‘How can I treat cat ear mites?’ and other veterinary FAQs

This week saw the third instalment of our recent live Q&A sessions on our Facebook page, as Cats Protection vet Vanessa Howie gave veterinary advice and feline healthcare tips. In this post, Vanessa explains how to get rid of cats' ear mites and how to look after your cat's teeth.

How do I treat my cat's ear mites?

I have recently got a kitten and he has got itchy ears. I think he might have mites. I have booked him into the vet on 1 October but is there anything I can do to help him until then? He is scratching quite a lot.

Your vet will be able to prescribe a treatment for you that will kill the ear mites. There is a spot-on flea treatment available from the vet that kills ear mites and often ear drops are needed as well to help clear the brown gunk out of the ears and soothe the inflammation. It's always best that your vet looks down your kitten's ears before using any drops, to avoid making things worse. If possible I'd bring your appointment forward with your vet, to try and make your kitten comfortable as soon as possible.

Photo by 50066720@N03 via flickr / Creative Commons

How can I keep my cat's teeth healthy?

There are a number of things you can do to help keep your cat's teeth healthy. Brushing teeth daily with a toothpaste specifically designed for cats, will help to reduce the build of plaque and tartar and help to keep the gums healthy. There are a variety of toothbrushes to choose from; from finger brushes (microfiber cloths for your finger) to full-length pet toothbrushes. There are specific dental diets available from your vets to help clean teeth, along with solutions and natural supplements to add to your cat's food and water which may help prevent dental disease. I'd recommend speaking to your vet for more information and you may find our dental care guide useful.

Photo by pmarkham via flickr / Creative Commons

Why don't my two cats don't get on?

I've got Feliway, they all have enough litter trays (one for each, plus a spare), separate food bowls at opposite ends of the room and yet one always attacks the other. He doesn't let her upstairs either. Any advice would be great!

Sorry to hear that your two cats aren't getting on that well. Unfortunately, cats are naturally solitary animals and sometimes this means that sharing the same space may become difficult if they are not in the same social group. It's important to make sure you have enough resources in terms of food and water bowls, litter trays and sleeping areas for both cats and allow them to both have their own safe part of the house. Our blog post about introducing cats may give you some helpful tips on making life a little easier living together.

Photo by dorinser via flickr / Creative Commons

Thank you to all of our Facebook supporters who took part in the Q&A with Vanessa. The next live Q&A is on 17 October with our Behaviour Manager. 

If you have a cat care question, you can find lots of feline information and advice on our website.

If you have any concerns for your cat's health, please do consult your vet.