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.
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.
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.
Your cat is frequently scratching at his ears. Your cat is shaking his head. The ears are red, swollen, or have discharge. You notice a large amount of wax or a bad smell.
Use a cotton pad to wipe out debris from your cat's ear. Again, never put anything, including your finger, into your kitty's ear canal. Repeat the process on the other ear.
As with human ears, you really shouldn't try to dig too deep and get rid of wax and dirt all the way down. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it's also dangerous and could lead to serious pain or injury. The best cleaning solution for cat ears is a wipe, and specifically one soaked in a gentle but effective solution.
"It could be wax, debris, ear mites, or discharge from an ear infection." In fact, if your kitty has allergies or chronic ear infections, your veterinarian may recommend that you clean your cat's ears on a regular basis.
Ear discharge in cats in a thick, waxy substance that prevents particles from entering the inner portions of the ears. 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.
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.
Ear mites are tiny animals and are a fairly common parasite in both cats and dogs. They look like tiny white dots, but can barely be seen with the naked eye. Ear mites live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils.
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.
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.
Most cats don't like having their ears examined, cleaned, or medicated, however, with a little patience and practice, you should be able to perform these tasks at home. Some cats will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you clean or medicate their ears, but many require some form of restraint.
Outside of your cat's diet, pet owners can use olive oil to prevent ear infections, according to VetInfo.com. To clean a cat's ears with olive oil, use a plastic ear dropper or a syringe, cotton balls, towel and bowl of warm water.
Check the Outer Ear
The outer flap of the ear should have a layer of hair, and the inner surface should be a light pink. If you notice bald spots on the ear, redness, swelling, or discharge running out of the ears, contact your veterinarian.
Use a cotton ball to clean, wipe, and dry the inside of your cat's ears. You can pick up cotton ball squares at most human pharmacies. You can also use cotton balls, cotton makeup rounds, or even a tissue. Just don't use cotton swabs to clean out your cat's ears, as you could damage their eardrums.
If you find any dark coloured debris, excessive wax, or your cat's ear has a bad odour, you need to see your veterinarian who may refer you to the vet dermatologist depending on the condition.
Ear mites are very small insects that infest the ear canal of dogs and cats are HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS from pet to pet, they are frequently found in entire litters of puppies and kittens. Ear Mites spread by direct contact with an infested animal. They are not contagious to humans.
Checking your cat's ears is an important part of routine cat care. During these inspections, you look for dirt and wax buildup, which can potentially lead to infection. If you don't spot any issues, though, you don't need to worry about doing a cleaning.
You notice some dirt in your cat's ear, so you reach for some wipes you have at home. 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.
The most common way for a cat to catch ear mites is from another cat, but they can also be picked up from the home, garden and environment. Fortunately, treating ear mites is relatively simple. Contact your vet if you think your cat may have ear mites.