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One of the most often overlooked aspects of cat wellness is ear health. Many cat owners may not know that ear health is an important facet of their feline's overall well-being and keeping a cat's ears clean and healthy can help prevent infections, hearing loss, and other health issues.
For this reason, regular cleaning of your cat's ears is essential. NEVER insert anything into the ear canal, including Q-tips. Doing so could cause debris to be pushed further into the ear canal and lead to injury up to and including permanent hearing loss.
Use a cotton ball or a soft cloth dampened with warm water to gently wipe away any dirt or debris from the outer ear. If your cat's ears are particularly dirty, you can use a cat-specific ear cleaner, which can be found at most pet stores. Pet parents can also make a homemade ear cleaner with a mix of 50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar, which not only cleans the ear but also combats yeast and bacteria.
In addition to cleaning, monitoring for signs of infection is important to your cat's overall health. Some common symptoms of ear infections in cats include scratching or rubbing at the ears, shaking the head, redness or swelling around the ear, a foul odor emanating from the ear, and discharge or crusty buildup inside the ear. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to schedule an appointment with your cat’s health care provider as soon as possible. Ear infections can be painful for your cat, and if left untreated can lead to more serious health issues, like Horner’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder affecting the nerves in the eyes and face.
Food and environmental allergies can also cause ear issues, including itching, discharge and inflammation. If you notice your cat is getting frequent ear infections or ear health issues even though you’re keeping their ears clean, speak to your cat’s veterinarian about the possibility of allergies.
When considering your cat’s overall health and wellness, don’t forget to include their ear health. Keeping your cat’s ears clean and healthy can help keep them comfortable and lower the risk of serious inner ear related injuries or infections.
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