How to Clean a Cat’s Ears
📝 Summary
Clean cats groom themselves but not their ears. Without regular cleaning, wax, dust and cells form dark oil, or worse ear mites and yeast.
1 Overview
Clean ears regularly, but too often removes protective oil and lowers resistance to bacteria and dust; once a week is advised. Normally a cat shakes its head to clear wax and moisture.
Avoid alcohol when cleaning; its sting makes the cat resent it. Good products are boric-acid ear drops and ear cream.
Tools:
Use curved hemostats wrapped in cotton; the cat ear canal is deep and L-shaped, so curved hemostats suit. At home use cotton swabs instead.
How to clean:
First be gentle and careful; the inner ear is complex with many crevices. Hold the ear root, wipe the outer canal with a drop-moistened swab. The cat resists at first; wipe while soothing.
Once used to it, go deeper and watch reaction; if strong, stop. After cleaning, add ear oil, lift the ear to see inside, one drop.
Rub the base so oil spreads, then release the head to let it shake. Repeat on the other ear.
If your cat is fierce, wrap it in a towel first.
If ear mites, clean daily with medicine for 4-5 days until no red-brown clumps, then continue to consolidate, since mite eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
Black dirt may mean ear mites or otitis; see a vet. Ear health needs your careful care.
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