My cat's itchy ears

[xiphias]

Last night, Boopsie started scratching her ears pretty vigorously. So I got a tissue and started wiping her ears for her. This worked pretty well -- I got a bunch of gunk out, and when I hit the right spot, she flopped over and her back leg started kicking. As if she was scratching, but about an inch away from her body. It was disturbingly cute.

But after I was done, she acted like her ear was still itchy, so I got out the bottle of cat earwash, which she HATES, did what I could to warm it up, then pinned her down and squirted it in her ear. She yowled and complained, and, at the end of it, she stood up, glared at me, went to scratch her ear again, realized it didn't itch, and glared at me more. It was pretty clear that she was NOT pleased that I had been right.

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Sounds like ear mites. Is the gunk black (or dark brown)?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Sort of, but She Who Knows Cats said it didn't look ear-mitey.

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

Besides, IIRC, you asked your vet about it, and he confirmed that there weren't any mites present. It's fairly common for cats with a history of ear mites to continue secreting the dark waxy gunk after the infection's cleared up. Allergies also can cause this.

This is not to downplay plumtreeblossom's point. if there's anyone reading this who has a cat with dark waxy buildup in their ears, who hasn't already had it checked out by a vet, please get it looked at. Ear mites can cause permanent damage if not treated. The ear mite stuff you can get at a regular store is fairly harsh, as is the grocery-store version of ear cleaner. You're better off getting something from your vet, or getting your vet's advice on what to buy at a pet store.

Hugs to you guys, and skritches to Boopsie, please!

[aethelflaed2.livejournal.com]

It was pretty clear that she was NOT pleased that I had been right.

You can't be right. You're a human, silly.

[alcinoe.livejournal.com]

Too funny. :)

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor little kitty. So serious, so silly.

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

That cat earwash is powerful stuff. We hadn't used any on our cats for like 3 years, but the one time I got it out after those 3 years had passed, the cats ran and hid. They remembered that bottle with the yellow label with perfect clarity.

[(Anonymous)]

Can you tell me what the ear wash brand is? My kitties are having the
same problem and it's bothering them.
Thanks, Mary

[mkrushing.livejournal.com]

Please tell me what brand of catwash you have.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

For my part, I can't remember -- this was five years ago, now. But it's something we got from the vet.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Very cute. Glad the itchiness is gone.

Gessi

[angelovernh.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you handled it well! But.. if the buuld up continues for awhile, I suggest seeing a vet. I thought Mocha had ear mites, but it turned out to be a yeast infection and required a diff. kind of medication than I'd gotten over the counter for mites. The next day after starting treatment w/ the right stuff her ear was MUCH better. ;)

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

I'd never considered the strength of cat ear muscles until I had to dose a couple of them for ear mites. The kitten was ok (and was responsible for the ear mites), but my grizzled old street thug (sweetest kitty in the world), had the ability to weld his ear flaps to his head, it took serious amounts of prising open to get the goop in there.

Funny, but not much fun.

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

One of our cats wouldn't let us touch her ears long enough for even the first part of that process. I can just imagine how she'd act if we turned out to be right about something like that.