How to Prevent – or Treat – Cat Ear Infections

I didn’t have much experience with cats until a few years ago when a little runt off the street snuck in through the front door and decided to stay. I’ve since received a crash course on all things cat, but I’m no expert and frequently wish she could just tell me what’s wrong.

Like the time I noticed she was scratching her ears. The incessant itching was making me uncomfortable but I didn’t realise how serious it was for her. Could mites be crawling around in there? Something more sinister? Or was I an overly concerned new cat mum? I peered into her ear cave to find out and once I squinted past the wispy curtain of fur, the walls of her ears appeared to be covered in a dark, dubious gunk that didn’t look right to me. Also, gross.

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What causes ear infections in cats?

“Ear infections in cats don’t occur quite as commonly as in dogs but when they do, they can cause some serious damage,” says Dr Sarah Dougherty, DVM. “The most common cause of ear infections in cats are ear mites, but they mostly affect kittens and outdoor cats.” Ear mites are microscopic, super-contagious parasites that block a cat’s ear canal with a dark, grainy matter that kind of looks like coffee grounds or cigarette ash. Flea infestations that affect the whole body can also cause itching and trauma to the ears.

Food and environmental allergies can also be culprits, most commonly proteins from poultry and dust mites (yes, more mites). “Cats can also get infections caused by yeast and bacteria,” adds Dr Dougherty. For some, it may simply be a build-up of wax or fur, particularly in long furred breeds like Persians or Maine Coon.

Another factor in causing ear disease is the shape of the ear and face. The Scottish Fold cat (which is becoming increasingly popular) gets it’s typical folded ears from a deformity in the ear cartilage, and this means ear disease is seen far more commonly in this breed than others.

How can I tell if my cat has an ear infection?

“Cats produce more ear wax than dogs,” says Dr Dougherty, so it’s normal for cats to have a thin layer of yellow wax hanging around. If you’re seeing more than that on the outer ear and on the fur outside the ear, you should see your vet. 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.

If you get close enough, you’ll see redness and swelling and smell a funny odour. Since the ear canal controls balance – for people and pets – an ear infection could also cause your cat to act disorientated and well, weirder than usual.

How can I clean my cat’s ears?

While there’s no way to truly prevent an ear infection, cleaning your cat’s ears once a month with an antibacterial or antifungal solution recommended by your vet can stave off mites, yeast and bacteria. Steer clear of cleaners with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol as they can irritate the sensitive ear canal and their strong smells are likely to stress your cat’s sensitive nose.

First, swaddle your cat in a towel if you expect they are going to fight you tooth and nail. Next, squirt a little of the solution in at the base of the ear flap so it goes down the canal, and gently massage it in.

Then let your cat shake their head, loosening wax and anything else that shouldn’t be in there. Finally, with cotton wool, wipe up whatever comes to the surface (don’t use cotton buds as they can damage the eardrum). If in doubt, or if you need an extra pair of hands, your vet, veterinary nurse or a professional groomer should be able to get the job done without a scratch.

Too late. How are ear infections in cats treated?

In my cat’s case, she was diagnosed with infections in both ears, likely triggered by environmental allergies. Living as an LA stray, yeast has lived rent-free in her ears long enough to form a thick layer of gunk, which was causing my newly domesticated house cat a lot of discomfort. Our vet gave her ears a good cleaning and prescribed antibiotic drops and in a couple of weeks her ears healed. Remember that antibiotics are always a product that has to be prescribed by a vet, meaning anything that claims to be sold online without a prescription is a potentially harmful fake.

If left untreated, Dr Dougherty says, “A cat can suffer permanent damage to the structures of the ear canal, ear drum, and inner ear… or permanent loss of hearing.” Good thing my cat’s ears are now all clear and I’m pretty sure she can hear me when I call… even when she pretends not to.