the earth and everything on it but why can't he move them to another spot where they don't bite and harm people. Any suggestions on sprays and oils for pooch. I've tried Oregano oil diluted for her, no luck; just something to get them out of my house!!

Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 03/21/2016

Hello Rose,

Please read up on bird mites here: http://www.birdmites.org/

I have read of accounts of humans using the horse or dog product Freedom 45 effectively on demodex mites in humans - you might consider googling that product, however I would NOT recommend it for your cats.

How were you using the DE? Did you dust the cats with it?

Please report back!

Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Rose (Clarkston, Washington) on 03/20/2016
 ★☆☆☆☆

Chicken Mites on my Cat:

Diatomaceous Earth doesn't work. I can't get them to eat brewer's yeast. I'm now using Kleen Green green by natural Genesis. The chicken mites are in my apartment. I've done all I know to do for many months. I got rid of my bed most of what I own I dress out of the freezer, I shower twice a day, I use Kleen Green on my cats and my apartmen. The vets don't have answers Revolution wasn't enough, Advantage Multi even with the Kleen Green doesn't work it's impossible to get rid of every single transparent chicken mite. I could use some better advice. Thanks!

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Annie-em (Nyc) on 01/08/2016

Brewer's yeast is not the same as the yeast used in baking, go to your health food store and ask for Brewer's yeast, probably in the Vitamin/Supplement section.

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Elizabeth (Nelson Ga.) on 01/02/2016

Is it the kind that you use to make your bread rise?

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Neris (British Columbia) on 10/15/2015

You said you opened a can of...something made from beets...looking for a ear mite cure in kittens..what was the can of stuff you opened and put on their food?

EC: Yes, post is confusing. It's Brewer's Yeast made from sugar beets!

Lavender Oil and Citrus
Posted by Misty (Mass, US) on 06/28/2014
 ★★★★★

My cat had some really strange mites even my vet had no clue, they stuck up and out like sharp claws. Thankfully she was a good natured cat as I bathed her with mild solutions, I continued web searches and found a remedy. I mixed lavender oil and a citrus/I chose lemon juice and mixed water soaked her well and let her run as she wanted, the next day I gave her a good bath and have never seen these mites again.The previous owner said she had this problem for many years. It's been almost two years and finally she is free and happy, rather than uncomfortable 24/7.

Herbs
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 05/22/2014 392 posts

Tansy was once used to prevent corpse and meat from spoiling. Yes highly toxic to insects it contains thujone as active component and once used to treat arthritis. Thanks for information. Will test these on skin disorders of unknown origin would be more ideal as topical. The best non toxic to kill parasites would be diatomaceous earth taken internally would cause parasites to kill by dehydration without affecting the host. Ted

Herbs
Posted by Sharon (Tampa) on 05/12/2014

This is for Ted, if the editors can forward it. Recently l stumbled across Australian poultry houses using an effective preventative for the red mite used in their chicken's water dish. It's called Red Stop Solution, and contains, tansy, thyme and burdock. Now Tansy can kill you, so sparing daily use can only be done using the extract, not the oil. This combination makes the chickens blood taste bad to the mites and is curing the problem, since the mites can't feed and starve to death. l know you were working with some nuns on ingestion of something to make yourself taste bad to the mites, so maybe this is it. Tansy has historically been used to kill parasites, treat hearts, skin problems and several other uses.

Bird Mite Remedies
Posted by Linda (Brisbane, Australia) on 04/24/2013
 ★★★★☆

Great to hear so much good advice!! I thoughtI had fleas from a friends cat, and tried all the usual things to eliminate them, getting increasingly desperate and more chemical, I used 'bombs' twice and was still being bitten. Saw Dr who said she thought it was a mild case of shingles!! But I had felt them biting me so did further googling. Realised that the wild birds we had been feeding would sit on our garden furniture, which I then sat on, and sometimes dried the laundry on. The mite must have fallen off them. Now I've made that connection things should improve. I have also put diatomaceous earth all around my bed and in my bed after I get up[dont breathe the powder in!! ] I sit in my gym's dry sauna for at least 10 mins every day, with the clothes I wore, and the heat seems to kill them on my body. I vacuum every day, and wash and tumble dry all my clothes and bedding every day as well. Last night I sprayed my bed and myself with a DEET spray, but don't want to do that too often! But no bites today. Will keep you posted! Bye the way spoke to the council and they ar convinced that mites cannot live without birds for more than 2 weeks, and that people who say they do are 'being dramatic'!! Amazing, has he not read these posts???

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Sunny April (Sante Fe, Nm) on 08/27/2012

To: Donna from Chas. NC USA Hi Donna, could I ask where you purchased the brewer's yeast that is a non gmo brand made from sugar beets grown in Europe? I have a little dog and I think she may have mites as her nose sounds like what your cats had. I'd like to try the yeast on her food and she if it clears up her nose. Thanks, and God bless you and I'm so glad your kitties are well.

Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Donna (Chas, Sc Usa) on 04/27/2011
 ★★★★★

I maintain 3 colonies of feral cats. Some of the cats have turned a bit friendly and allow me to pet them. Two days ago, I noticed that two of them had problems with their faces - almost raw flesh exposed and red bumps everywhere. Even the nose up to the nostrils were exposed flesh. I realized it was a bad case of mites, as the two cats were always nuzzling each other. I figured that the raw flesh was due to them scratching from the mites.

I left the scene and went home and opened a fresh can (I use a Non GMO brand from sugar beets grown in Europe, as pretty much all un-organic sugar beets in USA are GMO) and went back to the cat colony and sprinkled it generously on their wet and dry food. The next day when I returned, the two kitties faces were almost completely normal - with only a tiny scab here and there. I was absolutely thrilled and amazed. I am now going to use it regularly as I think it will help them with their fleas. I remember years ago, one of my uncles said it cured him from "itchy butt"(anus) so I thought I would try it for the kitties mites, and it worked.

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by Rachel (Underwood, IN.) on 10/19/2008

If you are having a problem holding your cat down. You can take a towel and wrap the cat in it starting around the neck. Or a pillow case. I have a cat who is normally very docile until I want to treat her. It is the only way I can make her be still long enough. And of course after it is all over she stays mad at me for a few minutes until I give her a treat, and then it is like nothing happened at all. But now I have to hide the towel from her until the last minute. She has forgiven, but not forgotten. LOL!!

Also on the ear mite remedy you can also try a little Dawn dish soap. Kills the mites instantly.

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by CECILY (ONORA, CALIFORNIA) on 02/26/2008

PLEASE PLEASE....THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBLE REMEDIES FOR EAR MITES FOR MY CAT...BUT I JUST CANNOT GET THEM IN HER EAR....SHE WAS AN ALLEY CAT IN HER FORMER LIFE AND DOES NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO TOUCH HER THAT MUCH AT ALL.I LIVE ALONE WITH NO ONE TO HELP ME TO HOLD HER DOWN...I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW OF ANYTHING I COULD PUT IN HER FOOD TO CURE IT AS HER EARS ARE A MESS AND I FEEL SO BADLY I CANNOT GET TO HELP HER. THANKS FOR ANYONE TO SUGGEST SOMETHING.

One Drop of Flea/Tick Medication in Each Ear for Ear Mites
Posted by Lisa (In The Country, Massachusetts) on 02/26/2008
 ★★★★★

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!



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