Expert: Jessica - 7/8/2010

Question
Hi Jessica,
There is a white  feral cat that I call Casper, I have been feeding him for the last two  years, he used to come in regular basis , but  lately other male cats have moved in the neighborhood and some of them are not neutered and they are beating Casper badly, as a result he is not coming as often as he used to come anymore. When he takes the risk and comes back for food, I can see from afar that Casper has  terrible ear mite infections, so severe that his ears are bleeding and both sides of his face show raw skin from constant scratching below the ear and neck.  He doesn't  let me touch him as a feral cat he runs away  as soon as I slowly tray to take an step forward in our friendship. I have tried all sorts of cages and foods to trap him, but he doesn't fall for them.
Jessica,  is there a remedy that I can put in his food that can help him with ear mites?
I already gave him the first tablet of capstar to help him with fleas, I mixed the pill with wet food and he ate it right away.  I read about combining "Capstar and Program " one suppose to kill the adult fleas and the other keeps the flea eggs from developing . This two products are something that I can put in his food since he doesn't  let me touch him. I wish I could trap him, take it to the Vet and get all the check ups he needs to have done,  and release him again after we make sure he is healthy, I will cover all the expenses  if somebody could help me to catch it
Jessica, please help me to find the right solution !! I don't want this cat to die an awful  dead to the ear mites . Is there something better I can give him to get rid of that pest??  I will do anything.
I have read your answers in the blog and I think you are the most  knowledgeable and  a real expertise in the matter.
I will be anxious to hear from you.
(I'm a pro TSNR and tried to caught the two new male cats in the neighborhood but no success)

Answer
Hi Dulce,

Poor kitty!  Unfortunately, most ear mite treatments must be either introduced directly into the ears or placed directly on the skin.  If it's impossible to get this close to the cat, your treatment options are very limited.

There is a medication called ivermectin that will kill ear mites, which can be given by mouth.  Most vets prefer not to use it because it isn't quite as safe as newer medications that can kill ear mites.  The problem is that it is by prescription only, so you will need a vet to prescribe it.  In most cases, a vet will not prescribe a medication to a cat they have not seen.  If you know of a TNR group that could help you out, many of them use ivermectin to treat ear mites in their cats before releasing them.  Perhaps you could contact them and explain your situation.  If you can estimate a weight on the cat, perhaps their vet may be willing to dispense some ivermectin that you can mix into his food.

The only other option I might suggest is to ask a vet for a sedative that you could mix into his food.  Acepromazine is a powerful sedative that will allow you to pick up most any feral if you wrap him in a towel and move him into a cage.  However, you’d have to be willing to stand by and follow the cat for 1-2 hours, for his own safety, while the effects of the sedative took hold, before he was manageable.  The cat would be completely vulnerable to attacks by other animals, traffic and prone to falling if he wandered off out of sight.  Then, you could apply an appropriate ear mite medicine.  I would recommend getting him in to a vet while you have him caged, just to be sure it’s ear mites.  Then the vet can prescribe him Revolution, which will kill the ear mites as well as parasitic worms, ticks and fleas.

The good news is that ear mites won't kill the kitty.  The bad news is that they will make him miserable.  You may want to mix an immune-boosting supplement into the cat's food each day.  Cats with strong immune systems are often able to fight ear mites off before the infestation is able to take hold (although now that he has such a bad case, he will probably need treatment to get rid of the current ones).  I like the immune booster Immuno-DMG, and you can buy it here:

http://www.petabbey.com/store-products-Pet-Herbal-Remedies-pet-immune-stimulatio...   

Hopefully this will prevent ear mites from recurring.  

Best of luck!

Jessica