Does your cat have recurring, chronic ear issues?  Does your cat have itchy ears? Are your cat’s ears smelly?  Are they goopy?

The key to healthy cat ears is to keep them clean. Ear cleaning is easy to do at home with few supplies.

Keep in mind, a cat's ear is in the shape of a "L" and because of this shape debris love to settle in the corner of this "L". Regular care of the cats ear will ensure that excessive debris is removed before it has the chance to cause bigger ear issues for your cat.

REMINDER

 If at any point in time your cat feels overwhelmed, take a few minutes away from the task at hand.

Cats are very sensitive creatures. Cleaning your cats ears will be much easier for them and you, if you choose a time when your pet is relaxed and at ease. Even if this means taking a break while cleaning the ears.

Cleaning A Cat's Ears

  • Step 1: Check the inside of the cat's ear to see what debris may be present. Many cats that suffer from issues such as ear mites or yeast infections of the ear, will have foul smelling debris present.
  • Step 2: If the ear contains any debris, add 5-10 drops of a gentle ear wash solution into the ear. There are many over-the-counter or solutions available.  But using a homemade ear cleaning solutions works just as well and are great money savers. Always be careful of what you put into your cat’s ear. The ear is a very tender and delicate organ that is sensitive to chemicals and temperature. Do not use anything too cold or too hot in your cat’s ears. Tip: Praise and pet your cat. Let them know what a good kitty they are being for letting you take care of their ears.
  • Step 3: Massage the ear for about 20-30 seconds. This will allow the solution to loosen the debris. REMEMBER: Praise and pet your cat. Let them know what a good kitty they are while letting you take care of their ears.
  • Step 4: Wipe the inside of the ear with a moist towelette. Wipe away as much debris as possible and change the towelette as necessary to ensure best removal of wax and debris. NEVER use Q-tips to remove debris from a cat's ear. Using a Q-tip on such a gentle area of a cat can be very dangerous. Using a Q-tip can push debris further into the ear canal or even worse, damage the ear drum. REMEMBER Once More: Praise and pet your cat. Let them know what a good kitty they are while letting you take care of their ears
  • Step 5: When the ear is clean, pat dry with soft cotton balls. A cat will want to shake their head at this point, allow them to do so but also comfort them.

Wha-la! Your cat now has squeaky clean ears and you just saved yourself a trip to the vet by cleaning your cats ears at home.

Chronic ear issues are a symptom of yeast overgrowth. To resolve this issue, it must be fought from inside your cat by implementing dietary changes.  Stop feeding the yeast; feed your cat instead! Read: “Best Cat Food – how to make a good choice for your cat”

If at any time you have questions, please contact a Pet Nutrition Coach by EMAIL or by PHONE, M-F, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST, 859-428-1000.