Cat Constantly Scratches Ears: The Surprising Truth!
It's not uncommon for cats to scratch their ears frequently, often due to itching in the ear canal or on the outer ear skin, which can be caused by a variety of factors. If you notice your feline friend doing this, it's advisable to first inspect their ears for any signs of redness, odor, or excessive discharge, which might indicate an infection or inflammation.
Understanding Why Cats Scratch Their Ears
Cats may scratch their ears for several reasons, either due to issues within the ear canal or problems with the skin around the ears. Common causes include:
1. Ear Canal Disorders
Ear Mites
Malassezia Infection
Bacterial Otitis Externa or Otitis Media
Earwax or Foreign Body Irritation
Tumors, such as melanomas
2. Periaural Skin Issues
Ringworm
Parasite Infections (e.g., scabies, demodex, fleas, lice, ticks, etc.)
Trauma
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Allergic Reactions
What to Do When Your Cat Frequently Scratches Its Ears
Step 1: Fit an Elizabethan Collar
To prevent your cat from further scratching and potentially causing hair loss, skin damage, or secondary infections, it's wise to put on an Elizabethan collar and trim their nails appropriately.
Step 2: Examine the Ear Canal
Observe the ear canal secretions and the skin of the ear flaps to make an initial assessment of the cause. For instance:
A large amount of brown or black waxy earwax → Possible ear mite infection
Oily brown discharge with a strong, sour smell → Symptoms of Malassezia infection
Redness, odor, and watery or puslike discharge, which may be brown, yellow, or green → Indicative of bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or Proteus
If any of these symptoms are present, targeted treatments can be administered. Common medications include:
Ear Mites: Erlich's Pet Ear Solution + Hynergin (Miconazole Nitrate Ointment) + Dropit (Pyriproxyfen Moxidectin Solution)
Malassezia Infection: Erlich's Pet Ear Solution + CombiKet (Ketoconazole Ointment) + Itraconazole
Bacterial Infection: Erlich's Pet Ear Solution + Erlich's DropK (Fluoroquinolone Nitrofurantoin Ear Drops) + Esomar (Cefalexin Tablets)
Step 3: Inspect the Ear Skin
If the ears appear clean, check for parasites or skin diseases around the ear area. Then, administer targeted treatments.
Flukes, lice, and ticks are parasites that can be seen with the naked eye. If you notice signs of these parasites around your cat's ears, use Pyriproxyfen Moxidectin Solution or Adaptil (Fipronil Solution) for deworming.
If no parasites are found, the issue might be due to mite infestation, allergies, bacterial, or fungal infections. We can use a Wood's lamp to check for ringworm.
If ringworm is confirmed, follow these steps for treatment:
1. Trim the fur around the affected area to expose the condition fully.
2. Disinfect the area with iodine and remove scales, fur, and crusts.
3. Apply Dasatin (Ketoconazole Ointment) or Pipette (Tebuconazole Hydrochloride Spray) twice to three times a day.
If ringworm is not the case, it's best to take your cat to a veterinarian for a skin scraping test to determine the specific type of skin disease and then proceed with targeted medication.