Time to read: 8 mins
Cleaning our cat’s ears can be a tricky task. The Registered Vet Nurses from the Scratch & Patch Careline have given us some handy advice on how to take on the challenge!
Make sure you have everything you will need to hand before you begin
- Your cat (obviously!)
- Cat ear cleaner
- Cotton wool
- Plenty of your cat’s favourite treats to reward them with
- A willing volunteer to help hold your cat
- A clean towel
Steps to follow
- Spread the towel out on a table and get your handy helper to hold the cat on the towel. The towel can also be used to gently wrap the cat in to prevent them from escaping or scratching.
- The ear cleaner should be slightly warmed before use. Putting cold liquid into your cat’s ear can be quite distressing for them.
- Gently hold their ear flap back using your thumb and fore finger and squeeze the cleaner into the top of the ear canal.
- Massage the ear canal so you can hear the cleaner squelching a little. The massaging will help break up the material at the bottom of the ear canal and allow it to float up to the top.
- It is normal for the cat to shake its head at this point to try and remove the liquid. Be aware that liquid can come flying out of their ears!
- Use some cotton wool to gently wipe away any excess cleaner or debris from the top of your cat’s ear and follow the same procedure with the other ear.
- Once you are all finished cleaning both ears, offer your cat some of their favourites treats. This will make them more willing to have their ears cleaned again in the future!
Things to be aware of
Don’t use cotton buds as there is a risk of putting them in too far which can cause damage inside the ear.
Never use the same piece of cotton wool in both ears.
If there is any unusual discharge or smell, contact your vet before continuing.
If your cat is unhappy with you trying to clean their ears, then don’t struggle as you may cause harm to your cat. A qualified nurse at your vets will be happy to help clean your cat’s ears for you.
We want our cats to be as healthy as possible and having healthy ears is part of our duty as a responsible pet owner. If an ear infection is kept untreated it could not only cause excruciating pain for your cat, but it could get worse and lead to hearing loss.
If you are ever unsure, or have health concerns regarding your cat or dog, our team of qualified veterinary nurses is on hand 24/7 to help with any questions you may have.
