Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Seek Help from Your Veterinarian
• Part 2 of 2: Symptoms of Ear Disease

Sometimes cats scratch behind their ears to relieve itching and irritation, but if your pet does this too often and too intensely, the problem is most likely something more serious. If you find an ear infection or injury that was caused by illness or the act of scratching, take your cat to the veterinarian. He will check the ears, diagnose and suggest treatment. With the help of a veterinarian, the cat will very soon get rid of itching and stop itching often.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Seek Help from Your Veterinarian

1. 1 Take the cat to the vet for a checkup. See your veterinarian if your cat scratches his ears frequently, you notice signs of infection, or if the cat has hurt itself because of severe itching.Make an appointment with your veterinarian and bring your cat with you. Talk to your veterinarian about any symptoms you notice, and then they will examine your pet.
   • After the physical examination, discuss the diagnosis with your veterinarian. Itchy ears can be caused by a number of reasons, including ear mites, an ear infection, and the presence of polyps and tumors.
   • If your cat has a serious ear condition, the cat may need to be sedated to get a thorough check-up.
2. 2 Ask your veterinarian clean the cat's ears. Your veterinarian may suggest you get your cat's ears cleaned at the clinic, or advise you to do it at home. If your vet tells you to clean your cat's ears at home, he will tell you in detail how to do it, and will also provide the cleaning solution itself or the name of a good product.
   • Use a cleaning solution made specifically for cleaning cat ears. Clean very carefully - rough handling can damage your cat's membranes or inner ear. Never insert a cotton swab or other object into your cat's ear canal.
   • Don't clean your cat's ears before going to the vet. Your veterinarian may need a sample of the discharge to determine the cause of the itching.
   • Sometimes, cleaning and removing dirt and debris from your ears is enough to fix the itching problem. In this case, you don't have to do anything else.
3. 3 Trust your veterinarian to carry out all the necessary procedures. If your veterinarian finds polyps or other tumors in your cat's ear, they will most likely suggest removing them. This type of surgery is performed under anesthesia and the animal needs preoperative and postoperative care.
   • Other procedures your pet may need to go through include removing the foreign body and stitches so that the wound can be closed.
4. 4 Bury your cat's ears. If your veterinarian advised you to instill medical drops in her ears to treat a cat, then this should be done with extreme caution. Place the cat on your lap and gently unscrew one ear with your hand. Then, with the other hand, quickly put the required amount of drops into the cat's ear. Then fold the ear back and hold the cat.
   • When the drops are in the cat's ear, quickly close the ear canal and hold the animal moderately. If the cat decides to break free, it will begin to shake its head violently, which will cause the medicine to pour out of the ear canal.
5. 5 Follow other directions for treatment. In addition to the drops, the veterinarian may also prescribe other medications and recommendations for caring for the cat. Follow these guidelines to help your pet get well as soon as possible.
   • In many cases, the cat will need to wear an Elizabethan collar so that it can no longer scratch its ears and hurt itself further.
   • If the infection is very bad or has spread beyond the ears, the veterinarian will probably prescribe oral antibiotics in addition to drops.

Part 2 of 2: Symptoms of Ear Disease

1. 1 Beware of excessive scratching. Cats usually scratch behind their ears to relieve mild itching or irritation. They can also rub their ears to clean them. To do this, they lick their paws, and then rub their ears with them. However, there are differences between habitual and excessive scratching. If you notice that your cat is scratching its ears all the time, examine them for possible problems.
   • If the cat constantly scratches and scratches the skin around the ears, then it may have an ear condition that needs a veterinary checkup.
2. 2 Examine your cat's ears if you notice that it scratches its ears frequently. Place the cat on your lap or sit on the floor. Pat and soothe him, then take a close look at the outside of his ears. Unscrew the ears gently and look inside.
   • Make sure there is no redness, scabs, or flaky skin inside the ear.
   • Typically, the outside of a cat's ears is covered in hair, but the inside is much less fur. The skin inside the ear should be a healthy pink color.
3. 3 Beware of other ear symptoms. When examining your cat's ears, look for symptoms of the disease.If the cat has an ear infection or other ear disease, then in addition to the act of scratching, other symptoms may appear, including:
   • the presence of discharge;
   • increased sensitivity to touch;
   • unpleasant odor from the ears;
   • constant head banging;
   • Fidgeting ears on the floor or other surfaces.
4. 4 Decide what kind of grooming your cat needs. If your cat has a small amount of earwax or dirt in his ears, but is generally healthy, then he just needs to clean his ears. After the cat's ears are clean again, watch carefully for the itching. If the cat injured itself when itching, or you find signs of ear disease, then take the cat to the veterinarian for a checkup.
   • Cats hide discomfort and pain very well. If you haven't noticed changes in her behavior or signs of discontent, this does not mean that the cat does not need the help of a veterinarian.