Comprehensive Guide to Thoroughly Clean Cat's Black Ear

When you notice a lot of black debris in your cat's ears, it might be a sign of ear mites or Malassezia infection. Different conditions call for different treatments, so it's crucial to know how to distinguish between them before administering any medication.

Next, we'll guide you through the methods to differentiate between ear mite and Malassezia infections, along with their respective treatment plans, hoping to aid in your cat's swift recovery.

Distinguishing Between Cat Ear Mites and Malassezia Infections:

1. Cat Ear Mites: Ear mites are parasitic infections that lead to ear canal diseases in cats. They cause dry, blackish or reddishbrown secretions in the ears, resembling coffee grounds, which are often flaky or crumbly. Cats may frequently shake their heads or scratch at their ears as a result.

2. Malassezia: This is a type of fungus that produces greasy secretions with a slightly acidic odor. You might notice black speckles on the ear flaps, along with dandruff in severe cases. A Wood's lamp examination might reveal a green fluorescence reaction.

——Treatment for Ear Mites:

1. Clean your cat's ears with a gentle pet ear cleaning solution, such as Erfa (Pet Ear Care Solution). Initially, this should be done daily, then reduced to once or twice a week as symptoms improve.

PS: After applying the solution, gently massage the base of your cat's ear to distribute the medication and soften earwax. Then, release your cat's head, allowing it to shake out the ear cleaning solution. Finally, carefully wipe away any remaining residue with a cotton ball or swab.

2. Apply Xin'er Ning (Bifungal Miconazole Soft Gel) twice daily initially, then once every three days as symptoms subside, for a total of 21 days.

3. Administer deworming medications like Selamectin, Ivermectin, or Di Pai (Pyriproxyfen Moxidectin Drop) to your cat monthly to treat and prevent ear mites.

——Treatment for Malassezia Infections:

1. Clean your cat's ears using the same method as described for ear mites.

2. After cleaning, apply antifungal ear drops such as Miconazole Nitrate Ear Drops or Itraconazole Ear Drops, at least once daily, for 710 days. For more severe cases, you can use a combination of Er Di Ke (Fluorophenicol Metronidazole Ear Drops) and oral Itraconazole for a week, followed by continued use of the ear drops until full recovery.

3. If there is inflammation in the ears (redness, swelling, or discharge), you can also administer Ai Su Da (Cefadroxil Tablets) orally to further control the infection.

Treatment Misconceptions:

Iodine, ear cleaning solutions, boric acid menthol, and other such substances do not have deworming or antifungal properties. If someone claims these have cured your pet's ear mite or Malassezia infection, it's usually an indication that the infection was not ear mites but rather a mild ear inflammation.

Important Notes:

▲ Ear mites and Malassezia are both contagious. In multicat households, isolate the affected cat to prevent crossinfection.

▲ Ensure your cat wears an Elizabethan collar throughout treatment to prevent scratching.

▲ Encourage your cat to bask in sunlight to reduce the proliferation of fungi and mites.

▲ Fungi and mites thrive in damp, dirty environments, so maintain a clean and wellventilated living space. Regularly clean your cat's bed, toys, litter box, and other items, and keep the area dry and clean.