Cleaning your cat's ears does not require any special equipment. A good quality ear cleaning solution, some cotton balls or gauze, and some treats to reward your cat are all that is needed. Do not use cotton tip applicators (Q-tips®), due to the risk of perforating the ear drum or causing trauma to the ear canal.
You can clean the outer part of the ear canal using some damp cotton wool. This will wipe away any excess debris. Never use cotton buds in your pets' ears. Your pet will shake their head afterwards and some cleaner and debris may also be shaken out.
To do this, soak a clean cotton ball in alcohol and wipe off the tip of the bottle. Do not use alcohol on your cat's ear. Massage the base of your cat's ear for 20 to 30 seconds to help distribute the solution throughout their ear canal. Hold their ear flap, and use a cotton ball or gauze to wipe away any debris.
Cleanse: The black, waxy ear build-up and dirt must be thoroughly flushed and cleaned from the ear canal before any medication can be applied. We strongly encourage pet owners to have their vet do the initial cleanse to ensure all the debris is removed and to avoid damaging your cat's delicate ear drum.
You can purchase an ear cleaner at the veterinarian's office Water should not be used as an ear cleaner because it can sit in the ear and allow yeast to grow. Place a few drops of ear cleaner into the cat's ears. Use the proper dosage as recommended on the label instructions.
It will depend on your cat's habits when it comes to how often you should clean their ears. If you have a house cat you may find that you rarely need to clean their ears, whereas if you have a cat that's always getting up to mischief outside, they may need more regular cleaning to remove dirt they've picked up.
In addition to a bacterial ear infection, brown or black ear discharge may be an indicator of: Allergies. Systemic inflammation. Yeast infection (since yeast can thrive in the dark, moist environment that earwax build-up creates)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. The ears often become red and inflamed and may develop an offensive odor. A black or yellow discharge is commonly observed.
Outdoor cats are more prone to catch them from other cats while wrestling around or snuggling (basically any social interaction with an infected cat), but indoor cats can also catch them from the toys or bedding of other infected cats.
Cat Ear Discharge: Common Causes
Symptoms of ear problems in cats include pawing at the ears, sensitivity to touch, a large amount of cream colored, orange, dark brown, or black wax; hearing loss; head tilting or shaking; and loss of balance.
While healthy ears are pale pink in color and have no visible debris or odor, and minimal or no wax, infected ears are often red or swollen, or will have an odor.
Feline ear mites on the insides of the ears will look dirty, usually with a dark brown or reddish-brown debris. Sometimes a black crust forms, as well. This crust can clog the ear canal over time. Your veterinarian can easily diagnose feline ear mites.
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.
Green tea is a natural antiseptic that will get rid of mites. It'll also help remove the “coffee grounds” debris. Massage your dog's ears gently (she should love this!)
Never use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to clean your cat's ears — these substances just aren't safe for your kitty. 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.
Once your cat tolerates his ears being touched, you can put some ear wash on a cotton ball and wipe down the inside of your kitty's ears. Another option: Creating an ear cleansing solution at home with a mix of half hydrogen peroxide and half water.