“Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you.” Or maybe your cats won’t come when they are called because they can’t hear you. It is probably time to learn how to clean your cat’s ears. Ear cleaning is an important part of your cat’s grooming and overall health care. You can avoid some serious problems by learning how to clean your cat’s ears or by having a vet or professional groomer do it for you.
Let’s begin with a quick cat anatomy review, so you’re familiar with all the parts of a cat’s ear.
It’s safe to assume that your cat is probably not going to look forward to his ear cleaning episode. Following a few simple steps can make the process quicker and easier for both you and your pet. You do not need to clean your cat’s ears constantly, but you should check them every other month and be aware of symptoms that might indicate problems with your cat’s ear health. The most common problem for cats is a parasitic infestation from ear mites. If you notice your cat scratching his ears excessively or shaking his head, this may be a sign of ear mites or another type of ear infection. A trip to the vet will be necessary.
The solution will help loosen any wax so you can remove it more easily. You probably want to have all the doors to the room closed, as the first reaction your cat is going to have once you release him is to take off.
If you have never cleaned your cat’s ears, you should be observant of symptoms that may indicate an ear mite infestation or other infection. Some things to look for include redness, discharge, small black spots that resemble coffee grounds, odor, scratching or head shaking. Normal ear wax will be light brown. Any kind of liquid discharge from your cat’s ears is serious and you should contact your vet immediately.
If you have an indoor cat and it is your only pet, it will be less likely to catch a contagious infestation such as ear mites. It’s still a good idea to gently clean your cat’s ears from time to time and be aware of the signs that could indicate a problem.
Catster HQ | Dec 3rd 2009