Are you worried about your cat’s ears? Perhaps you’ve noticed that they have been scratching their ears more than usual, or maybe you have observed inflammation, debris, or discharge on their ears. These are all signs of a cat ear infection. In severe cases, your cat may also exhibit balance issues if their inner ear is affected.
If you suspect that your cat has an ear infection, we highly recommend seeking cat ear infection treatment. This guide by Sploot Vets tells you everything you need to know about how to treat cat ear infections and the importance of precise care.
What Happens If A Cat's Ear Infection Is Left Untreated?
If a cat’s ear infection is left untreated, it can lead to complications such as the following:
- Continued discomfort & pain– in the absence of cat ear infection treatment, cats will continue to experience pain and discomfort from their ear infection, which can potentially affect their sleep and overall quality of life.
- Cat Ear Infection Spreading – if outer ear infections in cats are left untreated, it can spread to the middle and inner ear (located behind the eardrum). These sensitive parts are more complicated to treat since topical medications typically do not suffice. Surgery may also be considered if middle or inner ear infections become severe or chronic.
- Hearing loss – Severe or chronic ear infections can lead to partial or total deafness in cats.
- Facial paralysis – Infections affecting the middle or inner ear can lead to facial paralysis in cats because these parts of the ear are close to a facial nerve.
Can a Cat’s Ear Infection Heal On Its Own?
In most cases, cat ear infections do NOT heal on their own. In fact, cat ear infections can worsen if left alone. This is why it’s important to seek prompt cat ear infection treatment.
Can You Treat a Cat Ear Infection Without a Vet?
It is NOT advisable to treat a cat’s ear infection without a vet. This is because veterinarians provide accurate diagnoses, which is the crucial first step to effective treatment. Veterinary guidance helps pet parents avoid the following:
1. Misuse of Antibiotics & Infection Complications
Cat ear infections can be caused by ear mites, bacteria, and fungi (yeast). Though ear mites are the most common culprit, it is also common for cats to develop secondary infections involving bacteria and/or yeast.
A trial-and-error approach to cat ear infection treatment can lead to medication misuse, which can cause the following:
- Delayed treatment for ear mites – if the medication used treats only bacterial or fungal pathogens, ear mites will be unaffected and continue to proliferate, potentially giving rise to secondary infections.
- Resistance in some bacteria – with antibiotic misuse, bacterial infections can develop resistance and become more difficult to treat.
- Faster spreading of yeast or fungi – this is another effect of antibiotic misuse. When the normal flora gets removed inadvertently, the yeast will spread more quickly, potentially reaching the inner parts of the ear faster.
2. Inflammatory Polyps: Mistaken Ear Infection & A Barrier to Treatment
Some cats develop inflammatory polyps in their middle ear. These are common in younger cats. These benign growths have significant effects on cat ear infection treatment, highlighting the importance of consulting a vet to rule out or confirm their presence.
Here are reasons why inflammatory polyps in cats need to be considered alongside cat ear infection treatment:
- Polyps can be mistaken for cat ear infection – Inflammatory polyps and cat ear infections produce overlapping symptoms, such as head shaking, ear scratching, discharge, and pain. Without vet guidance, these similarities can lead to medication misuse if an infection isn’t present.
- Polyps can obstruct cat ear infection treatment – If polyps co-occur with an outer ear infection in cats, the polyp can block the ear canal, preventing topical ear drops from fully reaching the infected areas. Vets can provide alternative solutions if the polyp is hindering cat ear infection treatment.
- Polyps can make cat ear infections recurrent – Polyps cause blockage and irritation in a cat’s ears, creating an environment where ear infections thrive. If cat ear infections are treated without also treating the polyp, the infection is likely to return.
Cat Ear Infection Treatment at a Vet Clinic: What to Expect
Cat ear infections can affect different parts of their ear. Cat ear infections usually affect the outer ear first. If left untreated, this infection would spread to the middle and inner ear.
Depending on which parts of your cat’s ears are infected, there are different approaches to cat ear infection treatment. When infected, the outer ear is typically the easiest to treat, which emphasizes the importance of prompt treatment before the infection spreads.
1. Cat Ear Infection Treatment - Outer Ear
Outer cat ear infection treatment typically starts with an ear lavage. This helps remove excess ear wax and debris so that a veterinarian can examine the ear more thoroughly. Clearing the area also helps increase the effectiveness of topical medications, if needed.
Most outer cat ear infections are treated topically (i.e., with medicated ear drops). However, in some cases, veterinarians may prescribe oral medications, depending on the cause.
- Ear mite infections and fungal (yeast) ear infections are typically treated topically.
- Bacterial ear infections can be addressed with either oral or topical medications.
Note: After the vet consultation and initial cat ear infection treatment, the vet may give you instructions for at-home care, making use of the prescribed topical ear drops or oral antibiotics. The vet may also suggest a date for your cat’s follow-up checkup.
2. Cat Ear Infection Treatment - Middle Ear
The middle ear is a sensitive region just behind the ear drum; infections in this area typically involve inflammation and pain. Therefore, if a vet needs to perform an ear lavage, your cat may need to be sedated.
Middle ear infections in cats are less common and are typically a complication from untreated outer ear infections. For example, if ear mite infections in the outer ear are not treated, the itching can lead to excessive scratching, making the cat prone to secondary bacterial ear infections. In some rare cases, ear mites may also infect the middle ear.
In any case, middle ear infections are usually treated with systemic medications.
- Bacterial or fungal infections, which are more common causes of middle ear infections, are typically treated with oral medications.
- Meanwhile, in the rare instance wherein ear mites infect the middle ear, the cat may be given transdermal antiparasitic medications (e.g., Selamectin) or antiparasitic oral/injectable medications (e.g., ivermectin).
In addition to the above, your veterinarian may also prescribe medications to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with middle ear infections in cats.
Note: After your cat’s check-up and initial cat ear infection treatment, the vet will instruct you on at-home care and provide a date for your cat’s follow-up appointment. Diligent at-home care is highly recommended so that treatment has the best chance to succeed; chronic or unresponsive middle ear infections in cats may require surgery.
3. Cat Ear Infection Treatment - Inner Ear
Inner ear infections affect the most sensitive part of the ear. For this reason, an ear lavage may not be done for these kinds of ear infections. However, treatment is somewhat similar to that of middle ear infections:
- For bacterial or fungal infections, oral antibiotics or antifungal medication are given.
- In very rare cases, ear mites can also spread to the inner ear. In such cases, the infection is treated with systemic medications, administered either orally, via injection, or transdermally.
Inner ear infections in cats may also benefit from anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication. In addition, vets may prescribe anti-emetics to control nausea. This is because inner ear infections can affect a cat’s vestibular system, which is responsible for balance.
Note: After your cat’s check-up and initial cat ear infection treatment, the vet will provide any needed instructions for at-home care, along with a recommended date for your cat’s follow-up vet visit. Diligent at-home care is highly recommended so that treatment has the best chance to succeed; chronic or unresponsive inner ear infections in cats may require surgery.
4. [As Needed] Inflammatory Polyp Removal
As mentioned earlier, middle ear inflammatory polyps, which are fairly common in cats, can have the following effects:
- Hindering topical cat ear infection treatments
- Causing recurrent cat ear infections
- Producing the same symptoms as a cat ear infection.
- Disrupting balance and/or hearing.
Therefore, alongside cat ear infection treatment, veterinarians will also assess if a cat has any middle ear inflammatory polyps and recommend treatment, which can be:
- Surgical removal of the polyp/s — The invasiveness of this procedure depends on where the polyp is located.
- Medication & extra care — If a cat cannot undergo surgery, veterinarians might recommend managing the condition (temporarily or otherwise) with anti-inflammatory medication, thorough cat ear cleaning, and regular vet monitoring.
5. [As Needed] Allergy Management
Aside from inflammatory polyps, another possible root cause of recurrent ear infections in cats is allergies. Feline allergies, whether from food or seasonal causes (e.g., spring allergies, fall allergies), can trigger an excess production of earwax, which also increases the likelihood of cat ear infections. This is why allergy management may be recommended alongside your cat’s ear infection treatment.
Get All-in-One Veterinary Care For Cats at Sploot Vets
Do you have further questions about cat ear infection treatment? Sploot Vets is here for you.
Sploot Veterinary Care offers all-in-one veterinary care for your cat—with primary care, urgent care, and emergency vet services all under one roof. With Fear Free techniques and availability 365 days a year, we provide stress-free vet visits that you and your cat can look forward to!
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