Often an animal can be severely infested with the pests before there is any outward sign of their presence. It is a good idea to have your veterinarian regularly examine your pet's ears. Ear mite infestations are almost always be followed by a bacterial infection because the bacteria find easy access to living tissue through the holes left by the mites. Ear mites are very irritating. They often cause the animal to scratch to the point where it tears out all of the hair and creates bleeding sores around the ears.
Scratching can result in reinfestation with mites from the paw or tail.
Consult your veterinarian about methods for treating infested animals. This is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings. Nearly one-third of all adults in the U.S. and in Europe have antibodies to Toxoplasma, which means they have been exposed to this parasite. The most likely sources of toxoplasmosis in cats is from eating mice, birds, and other small animals that are infected with the parasite.