HELP! My Feral Cat Has Itchy Ears! (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
“Dr Dr Paola,
Thank you for all the wonderful things you do for our pets.
What do you think of SPRAY BANIXX for ear infections, yeast infections, ringworm, wounds, and hot spots? My feral kitty, Ninji, cannot go to a vet or be touched as she’s very afraid. She has scratched both ears to the point where some fur has come off. I saw her trying to get her foot inside her ear — it’s bad. I think it’s ear mites, and I was told this spray will help.
What are your thoughts, please?”
– Sybil
Quick Info about Ninji
Hi Sybil,
Thank you for your kind words. I can certainly understand your concern for Ninji. Watching a fearful feral cat struggle with itchy ears can be heartbreaking, especially when handling her is not an option.
Banixx Spray is marketed for a variety of skin and ear conditions, but it is not considered a proven treatment for ear mites. Ear mites are tiny parasites that live deep within the ear canal, and effective treatment requires a medication specifically designed to kill them. If Ninji is scratching intensely, losing fur around the ears, and trying to reach deep into the ear canal with her foot, ear mites are one possibility, but some other conditions can cause very similar signs, including bacterial or yeast ear infections, allergies, ear polyps, inflammatory ear disease, or even skin parasites. Using a spray that does not address the underlying cause may provide little benefit and could delay effective treatment.
Because Ninji cannot be handled, the safest approach may be to contact a veterinary clinic, shelter veterinarian, or a teletriage veterinary service for guidance on some options for treating feral cats. In many cases, veterinarians can recommend parasite treatments that can be applied to the skin at the back of the neck (spot-on treatments) after humane trapping, and these products are often effective against ear mites. If you notice head shaking, a foul odor from the ears, discharge, loss of balance, or worsening wounds from scratching, veterinary attention becomes more urgent. Think of the scratching as an alarm bell rather than the problem itself. The important part is identifying what is causing the itch so it can be properly treated.
I hope this helps!
– Dr. Paola