Ear infections are a common ailment of cats, and many different things can cause them. Your cat’s ear canal might become inflamed due to an infection with bacteria such as Staphylococcus, which is commonly found on the skin, or it could be because of allergies. Ear mites can also cause your cat’s ears to feel uncomfortable and irritated. With all the different causes of ear infections in cats, there are also many ways to treat them. This article will give you some different methods to treat an ear infection in your cat.
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Keep It Clean With Saline Solution
This is one of the basic things you can do to help treat an ear infection in your cat. If your cat’s ears are infected with bacteria, keeping them clean will cut down on or eliminate the bacteria causing the problem. The best way to keep them clean is by flushing out their ears with a sterile saline solution once a day. You will want to fill a plastic syringe with the saline solution and squirt it into your cat’s ears until the ear canal is full. You can gently clean the excess fluid out of their ears with a cotton ball or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.
Treat It With Antibiotics
If your cat’s ears are infected with bacteria, you should treat that with antibiotics. You can get a prescription for specific antibiotics from your vet, but buying an over-the-counter one from the pet store is much easier and can be just as effective. Squirt a few drops into the ear once a day until all signs of infection are gone. Continue this treatment for at least a week after you notice the infection clearing up to ensure that the bacteria is gone completely.
Treat It With Antifungals
If the infection in your cat’s ears is due to a fungus and not bacteria, then you will want to use antifungals. The best way to treat this fungal ear infection is by using a topical solution such as miconazole or clotrimazole, which you can buy over-the-counter at your local pet store. Apply the solution to your cat’s ear twice a day for at least ten days, and if it doesn’t improve, you will want to take your cat to the vet.
Treat It With Antihistamines
If your cat’s ear infection is due to allergies, you can treat it with antihistamines. Make sure that when you are treating your cat with antihistamines, you are using them for the right kind of ear infection. For an ear infection in cats due to allergies, you can use a product that contains chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine. These products will relieve the symptoms caused by the inflammation in their ears. Use these products twice a day until your cat’s ears are back to normal.
Treat It With Warm Compresses
If you notice that your cat’s ear is bothering them even when there is no clear infection present, then you can use a warm compress to help soothe their pain and discomfort. Dip a cloth in water that is slightly warmer than room temperature and place it over your cat’s ear for five minutes at a time. If you notice that they still aren’t feeling better after several days, you will want to take them to see the vet because there may be something else wrong with their ears.
Treat It With Hydrocortisone Cream
Hydrocortisone cream is a standard over-the-counter treatment for many types of skin conditions, and you can use it to treat your cat’s ear infection as well. If your cat has an ear infection that is irritated and red, then you can apply a small amount of hydrocortisone cream to their ear twice a day until their ears are back to normal. It is important to note that you should not use hydrocortisone cream if your cat has an ear infection caused by allergies because it may make the problem worse.
Treat It With Natural Remedies
There are many natural remedies that you can use to treat your cat’s ear infection. The best way to treat an ear infection in cats caused by an allergy is by using a mixture of half of a cup of warm water, one tablespoon apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons hydrogen peroxide, and one teaspoon boric acid. After mixing the ingredients, put them in your cat’s ears using a medicine dropper twice a day until the infection clears up.
Take Them To The Vet
If all else fails, then you should take your cat to the vet. Sometimes it can be challenging to determine what is causing your cat’s ear infections and how best to treat them. Your vet will be able to figure out if there is an underlying medical condition that needs treatment or if their ears are too irritated by the infection for over-the-counter medications to be effective. You should always take your pet’s ears seriously because ear infections can be excruciating and often only get worse if you don’t treat them in time.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to treat an ear infection in your cat. If your kitty’s ears are red and irritated, they may have an ear infection that needs medical attention. A few of the most common symptoms of a cat ear infection include constant head shaking or scratching at their ears, swelling in one or both of their ears, or a foul smell coming from one or both of your cat’s ears. If you notice any of these symptoms in your kitty, take them to the vet right away so that they can be properly diagnosed and treated for this painful condition.
