As a pet cat owner, you must have found that your favorite cat’s ears have quite a lot of earwax.
Ear wax in any type of cat can be called wax or ear wax, which is normal because it protects the cat’s ears so that foreign objects do not enter the deeper ears. However, when earwax is overproduced and causes a bad odor or unpleasant odor then it becomes a problem.
The smell of earwax is accompanied by a buildup of earwax, it is also accompanied by itching of the ears. Smelly earwax indicates inflammation of the ear or otitis disease.
Internal otitis is a term for inflammation of the inner ear, otitis esterna for inflammation of the outer ear. Otitis that occurs in the inner ear is usually severe and fatal, resulting in permanent loss of hearing ability. The cause of otitis can be due to many things. Among them are ear mites, fungi, cancer, allergies, injuries, and immune disorders in cats.
How To Treat Otitis In Cats
There are so many potential causes of ear problems, we can’t just say it’s a bacterial infection, giving antibiotics alone won’t cure it. Your pet cat vet can use the otoscope to look down into the ear canal and determine if there is inflammation of the cat’s tympanic membrane (eardrum), if there is a foreign body, tumor or other potential cause of the cat problem.
Swabs from the cat’s ears can be taken, smeared on a microscope slide, stained and examined for bacteria, fungus and mites. A physical exam can help to determine if this could be a problem, hormonal allergies, or heredity. If this can be suspected, further diagnostic tests will be required.
Signs of ear disease in cats:
• Smell
• Redness or swelling of the ear canal
• Scratching and rubbing the cat’s ears and head
• Ear holes are dirty
• Frequently shaking his head and tilting his head
• Feeling pain around the ear
• Unusual change behavior or depression (irritability) / sensitivity
Causes of otitis
Pet cats can have ear problems for a variety of reasons. When we look at cats with ear disease we as cat owners need to think about the possibilities:
• Allergies such as allergies to food
Ear mite parasite (Earmate)
• Microorganisms or bacteria and fungi
• Foreign objects enter the ear, can be insects, dust, dirt, etc.
• Trauma
• Ear environment, eg moisture, excess wax in the ear and ear anatomy
• Hereditary or immune conditions, cats and tumors
Causes of Cat Ears Disease (Otitis)
Allergies: Cats with allergies, whether they are allergic to food or something they breathe, may have ear problems. Ear problems in cats may be the first sign of an allergy. Since allergies are environmental changes in the ear, we cat owners sometimes see secondary infections with bacteria or fungi. If we only treat infections that the cat has, we don’t get to the root of the problem. We need to treat allergies immediately too.
Parasites
The cat ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a common cause of ear problems especially in kittens. Some animals are very sensitive to mites and itching is constant. These animals can scratch so much they are so traumatic to a cat’s ear
Bacteria and Fungi
Many types of bacteria and fungi, one of which is Malassezia pachydermatis, cause ear infections. Normal, healthy ears have a fairly good defense against organisms, but if the ear environment changes due to allergies, hormonal disorders, or humidity, bacteria and fungi can greatly multiply and infect them.
Foreign Objects
Small foreign objects that can enter a cat’s ears can sometimes enter the ear canal. This foreign object causes irritation, as well as scratches the cat’s ears. So if you have a cat that often goes out and about until the cat fights, be sure to check its ears regularly.
Trauma
As we explained above, trauma to the ear due to scratching can exacerbate ear problems.
Hormonal disorders
Hormone deficiency or excess of various hormones can cause skin problems and cat ears. Hormones called thyroid, glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal glands, and sex hormones can all affect the health of the skin and ears.
Environment
The environment here does not mean the environment around the cat, but the environment in the ear area, such as excess moisture in the ears, never cleaned ears, imperfect ear anatomy (defects from congenital or birth defects).
