Ear diseases in cats: why does a cat shake its head and press its ear?

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Certainly, every cat owner has encountered ear problems with their pet. If the animal tilts or lowers its head, scratches, becomes irritable, shows unusual activity (roams around the house, meows, walks in circles), has discharge, and an unpleasant odor from the ears, it is strongly recommended to familiarize yourself with the information provided below.

All these symptoms are warning signs of ear diseases. Ear diseases can be classified as:

Affecting the external ear canal,
Affecting the middle ear canal,
And perhaps the most dangerous situation – affecting the inner ear.

Otitis – the most common ear disease in cats.

Otitis is the inflammation of the external, middle, and/or inner ear. It is most common in small kittens. Symptoms include severe pain, swelling, redness, and sometimes discharge from the ears. The animal may frequently tilt its head to one side.

The causes of otitis can be various:

Water entering the ear canal (e.g., from frequent bathing),
Infestation of ear mites, demodex, and others,
Allergic reactions (to food, household chemicals, etc.),
Foreign bodies entering the ear,
Excessive earwax production,
Exposure to drafts,
Frostbite, injury, and other ear traumas,
Tumors in aging cats, etc.

Treatment.

If your cat has otitis, antibiotics will likely be required, either in the form of drops or ointment. Additionally, the ear needs to be gently cleaned once a day for one to two weeks, following the veterinarian’s instructions.

Otodectosis and Notoedrosis: Mite Infestations.

Otodectosis is caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis from the family Prosoptidae. It is often found in young cats. Be cautious, as contact with an infected pet can also transmit the mite to other animals living in your home! The mite affects the area of the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane, which can lead to the development of otitis and dermatitis.

Symptoms: The incubation period lasts from 7 to 10 days. The disease is initially accompanied by intense itching in the ears, skin lesions on the ear pinna. The cat frantically shakes its head, attempts to scratch its ears, runs around the house, and meows. Dark-brown (black), foul-smelling exudate accumulates in the ears, which forms crusts when it dries. Intense scratching of the ears with the paws may result in hematomas.

Causes: Infection from diseased animals (cats, dogs, as well as rodents and insects).

Otodectosis is a dangerous disease. If a cat scratches its ears until they bleed, an infection may occur, leading to purulent otitis. Inflammation and perforation of the tympanic membrane can spread the disease to the middle and inner ear, and eventually reach the membranes of the brain. In the most severe and complicated cases, purulent meningitis can develop, which can be fatal for the pet.

If your cat is unwell and shows the first symptoms, it should be taken to the veterinarian immediately. The vet will examine the animal and perform an otoscopic examination. The most crucial thing is not to remove the crusts before the visit to the vet since they are clear evidence of otodectosis. The vet will clean the pet’s ears and prescribe treatment based on the severity of the disease. You will need to clean the cat’s auditory apparatus and apply locally acting insecticides (e.g., selamectin) in the form of ointment or drops.

Notoedrosis (sarcoptic mange).

Symptoms: severe irritation and ear itching. Caused by mites of the genus Nothoedres. To diagnose notoedrosis, it is necessary to take a scraping from the affected skin area. The mite is quite easily treatable, and the veterinarian will definitely advise on how to heal the affected animal in the shortest possible time.

Senior Cats and New Growths.

When a furry pet reaches a mature age, the risk of developing tumors increases.

Polyps – can affect both the ear canal and the middle ear of the cat. They represent the overgrowth of the mucous membrane. Essentially, they are benign pathological formations. The exact cause of their occurrence remains unknown, but contributing factors may include: feline herpes virus, calicivirus, embryonic developmental disorders, congenital abnormalities, trauma, or inflammation of the middle ear (eustachian tube). The danger of polyps lies in their ability to grow into the middle ear, rupture the eardrum, and enter the external ear canal. One of the cat breeds most predisposed to the formation of such growths is Maine Coon.

Symptoms:

The cat frequently shakes its head as if something bothers it;
Impaired coordination and inability to move in a straight line;
Pain when touching the ears;
Itching in the ears, attempts or requests to scratch them;
Discharge from the ears. In advanced cases, the discharge can be profuse and contain blood;
Half-closed eyes;
Hearing impairment.

Prevention and Treatment: Regular general check-ups by a veterinarian are necessary, and if needed, otoscopy is performed to carefully examine the area of the middle ear for the presence of polyps. If they are detected, a sample may be taken for cytological examination, and X-rays / CT scans / MRI may be performed. After that, the new growth is removed with a minimally invasive, gentle method. Care for the cat after the procedure will involve rinsing with a saline solution and using antibacterial agents to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Tumors (neoplasms).

Unfortunately, in some cases, cats are diagnosed with other tumors of the ear canal and, much less frequently, the middle ear. The reasons for their appearance also remain unknown. Such ailments most often affect elderly pets. In the skin of the ear canal, both benign (less often) and malignant neoplasms (more often) can occur. While diseases affecting the ear canal can be detected relatively easily, the middle ear needs to be examined with X-rays or undergo a CT/MRI scan. The examination is conducted with sedation. During the diagnostic process, samples are taken from the middle ear (histological or cytological examination). There are cases when the removal of the tumor through surgery is required, thus saving the life of the furry pet.

And a bit more…

Wounds and Injuries. Cats can injure their ears, especially those with unrestricted outdoor access. A cat may get involved in a fight, receiving a wound from another animal’s claws or bite.

Danger #1 is the risk of infection, leading to increased body temperature and the formation of an abscess, requiring a visit to the veterinarian.
Danger #2: the outer ear may be completely torn.

Malassezia or infection of the external auditory canal with yeast-like fungus. Symptoms include redness, pain, bumps in the ear, and a foul smell of decay. The fungus is not contagious to other animals or humans. Treatment involves using ointments (applying to affected ear areas) and taking oral antifungal drugs (capsules).

Ear Eczema. It occurs when the inner ear canal is affected. Causes may include the presence of foreign bodies, ticks, chemicals, scratching, inflammation, or eczema spreading from other parts of the body to the ear. Symptoms include swelling of the skin, itching, redness, and discharges with an unpleasant odor. The cat shakes its head, tries to scratch, and tilts its head to one side. Treatment involves first wiping the affected areas with a disinfectant solution, then powdering them with talcum powder/zinc oxide, and spraying them with aerosol oxytocin. If the ears become scaly, hexachlorophene, and hydrocortisone with gramicidin are used. Crusts on the ears should only be removed after softening them with vaseline or vegetable oil.

As you can already tell, ear diseases in cats are serious. If your cat is unwell, it’s essential to seek veterinary help immediately; otherwise, the condition could worsen, leading to the animal’s worst-case scenario – death.

How to Prevent the Occurrence and Development of Ear Diseases?

First and foremost, it is essential to maintain proper hygiene. Clean your pet’s ears once a week and after each bathing session. There are special anti-inflammatory lotions with herbal extracts and oils that dissolve earwax. They effectively cleanse the ears from dirt and fight harmful bacteria and fungi. You can simply apply these remedies into your cat’s ears, and they will help remove any excess buildup.

Do not be afraid to clean your pet’s ears with a cotton swab. Of course, you should do it carefully. But even if you insert the cotton swab deep enough into the ear canal, it will reach a bend, and therefore, it won’t damage the eardrum.

Keep in mind that the most important thing is not to overdo the cleaning of the ear canal. A normal, healthy cat produces earwax in small amounts daily. It has a light-yellow color and is designed to protect the ears from dirt. If you persistently remove it, the cat will lose its protective layer and become vulnerable to infections.

Secondly, it is necessary to regularly use anti-parasitic products. This will protect your cat from ticks and flea bites, thus preventing the development of dangerous ear diseases.

Proper care, attention, and love will protect your pet from many illnesses.