The best way to avert feline ear disorders is to clean your cat’s ears at least once a month. Cleaning a cat’s ears is a simple process, but will require much patience and assistance if your cat does not like to have his/her ears cleaned. Although cats are less likely to have severe or frequent ear problems than dogs, they can occasionally develop one of the disorders in the list below. The signs of an ear problem are very similar for each disorder, which makes them hard to identify. Also, in many cases, problems with the ear are actually a sign of a greater problem in your cat. In addition to allergies and skin or other internal diseases, ear problems may be a symptom of serious or fatal diseases such as Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or Diabetes Mellitus.
Otitis Externa: an external ear infection caused by microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, or fungi), parasites, foreign bodies, allergies, autoimmune diseases, or skin disorders; signs include redness and swelling of the ear, constant head shaking and scratching, the discharge of fluid, and an odor emitted from the ear.
Middle and Inner Ear Infections: caused by bacteria and/or yeast; signs include pain, constant head shaking and scratching, pain, and thick or bloody fluid discharge; may lead to partial face paralysis, which includes droopy eyelids and facial muscles and difficulty swallowing.
Ear Polyps: uncommon in cats; if left untreated, can severely damage the ear drum; cause is unknown; signs include outer/inner ear infection, head shaking and scratching, pain, thick or bloody discharge, tilted head (affects ability to walk straight) and droopy eyelids; the best treatment is surgical removal; if the base of the polyp is not removed during surgery, the polyp can reoccur within eight months.
Otodectes Cynotis (ear mites): signs include head shaking and scratching, inflammation of the ear, and a dark discharge; can lead to other ear problems.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, a monthly ear cleaning can help prevent external objects from causing ear problems in your cat. You may want assistance from another person to restrain your cat during the cleaning; be sure, though, to use a loving, gentle touch when restraining your cat. First put a few drops of ear cleanser on the pinna (flap of ear that stand erect) and on the visible part of the inner ear. Your cat will probably shake his/her head at this point, but you should try to prevent this action because it actually shakes out most of the cleanser before it gets into the ear. Instead, carefully massage the base of the ear. Most cats will enjoy the massage, so use the massage to stop your cat from shaking his/her head. After you’ve massaged the ear for a few minutes, pull the pinna back to expose most of the inner ear. Take a cotton ball and cautiously rub the excess dirt and debris from inside the ear. Do not probe deeper than you can see, or you may injure the ear drum. Once you’ve removed all the dirt, give your cat verbal praise and a treat.
