Otitis in cats

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 26 January 2021
Update Date: 19 May 2024
Anonim
How to treat for Ear Infection of Kittens and Cats
Video: How to treat for Ear Infection of Kittens and Cats

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Do you believe it's possible that your cat has ear infections? Do you have any idea of ​​the symptoms of this disease that also affects felines? And what are the causes, what consequences can it entail and the treatment?

This ear inflammation, quite common in humans, also occurs among felines and we should be on the lookout for signs of this disease in our companions. Mainly because contagion between animals is very simple. If you are interested in knowing everything about otitis in cats, read this article by PeritoAnimal carefully and help your pet to regain its health.

What is Otitis in Cats

Otitis is the inflammation the epithelium lining the ear canal and the pinna. This inflammation often causes pain and temporary hearing loss, among other things. In addition, it is accompanied by many other symptoms that make it more easily identifiable and which we will explain later.


Otitis in cats usually occurs when felines have low defenses for some reason, which can cause an ear infection in cats. It has been proven that the times of the year in which otitis occurs are spring and summer due to the increase in temperature and humidity in the environment. The contagion of some possible responsible for otitis, such as ear mites, occurs by the direct contact with an infested zone or animal.

In shelters, in areas where there are controlled cat colonies and in general in any area where a large number of cats live, this contagion by direct contact very often occurs, because the constant control of everyone and in all aspects of their health it's always very difficult. Otitis can also occur without contagion, that is, from secondary form trauma or ear infection in cats caused by a bacteria or fungal caused by a foreign body, among other causes.


There are different types of ear infections depending on its cause and the ear area it affects. Depending on the affected area, we can classify it into:

  • External otitis: This is the most common otitis, but it is the least serious and the easiest to treat. It affects the external ear, ie the ear canal from the pinna to the eardrum. If this otitis is very severe, the pinna is affected and the eardrum may rupture. In this situation, the inflammation can extend to the middle ear, causing secondary otitis media.
  • otitis media: This otitis usually occurs when an external otitis has been ineffectively treated. It occurs in the middle ear area, where we find the eardrum that got inflamed and even ruptured due to otitis.
  • internal otitis: It is inflammation of the inner ear and usually occurs due to trauma or poorly cured external or otitis media. Due to its depth in the ear, it is the most complex otitis to cure.

Is there a predisposition in any type of cat?

First, we highlight that otitis in cats is generally more common in dogs than in cats. But, in reality, any individual can suffer from otitis and, within domestic felines, we find some that are more predisposed: they are cats that have between one and two years of life.


in addition to long hair, young cats tend to have a lot of hair in their ears. This makes it easier for them to suffer from ear infections since the hairs in the ears retain more dirt and moisture. the cats that stay a lot of time outdoors they are also more at risk of suffering from ear diseases, including feline otitis. This is why it is very important to periodically check your ear canals.

They are also very prone to this ear problem, but in a secondary way, individuals who have the very low defenses by some other main problem.

You may also be interested in this other article about ear mange in cats.

What are the causes of ear infections?

Otitis in cats can be caused by several different factors, such as foreign bodies lodged in the ear canal, bacteria, fungi (yeasts), external parasites such as mites and trauma to this area of ​​the animal's body.

We now detail the main causes for the feline otitis:

  • ectoparasites: The ectoparasites that cause the most frequent otitis in felines are mites, microscopic external parasites. However, when they occur in large numbers in a certain area they become visible to the naked eye. This mite is called otodectes cynotis and it not only lodges in the ear when it infests an animal, it can also be found in the skin of the head and neck.
  • Bacteria and fungi (yeasts): These are opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms that cause secondary otitis. They take advantage of situations such as excess humidity, residual water after a bath that may have been left in the ear, the presence of foreign bodies, trauma, allergies and irritation caused by cleaning products for the ears that are unsuitable for cats. The most common bacteria are Pasteurella multocida, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Proteus and E. coli. In the case of fungi, the most common is Malassezia.
  • foreign bodies: Sometimes, especially in the case of cats that spend a long time outside the house or apartment, we can find in their ear canal some objects such as leaves, branches and crumbs that become a foreign body lodged in our cat's ear. This foreign body in the ear canal will greatly bother the animal that will try to remove it, usually without success, and will eventually end up damaging and inflaming the ear and causing secondary otitis by bacteria or opportunistic fungi. We should avoid extracting the foreign body ourselves, in certain situations, and leave the task to a veterinarian, who will do this with the appropriate material. This case of otitis is less frequent in cats than in dogs.
  • Traumas: Another reason that can cause secondary otitis in our companions' ears is trauma, that is, a blow that caused damage internally and from this inflammation and wounds bacteria and fungi are taken advantage of and cause otitis.

Other diseases and problems that give rise to secondary otitis

Secondary otitis usually occurs due to what we've discussed before, but it can also stem from other illnesses that the feline already suffers from and, thus, can become a symptom of these illnesses. Here are some examples:

  • Hereditary Keratinization Problem: This is a defect in keratinization that occurs in a hereditary way. This problem in the keratinization process causes inflammation and seborrhea and easily gives rise to secondary erythematous and ceruminous otitis. In case of complications, it can lead to secondary purulent otitis. This case of hereditary disease tends to occur more often in Persian cats.
  • Atopy and food allergy: These types of allergies are more common in puppies, but can also occur in domestic felines. They can produce secondary otitis, especially when these allergic processes have previously produced facial dermatoses. In this case, they are usually opportunistic organisms: various types of bacteria, but above all the yeast (fungus) called Malassezia pachydermatis.
  • Contact hypersensitivity and irritant reaction: Cats in general are very sensitive to products and medications, especially to ear cleaners such as those available in drops. These products often cause serious irritation in the ear canal, giving rise to secondary otitis. We must never use these products that are not indicated for use in cats and, preferably, we must use one that is recommended by our veterinarian.
  • Immune Diseases: This type of disease is associated with ear damage and external otitis. Due to the excessively low defenses that these diseases cause in our pets, bacteria and fungi find the opportunity to proliferate and secondary external otitis occurs very easily. We must be aware of the possibility of FIV or feline immunodeficiency virus.
  • tumors: There are cases in older cats that otitis is repeated and even chronic, so we should suspect a tumor, whether benign or malignant, in the adnexal structures of the ear. For example, squamous cell carcinomas in white ears are common.
  • nasopharyngeal polyps: These are non-neoplastic proliferations, that is, they are not abnormal. Therefore, it is common for young cats to detect these polyps in the middle ear, ear canal and nasopharyngeal mucosa. Along with foreign bodies, these polyps are the most common cause of unilateral otitis externa in cats. In this case, otitis is usually resistant to medication and can cause otitis media with respiratory signs.
  • More diseases and problems that can cause ear infections: Scabies, seborrheic disorders, metabolic, endocrine and nutritional disorders.

Check out in this other article by PeritoAnimal the most common diseases in cats.

What are the symptoms of otitis in cats?

Signs and symptoms that our feline will present in the case of feline otitis will depend and vary, especially in the degree of intensity of these and the origin causing otitis. The most common symptoms are:

  • Frequent shakes of the head.
  • Head tilt. If it only occurs on one side, this indicates unilateral otitis that is usually caused by the presence of a foreign body in that ear. In case it bothers you, your ears will alternate the side according to which one or the other bothers you more.
  • Pain in the region when we caress it. They often complain and meow a lot and even scream in pain.
  • Itching that can range from moderate to exaggerated.
  • Due to the itchiness, they often scratch and rub their ears and neck until they get sores in the area.
  • Red and swollen ear area.
  • Irritation, bleeding and pyoderma of the entire affected area.
  • Bad mood and even aggressiveness, no desire to play and it can happen that they stop eating due to the great discomfort and pain they may be having.
  • Abundant dark wax in the ears.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Bad smell in the ears.
  • Hair loss in affected areas from excessive scratching due to itching.
  • Presence of mites in the ears. If you have a very serious mite infestation, it should be taken into account that it may be a case of too low defenses due to FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus).
  • Otohematoma: A problem arising from excessive scratching and continual shaking of the head. Otohematomas are an accumulation of blood in the pinna and appear on the concave surface of the ear, between the cartilage and the skin or inside the cartilage, when blood capillaries break. Externally it is seen as a ball in the ear, which bothers the animal a lot and is very hot. The only solution is surgery.

It is essential for the health of our feline companion that, as soon as we detect one of these symptoms, we take him to the veterinarian for a correct diagnosis and indication of the appropriate treatment.

Prevention and Treatment of Otitis in Cats

Feline otitis can be prevented. For that, there are some things you can do like prevention methods:

  • Track the cat's health: It is essential that you periodically brush and bathe your pet checking the state of various areas of your body, including the ears. If we detect any of the symptoms described above, we should not hesitate to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible and thus avoid pain, discomfort and complications for our friends.
  • Prevent your ears from getting dirty: When we sanitize our cat, we should never forget the dirt that gets in our ears. If you find it necessary to clean the accumulated wax, something that should be done every two or three weeks, never use cotton swabs of cotton. The cotton swab can do great damage to the inner ear in the event of a sudden movement, including rupture of the eardrum. Therefore, the best way to clean the ear is with a sterile gauze around our finger and soaked in saline solution and gently remove the dirt only from the pinna area, that is, just the dirt from the visible area. No deep swab insertion.

There are ear drops or cleaning products, but because cats are very sensitive to medications and products in general, whether chemical or natural, we should use one that has been expressly prescribed by our veterinarian and never one that we see in the pet store and we think it's good.

You should not use a product for dogs that is not suitable for cats, as this type of substance can produce irritation and cause otitis in our cats. Also, if the cat in question is one of the long-haired breeds, we can ask the veterinarian to cut the hairs on the ears from time to time to prevent the accumulation of dirt.

  • Prevent the ears from getting wet: When we bathe the cat, we must prevent water and soap from getting into its ear. A simple way to prevent the entry of water is using cotton pieces soaked with a little Vaseline, cover the ears gently so that we can easily remove. It is very important to remember to remove the cotton, which is very uncomfortable for the cat. If by chance you can't get it out, it will be a foreign body lodged in the ear and can end up causing feline otitis. To remove any vaseline, cotton or water residue, use a sterile gauze wrapped around a finger to remove and dry. It is very important not to get plenty of water or pressure to avoid rupturing the eardrum.
  • Periodic veterinary review: Every time we go to the vet, whether routinely or for something more specific, you should check the condition of your ears in a more exhaustive way than what we do at home. By doing this, you will be able to detect an ear more quickly and thus avoid more serious consequences.
  • follow the treatment indicated by the veterinarian: In case you suffer from otitis, the veterinarian will indicate the treatment to follow, which should be followed until the end. In some situations the problem may disappear, even so the treatment must be continued.

Treatment for otitis in cats

The treatment and remedy for otitis in cats will depend on the type of disease the animal has. But, first of all, it is necessary:

  1. First remove the foreign body from the ear, if any.
  2. Carry out an ear cleaning and drying.
  3. Check what the cause is to apply the proper treatment:
  • Strange body: The veterinarian must remove the foreign body in order to cure the otitis. Once extracted, we must carry out the treatment with the medications that our veterinarian has indicated.
  • Bacteria: A cleaning should be done with water or saline solution so that the specialist can better review the entire auditory canal. In the case of bacterial otitis, the professional will prescribe an antibacterial topical and optical product.
  • Fungi (yeasts): In this case, once the specialist veterinarian has determined that the fungi are the cause, he will prescribe the appropriate fungicidal product.
  • ectoparasites: Mites are the ectoparasites that cause the most common ear infections. The veterinarian should prescribe an antiparasitic such as a pipette to distribute in the area of ​​the animal's cross and an optical acaricide product. Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and pain caused by ear infections.

If these remedy options for otitis in cats do not work or the veterinarian identifies that surgery will be necessary, this will be the only option.

It should be noted that when drops of medicine are applied to a cat's ear, he will immediately shake his head to expel the liquid from the inside of his ear, as it is uncomfortable for him. But it is very important to continue with the treatment and let them shake their heads to get rid of the dirt more easily.

Furthermore, even though the otitis has apparently already been cured, we must carry out the treatment for as long as indicated by the specialist.

Elizabethan necklace

Certainly the veterinarian will recommend, in support of the treatment, an Elizabethan collar to put on your cat. This necklace may seem like a nuisance for them, but we must let them get used to it to prevent them from scratching themselves uncontrollably, thus causing more wounds or unwanted ones otohematomas.

Now that you know the causes, symptoms and treatments with different types of remedies for otitis in cats, you might also be interested in knowing what a cat with a hot ear can be. Check out the video:

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.