Ear infections in cats are also referred as Otitis in general and further differentiated specifically as Otitis externa- infection involving the ear canal or outer ear and Otitis media- infection in the middle ear on the basis of the condition. The inflammation of the inner ear is called Otitis interna.
The most common cause of ear infection in a cat is due to the presence of a foreign body in her ears such as ear mite or bristle from the grass. At the same time, other possible reasons for ear infection in cats include :-
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Allergy
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Wax build up in the ear
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Overgrowth of yeast or bacteria
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Injury
An infection in ear causes pain and may lead to hearing loss. A cat struggling with inflammation in the ear may show following symptoms
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Head shaking
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Scratching the ear
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Redness of the ear canal
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Bad Odor
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Tilting of the head in the direction of the affected ear( a sign of the presence of the foreign body in the ear)
As a cat parent, if you come across any of these symptoms in your cat, consult your vet and follow the course of action as proposed by him. The vet will first diagnose the current state of your cat’s ear through X-rays followed by treatment depending upon on the result of the diagnosis. In general, the vet uses antibiotics, antifungal to treat ear infections caused by ear mites or bacteria.
Timely vet treatment is important here as these ear conditions are time sensitive and if not treated on time, the cat may lose his hearing ability partially or completely.
How To Prevent Ear Infections In Your Cat?
The easiest and the best way to prevent Otitis or ear infection in cats is by ensuring regular cleaning of the cat’s ear. If you do not know how to remove the wax or debris from your cat’s ear, then take the help of your vet. He will guide you in performing this process but never try on your own if you do not know the correct procedure.
However, general cleaning of a cat’s ear is performed with the help of an ear cleaning solution such as Malacetic Otic Ear and cotton ball. To start this activity, just add few drops of Malacetic Otic Ear solution in the kitty’s ear. Wait for few minutes. Now gently rub at the ear base, making wax and debris come out in the upper part of the ear. Use a cotton ball to remove the debris and wax. On completion of this process, gift the cat her favorite treat to create a positive impression in her mind regarding this whole process.
As a rule, never let your cat exposed to other infected cats and groom her regularly. This will protect her from future ear infections.