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The 7 Best Ear Mite Treatments for Cats

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Last updated Apr 30, 2024

Written by Mallory Crusta

Mallory Crusta

Mallory is an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach. Having produced and managed multimedia content across several pet-related domains, Mallory is dedicated to ensuring that the information on Cats.com is accurate, clear, and engaging. When she’s not reviewing pet products or editing content, Mallory enjoys skiing, hiking, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She has two cats, Wessie and Forest... View more

Medically reviewed by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM Atlanta, GA

JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer in Atlanta, GA. After graduating from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine with her veterinary degree, JoAnna completed a 2-year research fellowship in neuroscience at Emory University. During this fellowship, she learned that she could make a career out of combining her loves of science and writing. As a medical writer, JoAnna is passionate about providing pet parents with clear, concise, and engagin... View more

Ear mites may be small but they can cause big problems for your cat. The best ear mite treatment tackles the infestation while reducing symptoms, giving your cat relief from itching and inflammation.

Because it’s affordable and effective and popular among cat owners, PetArmor Medication for Ear Mites for Cats is our top choice. Keep reading to learn more and to see our other picks.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Ear Mite Treatment for Cats

125+

hours of

research

brands

vetted

features

reviewed

top

picks

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Overall Best

10.0

Picked by 31 people today!

PetArmor Medication for Ear Mites for Cats

Pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide active ingredients
Soothing aloe relieves itching and inflammation
Easy to administer, just 5 drops in each ear twice daily

$6.87 At Chewy

Runner Up

9.8

Picked by 31 people today!

Adams Medication for Ear Mites for Dogs & Cats

Contains soothing aloe and lanolin
Kills ear mites on contact
Safe for use in both cats and dogs

$11.09 At Chewy

Value Pick

9.5

Picked by 25 people today!

Hartz Medication for Ear Mites

Individual tubes to keep the product fresh
Contains soothing aloe to relieve itching and irritation
Kills ear mites on contact

$4 At Chewy

Best Prescription

9.4

Picked by 21 people today!

Revolution Topical Solution for Cats

Simply application directly on the skin
Provides a full 30 days of protection
Works against fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites

$171.98 At Chewy

Best Natural

9.3

Picked by 18 people today!

Arava Natural Ear Mite Treatment

Contains 9 all-natural ingredients
Results are visible within 10 days
Unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee

$18.99 At Amazon

Bets for Itching

9.3

Picked by 18 people today!

Sentry HC EARMITE Free Ear Miticide for Cats

Kills ear mites quickly and effectively
Contains aloe to soothe itching
Water-based, non-greasy formula

$7.98 At Amazon

Best for Inflammation

9.3

Picked by 18 people today!

Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone

1% hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation
Non-toxic formula won’t irritate your cat’s skin
Naturally occurring enzymes fight infection

$33.49 At Chewy

Before we get into the details for PetArmor Medication for Ear Mites for Cats and the rest of our top recommendations, let’s talk about ear mites in cats including what they are, how to identify them, and how to treat them.

Does Your Cat Have Ear Mites?

Cats get ear wax just like we do, but if your cats ears develop a dark, foul-smelling discharge accompanied by itching and inflammation, it could be something more.

Ear mites – also known as Otodectes cynotis – are microscopic parasites that live in and around the ears of cats. They’re barely visible to the naked eye, though you may see them as tiny white specks if you look very closely. You’re more likely to notice the symptoms of ear mites than the mites themselves.

Symptoms of ear mites include the following:

Brown or reddish-brown discharge
Dark, waxy crust inside or around the ears
Foul odor coming from the ears
Head shaking or excessive scratching
Hair loss around the ears

Ear mites can’t hop or fly, but they can crawl and once they set up shop in your cat’s ears and start to breed, they can be difficult to eradicate.

An adult ear mite lives for about 2 months and lays eggs continuously throughout its lifespan. The eggs take about three weeks to mature to adulthood at which point they start laying eggs of their own. Not only do ear mites breed quickly, but they are very contagious and can be passed to other pets in your household. Transmission to humans, however, is incredibly rare.

Before you treat your cat for ear mites, pay a visit to your veterinarian to confirm that’s what it is. A common cat ear infection, otitis externa, is often confused for ear mites.

How Do You Get Rid of Ear Mites?

Once your veterinarian diagnoses your cat with ear mites, there are a few treatment options available. In most cases, however, treatment begins with a thorough cleaning of the cat’s ears.

When cleaning your cat’s ears, it’s a good idea to choose a high-quality ear cleaner designed specifically for that purpose. Avoid products that contain irritating ingredients like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and follow the instructions carefully.

We recommend a cat ear cleaner like Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleaner for Cats and Dogs. It’s a safe, non-irritating formula made with salicylic acid to help gently remove debris and excessive wax from the ear canal. Shake the product well then apply liberally into the cat’s ear canal. Rub the base of the ear to distribute the fluid then wipe the interior of the ear clean with cotton swab or a clean cloth.

Cleaning your cat’s ears removes anything that might prevent topical medications from reaching the mites. Veterinarians generally recommend a ear mite medicine that contains an antiparasitic like ivermectin or cat-safe insecticides like pyrethins as the active ingredient.

Remember, if you’re treating one pet in your household for ear mites, it’s best to treat all of them. Even if none of your other pets exhibit an active infection, they could transmit the mites back to your cat and restart the cycle. You may also need to repeat treatment for long-term management of ear mites.

Another option for getting rid of ear mites is to use a flea or tick medication. While many of these products aren’t labeled for ear mites, they can be an effective treatment.

Our top pick for the best over-the-counter flea medication is Sentry Fiproguard Flea and Tick Topical for Cats. Sold in 3- and 6-dose packages, this topical treatment kills fleas, ticks, and chewing lice and it starts working in just 30 minutes after application. For more long-term protection, consider the Bayer Seresto Flea & Tick Collar which provides 8 continuous months of protection.

Also Read: 8 Best Flea Treatments for Cats

Our Top Picks for the Best Ear Mite Treatment for Cats

Now that you have a better understanding of what ear mites are and how to treat them, you’re probably eager to learn more about the products we recommend for treatment.

Here are our top picks for the best ear mite treatment for cats you should consider:

#1 Overall Best: PetArmor Medication for Ear Mites for Cats

$6.87 At Chewy $6.87 At Amazon

This easy-to-use treatment kills both ear mites and ticks while providing quick relief from itching and irritation. Soothing aloe helps eliminate symptoms while the active ingredients take care of the mites.

PetArmor ear mite treatment is made with pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide as the active ingredients. Though technically an insecticide, pyrethrins are naturally derived from the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium plant and are generally considered safe for cats. Just keep in mind that pyrethrins are adulticides, so you may need to repeat treatments to kill ear mite eggs after they hatch.

With over 1,200 customer reviews on Amazon, this PetArmor formula is one of the most popular ear mite treatments for cats. Customers founds the product worked well, for the most part, though there are some comments about the hole in the tip being too small.

What We Liked:

Pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide active ingredients
Soothing aloe relieves itching and inflammation
Easy to administer, just 5 drops in each ear twice daily

What We Didn’t Like:

Pesticides like pyrethrins may cause a reaction in some cats
Not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks

#2 Runner Up: Adams Medication for Ear Mites for Dogs & Cats

$11.09 At Chewy $11.09 At Amazon

This ear mite remedy is similar to the previous product but contains lanolin as an additional soothing ingredient. While pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide tackle the ear mite infestation, aloe and lanolin address your cat’s itchy ears and help start the healing process.

Because this product contains an insecticide, it kills ear mites on contact. Adams recommends applying 4 to 5 drops per ear, per day and repeating the treatment for 7 to 10 days. If your cat’s ear mite infestation returns, it is safe to repeat the treatment cycle two weeks after the first.

In addition to killing ear mites and addressing itching, this treatment helps remove the wax buildup that often accompanies an infestation. Plus, it is safe for use in both cats and dogs.

What We Liked:

Contains soothing aloe and lanolin
Kills ear mites on contact
Safe for use in both cats and dogs

What We Didn’t Like:

Insecticides like pyrethrins may cause a reaction in some cats
Not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks

#3 Value Pick: Hartz Medication for Ear Mites

$4 At Chewy $4 At Amazon

When properly treated, most ear mite infestations can be controlled within 7 to 10 days. Because cats are small, you only need 5 to 10 drops per ear, so most ear mite treatments leave you with a lot of unused medication that can go bad in your medicine cabinet.

What makes this Hartz ear mite medicine unique is that it comes in three easy-to-use tubes, each of which contains about 100 drops. Simply open the tube and apply 4 to 5 drops per ear for a 5- to 15-pound cat or 5 to 10 drops for a cat weighing 16 to 30 pounds.

This ear mite treatment features pryethrins and piperonyl butoxide as the active ingredient which are fast and effective in controlling ear mite infestations. This formula also includes aloe to help soothe itching and irritation caused by the infestation.

What We Liked:

Individual tubes to keep the product fresh
Contains soothing aloe to relieve itching and irritation
Kills ear mites on contact

What We Didn’t Like:

Insecticides like pyrethrins may cause a reaction in some cats
Not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks

#4 Best Prescription: Revolution Topical Solution for Cats

$171.98 At Chewy

If over-the-counter ear mite medication isn’t doing the trick, you might consider a prescription-strength formula. This Revolution Topical Solution is made with 45mg of selamectin per dose.

Selamectin is an avermectin antiparasitic similar to ivermectin. It can be used to treat ear mite infestations but it also effective against fleas, heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms. This treatment comes with 3, 6, or 12 doses formulated for cats 5 to 15 pounds.

Unlike many of the other treatments on this list, this prescription ear mite remedy doesn’t go in your cat’s ear – it is applied directly to the skin. This product provides a full 30 days of protection and is safe for cats and kittens over 8 weeks of age.

What We Liked:

Simply application directly on the skin
Provides a full 30 days of protection
Works against fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites

What We Didn’t Like:

Some risk for side effects like salivation and vomiting
Not recommended for kittens under 8 weeks

#5 Best Natural: Arava Natural Ear Mite Treatment

$18.99 At Amazon

If you’re trying to avoid chemical ingredients like Ivermectin, this all-natural formula from Arava could be a good option. It contains 9 natural ingredients and 26 Dead Sea minerals to safely and naturally resolve your cat’s ear mite infection.

This formula contains natural pest-repelling ingredients like lemongrass and peppermint along with natural antibacterial and antifungal ingredients like thyme, cinnamon, and eastern red cedar. Because it doesn’t contain any hazardous chemicals, it’s completely safe for pets and can be used around children.

The thing to remember with this product is that continued use is required for maximum efficacy. Aruva recommends applying the product every 2 days for at least 10 days. Many customers noticed a difference in their cats right away, though some found it didn’t work or dried out their cat’s ears.

What We Liked:

Contains 9 all-natural ingredients and 26 Dead Sea minerals
Results are visible within 10 days with consecutive use
Unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee
Completely free from hazardous chemicals

What We Didn’t Like:

Not recommended for kittens under 12 months
Some users say it didn’t work or dried out their cat’s ears
May be less effective than products with active ingredients

#6 Best For Itching: Sentry HC EARMITE Free Ear Miticide for Cats

$7.98 At Amazon $7.98 At Walmart

Ear mite infections can be itchy and irritating for cats which is why this treatment from Sentry is such a great option. In addition to killing ear mites, it also soothes itching.

Pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide are the active ingredients in this formula which kill ear mites quickly and effectively. This recipe also contains aloe which provides quick relief for itching and, because it is a water-based formula, it won’t leave your cat’s ears greasy.

To use this product, simply apply 5 drops in each ear twice daily and massage it in. Sentry recommends daily application for as long as necessary to eliminate mites.

What We Liked:

Kills ear mites quickly and effectively
Contains aloe to soothe itching
Water-based, non-greasy formula

What We Didn’t Like:

Insecticides like pyrethrins may cause a reaction in some cats
Not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks

#7 Best For Inflammation: Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone

$33.49 At Chewy $33.49 At Amazon

While this formula isn’t designed to treat ear mites, it could help relieve symptoms and protect against secondary infections from yeast, bacteria, and fungus.

Made with 1% hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation, this solution also contains naturally occurring enzymes to help fight ear infections. These enzymes break down the hard-to-penetrate biofilm slime layer that protect microbes, making them easier to kill. This product is ideal for recurring ear infections and its non-toxic formula won’t irritate your cat’s skin.

To use this product, simply apply liberally to your cat’s ear and massage it in. No cleaning of the ear is necessary because it could disrupt the enzyme activity.

What We Liked:

Contains 1% hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation
Non-toxic formula won’t irritate your cat’s skin
Naturally occurring enzymes fight infection
No ear cleaning necessary before application

What We Didn’t Like:

Won’t treat ear mites but might help with inflammation
May not work as well on clean ears

Ear Mites vs. Ear Infection in Cats

It’s important to properly diagnose your cat before starting any form of treatment. The trouble with ear mites is that the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other ear infections like otitis media.

So, how do you tell the difference between an ear mite infestation and an ear infection?

First and foremost, you should know that ear infections are relatively uncommon in cats (though the same can’t be said for dogs). Ear infections are typically characterized by inflammation of the external ear canal and may be accompanied by itching, head shaking, discharge, and foul odor.

Sound familiar? Ear mites and ear infections cause similar symptoms which isn’t surprising given ear mites are a potential cause for cat ear infections.

Cat ear infections can also be caused by allergies, bacteria, yeast, or fungal infections but the most common cause is ear mites. These tiny parasites feed on the wax buildup and dead skin cells inside the ear, all the while causing significant irritation. Ear infections caused by yeast and bacteria are not contagious, but ear mites definitely are, so prompt treatment is important.

Whether your cat’s symptoms are caused by ear mites or another type of ear infection, it’s not a problem you should ignore. Not only can these issues cause significant discomfort (even pain), but the condition can worsen to the point that it causes damage to the internal structure of your cat’s ears.

It’s always worth taking your cat to the vet just to be safe. Your vet will use an otoscope to look inside your cat’s ear canal and may take samples of discharge to check for mites.

Are There Any Herbal Remedies for Ear Mites?

While pyrethrin-based ear mite medication is highly effective, some pet owners prefer more natural options. Giving your cat’s ears a good cleaning could be enough to keep minor infestations under control, but a little extra help never hurts.

Apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in natural remedies for humans and pets alike. It is highly acidic and has natural antibacterial properties. To use apple cider vinegar for ear mites, mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and apply to your cat’s ears once or twice a day. Use just a few drops and rub the base of your cat’s ears to distribute it before wiping away the excess.

Avoid home remedies using essential oils as these can be toxic for cats. You can, however, try warming coconut oil and adding 8 to 10 drops to your cat’s ears before massaging it in.