When most people get cats, most don’t consider ear cleaning to be much of a necessity. After all, cats are viewed as self-cleaning without the need for their human’s intervention. While ear cleaning usually isn’t an issue, there is the possibility that your feline companion may be prone to wax build-up or, worse, ear infection. Thus, you must know how to do it properly in case it becomes a necessity. This article provides a step-by-step approach to cleaning your cat’s ears calmly and safely.

Why is Ear Cleaning So Essential?

A cat’s ear canal is structured in a way that makes getting anything out challenging without help. This can cause severe itchiness or a trip to the vet due to an ear infection. So yes, cleaning your cat’s ears is essential. You do not have to do it, a vet can help with that!

What Ear Cleaner You Should Use

A cleaner that is of high-quality will work. Avoid the ones with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. These will cause irritation. Others may have antifungal or antibacterial ingredients for infection prevention. To find the right one to use, ask your veterinarian for which one is best. Don’t pull any cleaner off the shelf.

Highly Rated Cat Ear Cleaners

Items Needed to Clean Your Cat’s Ears

To help you feel relieved, you won’t need any special equipment—the right solution, cotton balls, and most of all, some yummy treats. Avoid Q-tips and their generic counterparts. They aren’t suitable for your ears or your pet’s. They’ll cause trauma and damage to the eardrum. Plus, they have a habit of pushing everything into the ear canal instead of removing it. 

Owner tip: If you notice that your cat’s ears are inflamed, painful, or red, get in touch with your veterinarian. Do this before cleaning as your cat may be suffering from an ear infection or an eardrum that has been ruptured. 

Cleaning Your Cat’s Ears: Step-by-Step

 If this is all new to you, don’t stress out. While it’s easy to get nervous and see all these steps, the actual process is quite easy and will be over relatively fast. If it helps, read this guide over and over a few times before starting. That way, your cat won’t get too agitated by the invasion of its personal space.

1. Get into a comfortable sitting position. Have your cat in your lap. It’s best to wrap your feline buddy in a towel to help keep it calm as it may be resistant to the ear cleaning. It’ll save you from some scratches too.
2. Grip the tip of the ear and pull back slightly, exposing the canal. This helps straighten it out and makes it easier to clean.
3. Breathe, you can do this. Now while holding the ear flap with one hand, grab the cleaning solution with the other.
4. Squeeze some solution into your cat’s ear. You will need to fill the canal. If some spills out, don’t worry, as it’ll probably happen. Don’t touch your cat’s ear with the bottle. This can spread germs and bacteria.
5. Hold yor cat’s ear flap with one hand, and massage the base of your cat’s ear with the other. This allows the solution to break up what’s in your kitty’s ear.
6. While still holding the ear flap, use the cotton ball or even some gauze to wipe away at the flap’s inner part and the upper ear canal.
7. By the way, you’re doing fantastic. You are well on your way to cleaning your cat’s ears! Now allow your cat to shake its head. This will expel the remaining solution and debris from the canal to the outer opening of your cat’s ear.
8. Get a grip of the ear flap again, clean up the rest of the debris, and solution using another cotton ball. This is done from the ear canal’s outer opening.
9. Remove anything left from the ear canal. Clean as far as your finger will reach.
10. No cotton-tipped applicators should be used for this process. This includes Q-tips as they can damage your cat’s ear.
11. Now it’s time to give your cat offerings of treats and praise. Some snuggles will work as well.
12. Now it’s time for the other side. At this point, you’re a professional and deserve a treat yourself.
13. If your cat seems to be in pain during the cleaning, stop immediately and call your veterinarian.
14. Repeat this procedure as often as your veterinarian recommends. 

You did it! You managed to clean your cat’s ears without any scratches or your best friend’s resentment. At least, hopefully, you handled that last part. Give your cat some more treats and maybe some playtime to help keep that bond between you both going strong.

Kritter Kommunity Contributor