Most cats have healthy, clean ears and never need to have their ears cleaned. However, it is recommended to clean your cat's ears if you notice discharge or an odor when examining the ear. Your veterinarian can help you decide how often your cat's ears should be cleaned.
To check the inner ear, gently fold back your cat's ear flap and look into the ear canal. If your cat's ears are healthy, they should be a light pink, with minimal earwax and no obvious signs of inflammation. If you smell an unusual odor or see a lot of earwax, you'll want to have your cat examined by a vet.
Gently fold back the outer ear and peek into the ear canal. If healthy, it will be pale pink in colour, and have no odour, debris, and little to no wax. Do this for each of your cat's ears on a regular basis to make sure they are healthy and there's no build up of wax or debris.
So how can you tell the difference? Cats that aren't suffering an ear mite infection have a lighter brown earwax color that does not smell. The darkly colored earwax caused by an ear mite infection will often have ear discharge resembling coffee grounds.
In a healthy cat, the ears will have very little ear wax and the discharge will be a light brownish color. The healthy discharge will have no smell and be accompanied by a pink, clean inner ear canal.
Only clean your cat's ears if a small to moderate amount of debris or discharge can be seen in the pinna and the ear drum is intact. Clean the ears only as needed, such as once every 2-3 months. Over-cleaning can lead to irritation. Healthy cats generally do not need routine ear cleaning.
Some cats are more bothered by ear mites than others. Mites also stimulate the wax producing glands inside the ear canal. The result is a black, crusty build-up in the ears that resembles coffee grounds. This discharge is made of blood, wax, debris, and mites themselves.
An occasional cleaning may be necessary to help keep an ear issue, such as an infection or mites, at bay. it's difficult for them to groom the insides of their ears. Because of this, your cat may need occasional ear cleanings to help keep issues like ear infections and ear mite infestations at bay.
Black Or Brown Ear Secretions
If your cat is scratching their ear, you may see some black or brown debris fly out. You may also notice a tiny bit seeping out of their ear. If you look inside of their ear, you may see black or brown coffee-like secretions. All of this indicates that mites are present.
Cats with ear infections will shake their heads and paw at their ears. You may notice hair loss or crusty scabs around their face and neck from all the scratching. And if you get close enough, you'll see redness and swelling, and smell a funky odor.
Over-cleaning may irritate a cat's ear canal and lead to infection. So only clean your cat's ears if you notice buildup, discharge, or a foul odor. Finally, avoid using a cotton-tipped applicator to clean your cat's ears.
The most common causes of ear discharge in cats include: Ear mites . So tiny you usually need a microscope to see them, ear mites are the most common cause of cat ear problems, and they can be very irritating to your cat.
Ear cleaning is not usually necessary in cats. Most cats are fine without it, but for those who are prone to wax build-up and/or ear infections, ear cleaning can be an important part of your cat's hygiene needs.
Cats are great self-groomers, but one place they can't groom is their ears. Knowing how to clean a cat's ears is an important skill to have if you need to lend a helping hand. Cleaning a cat's ears at home allows you to identify any health issues your kitty may have such as built-up debris, ear mites or an infection.
Even indoor-only cats can end up with them, and once one cat in the house has them, the others are sure to end up with them as well. Otodectes cynotis seen under a microscope. The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin.
Also, never use cotton-tipped swabs, like Q-tips, in a cat's ear at home. It's just too easy to push debris and wax further down into the ear canal. Place the bottle of ear cleaning solution in warm water so that it will feel good — or at least not cold — in your cat's ears.
Baking Soda. Baking soda can be an effective treatment for ear mites in dogs, but be careful not to allow your dog to ingest it. Mix one cup of warm water with one teaspoon of baking soda. Soak this in a cotton ball and use it to rub your dog's ear.
Unfortunately you will always need to treat ear mites in your cat because they will not go away on their own. If treating ear mites in cats is delayed for too long you run the risk of chronic ear infections.
If your cat has a wax buildup problem, your veterinarian may recommend monthly cat ear cleanings. You can do this on your own or bring your cat to a professional groomer or veterinarian.
What do dog ear mites look like? Ear mites in dogs typically look like tiny, moving dots in the ear canal, but are so tiny that you may not be able to spot them at all. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.
But you may be wondering: can I clean my cat's ear with wipes? The answer is simply:NO. Human wet wipes and baby wipes, typically the ones we have on hand, are not suitable for use on pets. In fact, Human wipes can be up to 200 times too acidic for your pet's skin.
The most common cause of feline otitis externa is ear mite infestation. What are the symptoms of an ear infection? Ear infections cause pain and discomfort and the ear canals are sensitive. Many cats will shake their head and scratch their ears attempting to remove the debris and fluid from the ear canal.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.