Ear mites? On Advocate flea spot on?

[TheForgetfulCat]

Cat has been scratching his ear more than usual and today I notice it looks sore at the bottom of one, as if he's scratched it sore.

Ear mites seems a likely culprit but he's on Advocate spot on? Isn't that supposed to work against them too? He is a very very floofy cat (a Siberian) and we have had our suspicions for a while that spot on might not be getting through the floof. Fleas seem quite persistent on a low level despite regular application

Any thoughts or advice very welcome?

You could try alternating advocate and frontline, some critters are becoming resistant ...

Advocate needs to go onto the skin where it is absorbed and kills parasites when they bite, so if most is ending up on the fur it will not work properly. You could ask if your vets will apply it for you, most will have nurses who can administer medicines for a nominal fee. Also re the fleas - only about 10% of the flea population lives on the cat, you might need to treat the house to get rid of eggs, larva and newly hatched fleas,

Thank you for advice :)

We have treated the house pretty vigorously - I was beginning to think that the odd flea might just be part of life, but ear mites as well makes me think maybe the Advocate isn't hitting the spot. We do wet his fur and make a parting and try really hard to get to the skin, but he has a LOT of floof and a strange undercoat arrangement as well.

You can't get Advocate as tablets can you?

Will review with vets I think. Thank you.

My boy scratched the inside of his ear when he had an ear infection, could it be that instead?

I would not use frontline, it's useless. There's stronghold or bravecto though, if the advocate isn't working. Bravecto works for 3 months for fleas so might be easier, but I don't think it covers ear mites. Stronghold does though.

We think we have found the culprit - a whopping great tick inside his ear

On conversation with the vet, Advocate doesn't do ticks. But Broadline doesn't seem to clear his fleas.

Aargh ...

Appt with vets 9.30 Thursday to discuss ...

Have you got a tick remover? Buying one gaurentees puss will never get another tick.

I have started using Bravecto. Covers fleas and ticks for 3 months and seems to be working so far ( no ticks in last 4 months).

Is Bravecto a spot on or tablet?

My boy also had a tick in his ear a few weeks after finishing treatment for the ear infection . He's a nightmare.

Bravecto is a spot on. Doesn't stronghold also do ticks?

Broadline has the same flea stuff as frontline irc. So, useless for fleas.

I could really do with a 3 month one that covers everything for my spot on hating ninja like ex feral girl. She seems to be able to tell exactly when her advocate is due.

Fluffycat Im afraid ours is made of sterner stuff. We have had tick pickers for a while, and nevertheless the final count today is TEN ticks . And no, he doesn't spend his time roaming through the New Forest.

Will ask vet about Bravecto, thanks.