Emmett had pinpoint-size bite clusters on his ear-rims, behind his ears, some on his tail and one on the back of his neck. I thought "Mites!" and put a drop of miticide in each ear, let it sit and then swabbed 'em. I alternated that with a dab of mineral oil and swabbing on alternate days. And then I took him to the vet. The vet says he doesn't have mites, or fleas. The vet said to continue miticide weekly for a month. That seems ok to me. The vet also said to "consider using flea foam or feline flea collar" and gave a small-dosage prescription for Temaril P which is a combo of antihistamine and small amount of cortisone, to help with itching. My instinct does not want to put a flea collar on Em and also doesn't want to use the Temaril P. I do want to consider keeping on with miticide and ear cleaning, plus weekly baths. But not being a doctor I would like to check this out to see if I'm just being balky. Also having an overactive imagination I worry a lot--a) if he has mites will they get to his brain and give him convulsions and he'll Die A Horrible Death b) if I use miticide will he get systemic poisoning from it and Die A Horrible Death? and c) if he takes the Temaril will his glands go weird and swell him up and he'll D. A. H. D. . .? And is there any safe lotion to put on him to soothe his skin? Thanks! Kate Pappas and Emmett Kelly [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1232]