In normal times, if cats do not pay attention to cleaning their ear canals, they will encounter various ear diseases, such as ear mites. Cat ear mites will invade the external auditory canal, and cats will feel itchy and scratched. Ears cause a series of diseases, so it is very important for cats to clean their ear canals every day. Cleaning of the ear canals must also be done in a method that cannot be dealt with casually. ​​​​​​

1. Examination of the cat’s ear canal

When a cat frequently scratches its ears and shakes its head, and at the same time there is a peculiar smell (sour smell) in the ear canal, you should be vigilant. At this time, the cat may have ear mites. At this time we need to check the cat.

First, check the cat’s ear canal. If you see multiple red rash-like nodules at this time, it may be that the external auditory canal is red, swollen and inflamed due to irritation caused by ear mite saliva. Secondly, the waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of the external auditory canal accumulates in the cat's ears, and the color and appearance are like ground coffee beans. The color is dark brown. Then observe whether the auricle is widely infected, has obvious scales, and is hyperkeratosis. Examine the ear canal with an otoscope and you will find small, white or flesh-colored cat ear itch mites moving on the brown exudate. At this time, it can be confirmed that the cat has ear mites. If you don't have an otoscope, you can also use a small LED light. If the owner holds the LED light and shines it into the cat's ear canal, you will see crawling insects, which proves that the cat has ear mites. Usually, cats with cat ears have obvious ear pain and tenderness, and refuse to check the ears.

2. Treatment of ear mites

If it is determined that the cat has ear mites, then we will treat the cat. First, use ear cleaning water specially designed for pets to thoroughly clean the ear canal, then drop in the therapeutic ear drops, and rub the outside of the ears a few times to make the medicine even. Distribute in the ear, 2-3 times a day. The key to cleaning the ears is to first pour the ear cleaning water into the ear canal, then use one hand to lift the ear to prevent the ear cleaning water from flowing out, and use the other hand to massage the ear canal to allow the ear cleaning water and earwax to fully act. Then use a rolled cotton swab to clean the ears, which can be repeated several times. Then instill therapeutic ear drops and massage the ears. The instillation method and gestures are the same as those for ear cleaning. Ear mites are a relatively stubborn disease and require continuous medication for many days until they are cured.

3. Cleaning after confirming it is earwax

It is abnormal if there is inflammation or black dirt on the cat’s ears. Generally, the dirt is only on the surface of the ear, and the owner can just remove it himself. But if it is in the ear canal, he or she needs to go to the hospital and ask a veterinarian to remove it. Cleared. Because cats’ ear canals are L-shaped, they must be handled with care when cleaning. If you scrub too hard, you may cause discomfort or even injury to your cat.

Four. Specific cleaning methods

　1. Tool selection

Tools used to clean a cat’s ear canal generally include hemostatic forceps, dry cotton, and ear drops. Many parents will use medical cotton swabs or ordinary cotton swabs to clean their babies’ ear canals. In fact, it is not recommended to use it this way, because the cotton swab head can easily break in the ear canal when the animal struggles, scratching the ear canal or blocking the ear canal. Therefore, it is recommended to use hemostatic forceps and homemade cotton swabs when cleaning.

　2. Steps

Step 1: Clamp half of the cotton with hemostatic forceps

The second step is to rotate and let the cotton wrap the hemostatic forceps

The third step is to put ear drops on the cotton

The fourth step is to turn up the cat’s ears to expose the external auditory canal

Finally, use a cotton swab with ear oil to clean it

Clean the cat’s ear canal from left to right, including the concave and convex areas inside the ear canal. The cat's ear canal is "L" shaped, so there is no need to worry about damaging the eardrum if the hemostat is extended too far. Try to be as gentle as possible to make the cat feel comfortable, which will lay the foundation for each subsequent cleaning and make it more cooperative.

If you can’t get your cat to clean its ear canal quietly on the table, you can use a cat bag to hold it and let family members help hold it, or wrap it directly with a bath towel to reduce its struggle.

　3. Precautions

About 90% of cats will have rejection reactions when cleaning their ears. Therefore, when cleaning the cat’s ears, you must do a good job of soothing it. First of all, before cleaning the cat's ears, you can feed the cat some snacks and stroke the cat's head appropriately to make the cat feel close to its owner.

Kitten’s ear canal is very fragile and requires careful care from the owner to avoid problems. The owner should regularly check the kitten’s ears for odor, inflammation and earwax accumulation. It is important to note that if the kitten does not have much earwax, there is no need to worry too much. Earwax plays a natural protective role in the ear canal. However, if the earwax accumulates again after a week of cleaning, you should see a doctor.