7 Cat Ear Infection Symptoms to Look Out For

Cats have an incredibly acute sense of hearing. Like an anatomical satellite dish turning to pick up a signal, the feline outer ear, or pinna, rotates 180 degrees to locate and identify the faintest of sounds. They also rely on their vestibular apparatus, a sense organ located deep within the inner ear, for their remarkable sense of balance.

A feline’s ears are an essential asset, but they are also extremely delicate. Just like our ears, our furry friends’ can become infected. If left untreated, ear infections can progress to swelling of the cat’s ear canal, skin infections, deafness, or even facial paralysis.

So, how do you know if your cat has an ear infection? In this short guide, we’ll cover 7 cat ear infection symptoms to look out for.

If you notice your cat is scratching or pawing at their ears more often than normal throughout the day, it may be a sign of an ear infection.

Ear infections in cats can develop in the skin lining of your cat’s ears, causing pain, discomfort, and irritation. Ear infections may also cause excess wax build-up. This build-up provides a place for bacteria and yeast to grow, which can become quite itchy for your furry friend.

However, oftentimes an ear infection in cats is a secondary condition to a larger health problem. In some cases, excessive scratching may be a result of ear mites—the culprit behind more than half of all cat ear infections. These mites can also cause:

• Scratching
• Black discharge
• Head shaking

Beyond ear scratching, your cat may also start rubbing their ears with their back feet or against the floor or furniture. Since cats don’t have the same digit dexterity as humans, they often rely on rubbing to scratch persistent itches. While it’s cute every now and then, cat parents should take note of frequent rubbing, pawing, and scratching at the ears, as it could be a sign of an ear infection that’s causing irritation and itchiness.

Your cat may also resort to rubbing if their ear infection is due to foreign bodies becoming stuck in their ear canal. These foreign bodies can be anything from pollen to wax build-up.

However, ear rubbing isn’t always a symptom of feline ear infections. In fact, allergic reactions are quite common in cats and can also lead to ear irritation and itchiness. Common cat allergens include:

• Pollen
• Dust
• Mold
• Grass
• Insect bites
• Food
• Medication

If you believe your cat is experiencing an allergic reaction, consult your veterinarian. They’ll be able to assess the condition, rule out an ear infection, and prescribe the appropriate ear and allergy medication.

Ear infections often lead to inflammation—a localized and painful condition that you may be able to identify at home. If the inside of your cat’s ears is inflamed, you’ll notice:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Heat emanating from the ears

The most common cause of feline ear inflammation is otitis externa, a type of ear infection that affects the external ear canal. When the cells that line the canal become inflamed, it can extend to your cat’s ear flap, causing pain, itchiness, and visible redness.

When your cat’s ears are healthy, they’re pink and clean, with little to no visible wax. But if your cat has inflamed ears as a result of an ear infection, the inflammation can block the ear canal, leading to a build-up of earwax.

This earwax build-up can cause:

• Ear discharge – If earwax can’t move freely, it sometimes adheres to the skin of the ears as it dries. When your cat tries to remove this cakey build-up, they may break the skin and create an open wound. This wound can then weep discharge during the scabbing process ( Cat scabs on ears can also be indicative of miliary dermatitis).
• Black, brown, or red debris – Earwax build-up collects dirt and dust, causing your cat to shed black or brown flakes from their ears. Any residual blood from ear wounds can also leak into the wax, turning it a red or rusty brown color.

To determine if the wax build-up is plaguing your cat, you should inspect their ears on a daily basis. Look for brown earwax that resembles dirt or dried blood inside the ears. Ear mites may also stimulate the wax-producing glands inside the ear to produce black, crusty build-up that resembles coffee grounds.

In addition to a bacterial ear infection, brown or black ear discharge may be an indicator of:

• Allergies
• Systemic inflammation
• Yeast infection (since yeast can thrive in the dark, moist environment that earwax build-up creates)

One way to minimize or avoid these conditions is through regular ear cleaning. Cats may be prolific groomers, but when it comes to their ears, they need help cleaning them. Pet stores actually sell ear cleaner solutions for cats. But before doing so, make sure you get the go signal from your veterinarian first. That’s because they might prescribe a different solution for the infected ear.

That ear debris and discharge isn’t just unsightly—it also stinks. As your cat slinks by you, you may smell an unusual odor coming from their ears if they’re experiencing an ear infection. Numerous ear infection symptoms lead to nasty odors, including:

• Bacteria build up in the ear canal
• Earwax buildup (and the associated debris and discharge) inside and outside the ear
• Fluid buildup that normally drains from healthy ears

The smell may also be caused by a ruptured abscess, which may occur if your cat scratches their ears too rigorously. In this case, you’ll notice pus and other infected fluids within the ear canal, in addition to dark-colored wax.

You’re making dinner and catch your cat in the corner of your eye, looking a little…wobbly. This isn’t the catnip. Rather, it’s often a sign of an internal ear infection.

In this case, inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) can travel down the ear canal to infect the eardrum within the inner ear (otitis interna). The inner ear is important because it contains the vestibular apparatus—one of the two major balance controls in cats. When one of your cat’s ears is infected, inflammation can potentially disrupt the function of the vestibular apparatus, which may lead to a loss of balance, as well as a loss of hearing.

Other signs that indicate your cat is experiencing a loss of balance include:

• If they have trouble getting (or staying) up on all fours
• If they fall over while walking
• If they land oddly after they leap or jump

Because middle and inner ear infections are often more severe than external ear infections, their effects may be irreversible. So, if you suspect your cat has an ear infection, take them to the vet immediately.

If you notice hearing loss along with loss of balance, take your cat to the vet to check if there’s a more severe condition.

Your cat’s veterinarian will first examine your pet’s ear canal with an otoscope—a small, flashlight-like instrument used to explore the depths of the ear. They will also swab the inside of the ear to take a sample, which will be examined with a microscope to determine if bacteria, yeast, or ear mites are present.

Depending on what they find, your vet may prescribe:

• Antibiotics
• Anti-parasitics
• Antifungals
• Corticosteroids
• An ear rinse or flush

These medications may be prescribed in ointment, ear drops, or oral pill form. Your vet may also trim the fur around your cat’s ear to allow the ear canal to stay clean and dry as the infection heals.

As they say, prevention is some of the best medicine. Luckily, when it comes to cat ear infections, there are a few steps you can take to prevent them from plaguing your furry friend.

• Inspect your cat’s ears on a daily basis – The best way to prevent painful ear infections is to routinely check your cat’s ears for signs of infection, including redness, brown debris, and odor. By examining their ears on a regular basis, you have a better understanding of what’s normal and what may be a sign of an infection. Plus, actively inspecting your cat’s ears can help you discover a potential ear infection early and treat it before it gets worse.
• Flush your cat’s ears – Even if your ear inspections seem to meet the healthy cat ear standard, regularly flushing your cat’s ears with a rinse can help prevent debris and wax build-up from causing blockages and inflammation in the ear. Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Ear Rinse is a non-toxic, antibiotic-free cleaning solution that will keep your cat’s ears squeaky clean.
• Clean your cat’s face – Regardless of whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, allowing debris to collect on their face can increase their likelihood of developing an ear infection. This is because face debris can enter the ears, leading to irritation or infection. Vetericyn Plus Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy provides an effective way to clean debris from around your cat’s eyes, mouth, nose, and chin. That means healthier ears and debris-free kitty cuddles.
• Keep up with regular vet visits – By keeping up with regular vet visits, you take advantage of having an extra set of (highly trained) eyes watch over your cat’s health and wellness. Not only will this help ensure your cat’s overall well-being, but it will also increase the likelihood of discovering a potential ear infection early on.

Adding these simple steps to your cat’s wellness routine can reduce their likelihood of contracting an ear infection and improve their day-to-day comfort. 

Sources: 

1. Animal Planet. Cat Ears and Hearing. http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/cat-ears-hearing/
2. Web MD. Ear Infections in Cats: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. https://pets.webmd.com/cats/ear-infections-in-cats-causes-treatment-and-prevention#1
3. PDSA. Ear infections in cats. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/pet-health-hub/conditions/ear-infections-in-cats#contents-link-3
4. Merck Manual Veterinary Manual. Otitis Externa in Cats. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/ear-disorders-of-cats/otitis-externa-in-cats
   
5. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Ear Mites: Tiny Critters that Pose a Major Threat. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/ear-mites-tiny-critters-can-pose-major-threat