Cat Ear
Health
One of the few weak spots cats
have is their ears. Cat ear health is an issue to many cats,
especially ones that spend time outdoors. Ear infections can occur
from water in the ears of the healthiest cat.
When cat is outside in the rain
or roaming the countryside in fresh morning due, it's easy to get
some water in their ears. If you bathe your cat, always be careful
not to get any water or soup around the ear area.
Other foreign matter such as
seeds, hair from shedding, and insects can all cause ear problems
for your cat. A cat's ear canal has an L shape
and can trap moisture which creates the perfect environment for
bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Add in some earwax and dirt, and
your cat can get all three.
Sore, itchy, and swollen ears can
also mean the cat may be allergic to something common in their
habitat. If your cat shakes it's head and scratches their ears
frequently, it's a sign of something wrong. And if the cat
continues to scratch at the area, it complicates the issue more
so.
The first thing to do is examine
in and around the ear. If you see discharges of fluid that is dark
brown to black, it may be a fungal or yeast infection. If the
material is dark and crumbly, and looks like coffee grounds, then it could be
ear mites. These
little critters are barely visible to the eye but can be very irritating
to your cat.
If there is some type of blockage
visible, balance or walking problems, and discharge material
that's light brown, yellow, greenish or dark with blood it may be
a serious infection that will require antibiotics. Then it's
probably time for a visit to the Vet. Serious hearing loss and
other problems can develop quickly so don't delay the trip.
If the problem appears to be
dirty ears or fungal infections, both can be treated with
household items. Start by gently spraying the ear areas with a
squirt bottle with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and then
swab the areas dry with a cotton ball that you can easily address.
Be careful not to use too much and keep away from the cat's eyes
and face. Do this twice a day.
If you don't see any improvement
in 24 to 48 hours, you may want to consult your Vet. Most yeast
and fungal infections start to improve quickly, so if you don't
see any improvements it may be a more serious infection.
If you suspect ear mites (and
they are the most common ear problem for cats), there are several
treatments sold at pet stores. These treatments also have
ingredients that sooth the inflammation and will help stop your
cat from scratching the area. You should use the treatments for
the time listed on the product, it may take several days to
totally eliminate the ear mites altogether.
There is a popular natural
treatment for ear mites that many owners swear by. It's a mixture
of olive oil and liquid vitamin E (it comes in capsules that you
can open to retrieve the fluid). Mix a 50/50 solution and use an
eye dropper to put several drops in the ear. Hold the cat still
and rub around the ears to evenly spread the mixture. Then swab
out excess with a cotton ball. Do this every other day for a week.
Normally your cat will shake it's head after the treatment so you
might want to make this an outdoor activity.
Ear mites are also highly
contagious in that if one of your pets have them, they all
probably do (even dogs). If you have more than one cat, you might
want to treat them all at the same time to make sure you get all
of the pesky devils in the household.
If you think there might be an
infection, a good over the counter solution is called Zymox Otic.
It works for bacterial, viral, and yeast infections. You apply it
once a day for 7 days. If it comes back do it again for 14 days.
Don't combine with other treatments. You can learn more here:
Zymox Otic With 1.0% Hydrocortisone 1.25 Oz Bottle
Cat ear health is important and
you should keep an eye on any scratching or head shaking by your
cat. It's a sure sign something is going on and requires some
attention. Most cat ear health problems can easily be treated and
don't require a visit to the Vet.
Related Articles:
Our Website Resident Cats
The content on this site is
presented only for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a practicing veterinarian.
The
contents on this site are not presented from a licensed
veterinarian, and any and all health care for your pet
should be
made under the guidance of your own veterinarian.
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