I Think My Cat Has an Ear Infection – What Should I Do?

Cats can be notoriously bad at communicating with their pet parents when they do not feel good. Many people who own a cat only know that something is wrong when their cat is quite sick. Some cats will even hide from their human family members when they do not feel good, which can make it really hard to attend to illnesses early before they are serious.

Cat ear infections can be caused by various different issues, and you might want to be aware of the common culprits for this kind of ailment so you can recognize the symptoms right off. This is more common in outdoor cats than indoor cats, but all cats can get ear infections.

Signs of Cat Ear Infections

Cat ear infections are often more obvious than some other cat ailments. Cats often hate having uncomfortable ears, so the symptoms are much more noticeable than with some other conditions. Make sure that you consider this a possibility at all times when you are caring for an outdoor cat since they are exposed to so many more microorganisms and other potential irritants on a daily basis than compared to an indoor-only cat.

Head-Shaking

This is one of the most common symptoms of cat ear infections. Ear infections can cause pain and itchiness in the ears, and your cat might shake their head to try and alleviate this discomfort. This is often an early warning sign of an ear infection before the other more serious symptoms start to show up.

Scratching at the Ears

Cats that have ear infections commonly scratch at their ears, and they might even cause wounds or tears in the skin around their ears because they are scratching so aggressively. This is something that you want to avoid because this kind of symptom can lead to abscesses and other kinds of skin infections.

Discharge from the Ears

Brown, foul-smelling discharge is a common symptom of ear infections in cats, and this can also be a sign that your cat has ear mites. This is one of the more visible symptoms that can indicate that your cat has a more serious ear infection that needs immediate treatment.

Loss of Balance

Cats that have advanced ear infections might lose their balance, stumble, or fall off of things. The inner ear is what tells your cat where it is at in space and guides your cat’s balance. When the inner ear is impacted by these kinds of infections, your cat can experience all kinds of issues with balance.

Lack of Appetite and Lethargy

If your cat has been sick with an ear infection for a while, they might be acting sleepy or lethargic, and might not be eating much anymore. Cats that have advanced infections might also be dehydrated, which can be very dangerous for their kidneys and liver function. Make sure that you do not ignore these symptoms of advanced infections so that your cat does not suffer from secondary health concerns that could have been avoided with a visit to the veterinarian.

What Should I Do if I Think My Cat Has an Ear Infection?

The first thing that you need to do when you think your cat has an ear infection is to take them to the vet. Your vet will be able to offer you antibiotics, and at-home treatments like ear drops to clear up your cat’s ear infection and to handle additional problems like ear mites. Ear mites are one of the most common issues that outdoor cats deal with, and these little pests can easily cause an ear infection.

Your vet will also clean out the ears and make sure that any wounds that your cat has inflicted on themselves are dealt with during the appointment. Serious skin lesions or abscesses will need to be treated as well as the ear infection itself.

Ignoring a potential ear infection is never a good idea as these infections do not resolve on their own. You will need to be sure that your cat gets to the vet so that the ear infection can be treated and resolved. You might be given antibacterial or antifungal ear drops as well as oral antibiotics for your cat to take at home, and none of these items can be purchased without a prescription from the vet. It is always a good idea to have your cat’s infection looked at to be sure that it is not fungal as well. Treating your cat’s recurring ear infection with old medication that you have at home is never a good idea since there are many potential causes for ear infections in cats.

Cat Ear Infections Are Easily Treated

If you think that your cat has an ear infection, don’t worry! It is very easy to treat most cat ear infections, especially if they are caught early before abscesses, and other kinds of skin damage can occur. You will want to pay attention to early symptoms like head shaking and scratching at the ears so that you can get your cat to the vet before the infection starts to impact their health and their balance.

Your vet will be able to help you to get your cat’s ear infection cleared up and treated right away so that they can get back to being happy and healthy. If you are not sure if your cat has an ear infection, it is still wise to take your pet to the vet to have suspicious behavior looked into. There are other issues that can impact your cat’s balance, or that can cause head shaking and scratching, and you will be wise to rule these conditions out at the same time that you have your cat evaluated for an ear infection. Use the online form to book an appointment with your Boston Veterinary Clinic vet today!