Today I am going to show you how to clean your cat’s ears in 6 steps.
Why is ear cleaning important?
The structure of the cat’s ear canal makes it difficult for material trapped deep inside
to be expelled without an ear cleaning. This material can lead to itchiness and
ear infections if it is not removed.
Most cats are fine without an ear cleaning,
but some cats are prone to wax buildup, ear infections or even ear mites.
As a result, ear cleaning can be an important part of your cat’s hygiene needs.
The first step is to gather the necessary tools you need to keep your cat’s ear clean.
It is highly recommended to use a high quality ear cleaner.
A vet recommended ear cleaner for cats like this one is an ear cleaner
with a non-irritating solution that removes debris, excessive ear wax, and ear mites.
I will link the ear cleaner in the description below.
Note that cleaners with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol can cause irritation
within the ear canal, especially if the canal is inflamed or ulcerated.
Next you need some cotton balls, gauze or pads. I use these pads that have a waffle like pattern
that adds gentle friction to make cleaning easier.
Do not use Q-tips or cotton tip applicators
as this can risk damage to the ear drum or cause trauma to the ear canal.
The use of Q-tips can also push debris further down the ear canal.
And lastly you will also need some treats to reward your cat for cooperating with you.
Arya does not seem excited about having her ears cleaned.
Before we begin, if you enjoyed this video so far
please consider subscribing and hitting that notification bell.
We make videos on helping you become the best cat owner.
So please join us!
Next you want to remove your cat’s weapons.
You don’t want their claws permanently disfiguring you.
If you want to learn how to trim your cat’s nails, I will link the video in the description below.
In the next step we want your cat in a comfortable position.
You can place your cat on a table or in your lap.
If your cat is resistant, wrapping your cat in a towel like a burrito can help calm your cat.
Teemo you look relaxed.
Now we are going to clean the ear canal.
Grasp the tip of the ear flap and pull it back slightly to expose and straighten the ear canal.
Then squeeze some ear cleaning solution into your cat’s ear.
Just enough cleaner to completely fill the ear canal.
You want to make sure not to have the tip of the bottle touch the cat’s ear.
This would prevent the spread of bacteria or yeast.
If the tip of the bottle touches your cat’s ear,
sanitize the bottle by wiping the tip off with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.
Continue to hold the ear flap with one hand and gently massage the base of the ear
with the other hand for about 30 seconds. This would allow the cleaning solution to
break up the debris in the ear canal. Allow your cat to shake his or her head.
This allows the remaining ear solution and debris out of the ear.
Next you want to clean and wipe down the outer part of the ear.
Add a few ear cleaner drops onto the cotton pad.
While still holding the ear flap, use the cotton pad to wipe away debris from the inner part of the
ear flap and the upper ear canal.
Using a new dry cotton pad, remove the remaining cleaning solution and debris from the outer ear canal and ear flap
Again do not use a Q-tip because it may damage your cat’s ear drums
and always use a new cotton pad each time you wipe your cat’s ears
to minimize the spread of bacteria.
Lastly, remember to praise your cat and reward them for their cooperation. That way the cat will associate ear cleanings
with positive feelings and make cleaning your cat’s ear easier in the future.
Repeat the same process with the other ear.
You are now ready to clean your cat’s ears!