How to Clean Cat Ears

If you do not see any medical issues and just a pair of dirty cat ears, then you can begin cleaning! Begin by assembling any tools and products you may need. This can include treats, tissues, and cotton wool. To make ear cleaning easier, you’ll also need your best friend - a natural ear cleaner specifically for pets! Then you can begin:

Make sure your cat is feeling calm and relaxed and if they particularly do not like their ears being cleaned, you may need someone else to carefully hold them.
If there is anything on the outside of their ear, use warm water and a cotton ball to gently wipe it away off their fur.
For the inside, place a few drops (or as instructed by the product) of ear cleaner directly into their ear. Gently massage the base of their ear to dislodge any wax or dirt.
Remove any dirt with some cotton wool and let them shake their head if needed to get rid of anything you can’t safely reach.
Using a tissue, gently wipe the outside and inside of their ear to remove any leftover wax, dirt or solution.
Don’t forget to finish cleaning by rewarding them with praise, strokes and yummy treats!

Why use a pet ear cleaner?

Cat ear cleaners are your saviour when it comes to safely washing out cat ears! Many people think they don’t need to bother and that simple water will be okay - they’re wrong! Water sits in the ear and makes the perfect condition for yeast to grow which will then lead to a nasty cat ear infection. Proper ear cleaners are carefully formulated to cleanse out any dirt and wax in your cat’s ears but then quickly dry, leaving them clean and healthy. So how do you know which one to choose? When choosing your ear cleaner there are a few things to look out for.

The most important thing when choosing an ear cleaner is to make sure you look at the ingredients! Chemical-ridden cleansers may quickly dry but can cause irritation and hurt your poor furry friend. Instead, opt for a natural cat ear cleaner that uses a careful combination of botanical ingredients that are non-irritating and non-toxic. Some great natural ingredients you want to find include ones that will protect against bacteria and that are anti-fungal such as tea tree oil and witch hazel, those that protect their natural immunity such as echinacea and those that can be gentle and soothing such as aloe vera. In addition to looking for natural ingredients, you should also make sure that it is specifically for pets. There are plenty of human ear drops available on the market, but these will have different formulations and applications, so it is best to choose one that is specifically for animals.

Can I clean my kitten’s ears?

Yes! Kitten’s ears can be smaller and more delicate, but can still get dirty! They do, however, require some more time and attention due to the intricacies compared to adult cat ears. When dealing with a kitten, make sure to only use a gentle ear cleaner and that you take your time so as not to scare them or cause any harm. An adult cat may also be used to ear cleaning, so it can take more patience when it comes to kittens. If you can master this part of grooming at a young age though, it can make it far easier to clean their ears throughout their lives as they will feel more relaxed and know what to do.

How often should I clean my cat’s ears?

Just like the rest of your regular grooming routine, you should be checking your cat’s ears for any issues or abnormalities on a regular basis. This should usually be on a weekly basis and simply involves having a quick look on the outside and inside of their ears. When you should actually clean your cat’s ears though really depends on your cat and their needs. Most of the time cat ears can clean themselves, but you can always assist every so often to help prevent any potential cat ear problems from occurring. If you notice any sort of issue, especially a cat ear infection, after consulting with a vet, this will usually require daily cleaning to help get rid of the issue or infection.

Cat ear cleaning tips

When it comes to cleaning dirty cat ears, it really just takes practice and regular use to get the technique and method right for you. Here are a few handy tips that can help, and can be especially useful if you are a first-timer or still trying to figure out the best ear cleaning technique:

Blanket method

If your cat tends to squirm and wriggle around when cleaning their ears, try wrapping a blanket around them. This can not only help them to keep still but can also help them to feel safe and secure. Just make sure that it isn’t too tight and that it doesn’t hurt them!

Get some help

If you don’t want to use a blanket, it can be useful having a second person to hold your cat still so that you can focus on getting their ears cleaned and not causing any harm or damage from multitasking.

Never use a cotton bud

When cleaning out the inside of their ears (only the outer ear flap) as this can push dirt down even further and cause unseen damage to their delicate ear canal.

Have treats!

Make sure to have plenty of treats on hand at all times when cleaning. For some cats they may need a bit more encouragement to keep still so giving them treats as you go along can be great motivation.

Patience is purrfect

Finally, have patience! Cat’s don’t understand that you are just trying to help so don’t be mad if they try to get away or won’t keep still. Try using soothing words, giving treats and being as gentle as possible to make it as easy as you can for both you and your feline friend!