Ear cleaning isn’t always necessary for your feline friends as they’re already pros at keeping their own ears clean. However, if your cat’s ears are prone to ear infections and other ear issues, you need to exert time and effort to clean them. Aside from causing severe pain and discomfort, an ear infection can trigger redness and inflammation around the ear area.
Knowing how to clean your cat’s ears is important because the structure of their ear canal makes it difficult for any debris within the horizontal canal to be expelled naturally. When left in your cat’s ears, the debris can lead to severe itchiness and, eventually, an ear infection.
5 Things You’ll Need In Cleaning Your Cat’s Ears
Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your cat’s ears and making sure they’re free from ear mites is actually easy. As long as you have the tools listed below, you can master the ear cleaning process in no time!
Ear Cleaning Solution
An ear cleaning solution with a formula specially made for cats is one of the most important items you’ll need in getting your cat’s ears cleaned. Never use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar as an ear cleaner as these substances are harmful to your cats. These products can cause irritation, especially if your cat’s ear is already inflamed.
If you’re looking for options, we highly recommend the Nutri-Vet Ear Cleanser for Cats, as it uses a gentle formula to clean and deodorize your cat’s ears and provide relief from itching.
Gauze
You need gauze to clean, wipe, and dry the insides of your cat’s ears. This product is conveniently available in all pharmacies. You can also use a cotton makeup round, cotton ball, or even a tissue. However, using cotton swabs is a big no-no as it can only push debris further into your cat’s ear canal, causing severe damage to their eardrums.
Towel
To ensure that your cat remains calm and comfortable throughout the cleaning process, wrap them in a towel. Aim to create a “purrito” using the towel but remember not to restrain them tightly. A towel is also necessary for drying surfaces after your cat repeatedly shakes the solution out of their ears.
Partner
If your cat isn’t comfortable having their ears cleaned, it might be best to ask for help from a second person. Your partner can hold your cat as you try to clean their ears.
Treats
Regularly offer treats to your cat as you’re cleaning their ears. This will help them have a positive association with ear cleanings, which can help them love the process in the future.
Steps in Cleaning Cat Ears
- Sit in a comfortable position and hold your cat in your lap. If your cat shows restraint as you try to clean their ears, wrap or swaddle them using a towel. This will help your feline friend remain calm throughout the entire process.
- Slowly grasp the tip of your cat’s ear flap (called the pinna) and gently pull back slightly to expose and straighten the ear canal. This allows you to check the insides of your cat’s ears and determine if there are any signs of yeast infections or other types of infection.
- As you’re holding your cat’s ear flap in one hand, hold the ear cleaning solution with your other hand. If you have another person helping you, have them hold your cat as you hold the ear cleaning solution.
- Once your cat looks comfortable, squeeze a few drops of the ear cleaning solution into your cat’s ears. Aim to completely fill your cat’s ear canal with the cleaner. Don’t worry if the cleaner starts to spill out of the canal, that’s totally okay. During this process, avoid putting the tip of the bottle into your cat’s ear. If the tip comes in contact with your cat’s ears, make sure to wipe the tip-off with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to prevent the spread of bacteria, germs, and yeast.
- Continue to hold your cat’s ear flap with one hand and gently massage the base of the ear opening using your other hand. Do this for about 30 seconds. This helps the cleaning solution break up any debris in the ear canal. You should be able to hear a squishing sound as the cleaning solution spreads in the horizontal part of your cat’s ear canal.
- While you’re still holding the ear flap, use a cotton ball or gauze to wipe away debris from the inner part of the ear flap and the upper ear canal.
- Allow your feline friend to shake their head. This allows the remaining ear cleaning solution and debris from their ear canal to move to the opening of the ear.
- Continue to hold your cat’s ear flap and remove the loosened debris and cleaning solution from the opening of their ear canal. You can use cotton balls for this process.
- Gently remove any debris and remaining cleaning solution from the ear canal using a gauze or cotton ball. Don’t attempt to go further into your cat’s ear canal – only clean as far as your finger can reach. Most importantly, never use a q-tip or cotton-tipped applicator as this can only damage your cat’s ear canal and eardrum.
- Once you’ve successfully removed the debris and excess cleaning solution from your cat’s ears, praise them and offer them treats.
- Repeat steps one to ten with the other ear.
- If your cat shows signs of pain and discomfort as you’re cleaning their ears, stop and consult a vet immediately.
- Follow your vet’s orders on how often you should clean your cat’s ears.
FAQs on How to Properly Clean Your Cat’s Ears
It’s common for pet parents to have a lot of questions about how to properly clean a cat’s ears. Aside from following the steps above, it’s also essential to know the answers to some FAQs regarding the process to ensure an enjoyable experience for you and your pet.
Q: Do all cats need to have their ears cleaned?
A: No, not all cats need to have their ears cleaned. In fact, over-cleaning can cause irritation in your cat’s ear canal, increasing their risk of bacterial infections. Most cats have clean ears and never need to have their ears cleaned.
However, experts worldwide recommend that pet parents clean their cat’s ears if they notice foul odors or discharges when examining the ear. Both of these aren’t normal and might be a sign of a more serious health problem.
Consult your nearest veterinarian to determine how often you should clean your cat’s ears. If your cat’s ears are inflamed, red, or painful, reach out to a vet before cleaning. These are common symptoms of a ruptured eardrum or ear infection and require veterinary medicine.
Q: Are there any don’ts when cleaning a cat’s ears?
A: Besides not using rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner, make sure that you only clean what you see. Avoid using a q-tip in an attempt to reach down further into your cat’s ears, as this can only damage their eardrum. Pouring a generous amount of cleaning solution into your cat’s ears is enough to clean their ears, making your life easier as a cat parent.
Q: What should I look for when cleaning my cat’s ears?
A: When cleaning your cat’s ears, lookout for any signs of infections. Some of the most common symptoms of ear infections in felines are excessive ear wax, bad or odd-smelling odor, bald patches or scaly skin, and excessive scratching of the ears. You should also watch out for dark-colored debris around the ears, as this is a sign of more severe health issues.
Q: Is bleeding after cleaning normal?
A: No, seeing blood after cleaning your cat’s ears is not normal. If you notice any blood in or around your cat’s ears, reach out to a veterinarian immediately. Any ear problem requires immediate solutions to ensure that it doesn’t get worse.
Q: Can I use warm water in the ear cleaning process?
A: No, you should never use water in your cat’s ear cleaning process. Putting water in your cat’s ear canal softens the skin, which increases your cat’s risk of getting an infection.
Work With a Vet
As a cat parent, it’s your responsibility to regularly check the ears of your pets to determine if they need any cleaning. Similar to humans, the condition of your cat’s ears is important as it can affect their day-to-day living and overall health.
If you have other questions about the process – how you can properly clean your cat’s ears and what are the do’s and don’ts – reach out to a vet. Never attempt to clean your cat’s ears if you’re not equipped with the necessary tools or skills, as this can only do more harm than good.