After the vet does the exam, discuss your cat’s diagnosis. Itchy ears can have a variety of causes, including ear mites, ear infections, and polyps or growths. [1] X Research source In severe cases of ear disease, your veterinarian may suggest sedating your cat so that they can do a thorough exam.
Use a specific cleaner made for cats’ ears. Clean very carefully, as cleaning that is too rough can damage the cat’s eardrums or inner ear. Never stick a cotton swab or any other item into your cat’s ear canal. Don’t clean your cat’s ears before taking it to the vet. The vet may need to get a sample of the discharge to determine the cause of the itching. In some cases, cleaning the cat’s ears will remove the dirt and debris that was causing irritations, and thus will be all that is needed to treat the itching.
Other procedures your cat may have to undergo at the veterinary office include removal of foreign bodies and stitches to close up wounds or trauma. [2] X Research source
Once the drops are in your cat’s ears, you need to be quick about closing up the ear canal and holding onto your cat. If the cat gets away, it will shake its head a lot, which will dislodge the medicine from the ear canal.
In many cases, you will need to put a cone on your cat to prevent it from itching its ears and further injuring itself. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics in addition to medicated drops if your cat’s infection is especially bad or it has traveled beyond the cat’s ears.
A cat that is itching its ears constantly, and damaging the skin around the ears, may have an ear issue that needs veterinary care.
Make sure there is no redness, scabbing, or flaky skin on the inside or the outside of the ear. A cat’s ears are usually covered in fur on the outside but the inside has less fur. You should be able to see a lot of healthy pink skin in the inside of the ear.
Discharge Sensitivity to touch Ear odor Repeated head shaking Rubbing the ears on the floor or other surfaces
Cats are very good at hiding discomfort and pain. Just because you do not notice any behavioral changes or signs of unhappiness, that does not mean that your cat doesn’t need veterinary care.
