Earmites are tiny little parasites that can get into your cat's ear. As simple as it may sound, you should know that if this problem isn't treated, it can develop into something serious such as a yeast infection.

Your cat will scratch and scratch, causing tiny blood vessels in their ears to burst. This can cause a swelling and disfiguration that could be permanent. It gets worse: Earmites that are left untreated for too long can cause seizures, rupture of the ear drum... even death.

If you notice your cat scratching, shaking its head this way and that, and digging at its ears, it's possible that he or she has earmites. But please remember, even if a cat is infested with earmites, he or she may not show any symptoms or signs of it. How severe the reaction is can really depend on your cat's sensitivity to the mites' saliva.

Even if there are only a few mites, a cat who is allergic to the saliva will become miserable and scratch excessively. One of the signs to watch for is fluid in or around your cat's ears. If she's scratching more than usual and acting strange, she may have cat earmites. If there is enough reason to suspect this, you should get your cat treated right away.

You should also know if you've other creatures that chances are those other creatures can become infested very easily. So if you end up treating one of your cats, you should definitely inspect your other cats for signs of ear mites, or take them to the vet as well. The condition can make your cat absolutely miserable.