Cats have increased in popularity as pets in the last 10 – 20 years, mainly because as we’ve gotten busier, their low maintenance lifestyle has become more and more attractive to us. The fact that they don’t typically require regular baths or trips to the groomer, and can stay sleek and shiny just by using their rough little kitty tongues to bathe, is a big positive when considering how much time you have to devote to a furry family member.
Most of them even seem to be able to keep their ears clean, even though their tiny paws aren’t ideally suited to wielding Q-tips. So when you notice that your cat’s ears are dirty, and especially if they seem itchy, it’s probably a sign that there’s something wrong. Read on to learn the best way to take care of your cat’s ears.
Report for inspection
First, inspect your cat’s ears closely. Simply grasp the tip of the ear between your thumb and forefinger and gently roll the tip of the ear backwards so that you can see into the ear canal. Look for any discharge, redness or earwax within the ear. Light brown wax is to be expected, but if the wax looks black, or there is redness or discharge, there could be a serious problem.
Now get your olfactory senses involved, and get in there and get a good smell. “Normal Cat Ear” is pretty odorless. If you smell a strong smell, especially yeasty, it’s very possible that there’s an infection present. Also have a look at the skin directly in front of and behind your cat’s ears. If the cat is scratching excessively, you might see hair loss or even abrasions in this area.
If you see or smell anything abnormal within your cat’s ears, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What do dirty or itchy or smelly ears mean?
In kittens, especially those coming from crowded or less-than-optimal conditions, dirty/itchy/smelly ears most often mean an ear mite infestation. Ear mites are disgusting little bugs that invade the ears of cats and kittens and quickly explode in population, creating a stinky dark brown discharge to wallow in. Ear mite infestations are excruciatingly itchy to cats, and if not handled quickly can result in secondary complications such as aural hematoma (blood clots inside the ear flap) and ruptured ear drums.
If ear mites aren’t the culprit, your cat might have a bacterial or fungal ear infection. These are super common in dogs, especially those with allergies, but not as common in cats. They do occur, however, and prompt diagnosis by your veterinarian, using testing to differentiate between mites, bacteria, and fungus, will resolve the problem expeditiously.
When do I need to clean my cat’s ears?
Your veterinarian can tell you whether you need to clean your cat’s ears as part of the therapy needed to resolve the ear infection. Excessive debris in the ear canal makes it difficult for the topical medication prescribed to do its job, since it can’t effectively reach the skin surface.
If you have to clean your cat’s ears, use only a cleaner prescribed by your veterinarian. Some cleaners may contain products that are harmful if they get into the middle ear, which can happen if the ear drum becomes perforated.
What do I need to clean my cat’s ears?
Use only an ear cleaner prescribed by your veterinarian. Some cleaners may contain products that are harmful if they get into the middle ear, which can happen if the ear drum becomes ruptured.
You shouldn’t need to aggressively use cotton swabs to clean far down in the canal. This can even rupture the ear drum, so use only cotton pads or cotton balls to wipe away the debris and cleaner as you clean.
How do I actually get the ears clean?
First make sure that the cleaner is at room temperature. This will make it more comfortable for your cat. If you wouldn’t want ice cold liquid dripped into your ear, your cat won’t either.
Tilt your cat’s head to the side (it helps to have a partner for this) and fill the canal with cleaner, until you can see it welling up in the canal. Gently close the flap of the ear over the opening, and massage the area for 30 seconds. Don’t neglect to massage at the base of the ear as well, where the ear canal descends into the head.
After you’re done massaging, step back a few feet and allow your cat a minute to shake its head and dislodge any wax and cleaner that may be left inside the ear canal. Once your cat has shaken its head back and forth, take a cotton ball and wipe out the inside of the ears.
Reward a job well done
Follow up your cat’s ear cleaning with treats, kind words and snuggles. This will help your cat be more cooperative next time the eardrops come out. And don’t forget to follow up with your veterinarian regarding how long to continue the treatment. Your cat’s ears need to be checked again after the treatment is finished, to ensure that the infection or mite infestations is fully resolved.