How To Treat A Cat Ear Infection

Introduction

I have a big family—not of kids, but of cats. I care for two of them full-time, and two that belong to my parents live with me when they’re not at my parents’ house. So when one of my resident cats had an outer ear infection, I knew exactly what to do. But if you don’t have this same experience (or even if you do!), it can be tricky to decide on the best course of action for your furry friend’s ear issues. One thing’s for sure: you want to get the situation under control as soon as possible! That means knowing how to recognize an ear infection in a cat, catch it early on, and treat it properly.

Know the symptoms.

• Be on the lookout for signs of an ear infection. If your cat’s ears appear dirty, smelly, or crusty, they may be infected. You should speak with your vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
• Clean your cat’s ears regularly to prevent infections from developing. Keeping your pet’s ears clean and dry will help prevent infections by removing dirt that can lead to bacteria getting trapped in their ear canal (this is especially important if you have a long-haired breed). Some people recommend cleaning their pet’s ears once a week; others do so only when there are concerns about hygiene or health issues like ear mites or an infection developing. Check out our article on how to clean a cat’s ears here!

Talk to your vet.

If you have a cat that has an infected ear, it is important to talk to your vet immediately. They will be able to give you advice on what medicines and treatments are best for your cat. You should also take a picture of the infected ear so that your vet can see what it looks like in case they need more information about it.

If the infection is severe, red, swollen and painful then this could mean there is an underlying problem such as cancer or mites. If this is the case then it’s important that you seek medical attention immediately so that they can diagnose and treat any underlying conditions before they worsen or become fatal.

Clean the infected ear one or two times a day.

There are several ways to clean your cat’s ears. You can use a cotton ball, q-tip, soft cloth, wet paper towel or swab, cotton swab (wet or dry), a clean washcloth and even a baby wipe. It’s important that you use gentle motions and not push too hard as to hurt your cat.

Apply medication as directed by your vet.

The best time to apply medication is after cleaning and drying the ear canal. Make sure your vet’s instructions are followed closely; each cat will have specific dosage recommendations, based on weight and condition. Also make sure to follow any sanitation rules about wearing gloves and washing hands before treating your cat’s ears.

You can tell if the treatment is working by watching for signs of improvement: swelling goes down, redness subsides or clears up completely, discharge stops flowing or becomes less frequent or voluminous (depending on which type of infection you’re treating), odor subsides substantially or disappears entirely with regular cleaning and drying between applications (you may need to use an odor-reducing shampoo if excessive amounts of wax build up).

Continue treatment until infection is gone.

In many cases, antibiotics are used to treat cat ear infections. Your vet will prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment for you to apply to the inside of your cat’s ear. The medication should be given three times a day until the infection has cleared up.

When using ointment or drops, be careful not to put them on too thickly so as not to clog up your cat’s ear canal. If you’re using medicated wipes, follow the instructions on the package and wipe away any excess moisture after applying treatment.

If you notice something off with your cat’s ear, it’s best to talk to a vet right away so you can prevent the situation from escalating.

If you notice something off with your cat’s ear, it’s best to talk to a vet right away so you can prevent the situation from escalating. For example, if your cat is scratching at its ears or shaking its head often, this could be a sign that it has an ear infection. An ear infection may also cause redness and swelling in the ears along with increased waxy discharge—all of which can make it uncomfortable for your cat to move around freely or even sleep comfortably.

If left untreated, an ear infection can lead to pain and inflammation in both the external and inner parts of their ears (causing them even more problems). If you notice these symptoms developing in any way, contact Dr. Vicky for advice on how best to treat them!

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that cats can’t tell you when they’re feeling sick. And, if you don’t know what signs to look for, it may be difficult to notice a problem until it gets worse. If you think your cat might be showing any of the symptoms described in this article, take them to the vet and let us help!