My cat scratches its ear constantly. What causes it & vet cost?

Your cat may have an ear infection or Earmites. This really should be seen by a vet to get the correct treatment. Try cleaning her ears with a solution of 50% water/50% white vinegar. Moisten a cotton ball and wipe only the visible portion of the ear. DO NOT push the cotton ball down into the ear canal, and DO NOT fill the ear canal with liquid, this can cause nerve damage. This may make her feel a little more comfortable, but probably won't cure her condition. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card that is used specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses. GiveForward is a crowd funding website that helps you raise money to help take care of your pets Call your local animal shelter and ask if they have or can direct you to a low-cost pet clinic that works with people with limited incomes. If there is a college of veterinary medicine in your area, call and ask them about a low- or no-cost veterinary care program. Many run low-cost clinics for limited income clients. The Humane Society website has a lot of links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses. Some are for working/service animals, some are breed-specific, some are by start or location. Hopefully there is something available in your area.

This could be an indication of infection (bacterial, fungal, mites). She would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. A swab of the ear can be examined under a microscope in the clinic to make the diagnosis. The appropriate medication or treatment can then be dispensed or administered. IN the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent excessive scratching or rubbing.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Mimi is scratching one ear more than usual, it is likely that she has an ear infection. Ear infections can be bacterial and/or fungal in origin. If left untreated, simple external ear infections can progress to middle or inner ear infections, leading to vestibular disease or even central nervous system signs. I recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have Mimi checked for an ear infection. He/she will likely perform an ear cytology, meaning he/she will swab her ear and look at the material under a microscope. This way, your veterinarian can look for evidence of bacteria and/or yeast and treat her accordingly. I hope this is helpful!

I'm very sorry Manoo has an ear infection. Ear infections can be caused by ear mites, antibiotics, or yeast, which means they cannot be treated properly unless the cause is diagnosed and that does require a trip to the vet. In addition, the medications used to treat ear infections in cats are available by prescription only. It is illegal for the experts at PetCoach to prescribe any medications for an animal without seeing them in person first. That's because we can't say for certain if it is safe to give Manoo a specific drug, and prescribing drugs requires a veterinary client patient relationship which is impossible to achieve over an internet forum. There are no home remedies for ear infections either. Manoo really has to see a vet, even if it means a trip for you to take him in. Leaving an ear infection untreated can lead to hearing loss, so I would find the closest vet to your area to have him seen. I've included a link that lists low cost clinics, and you may find one in your area: https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare

I'm sorry to hear Lily is having this issue! Mites can be a common cause of itchy ears in younger cats but in older cats ear infections are more common. Food allergies can be a trigger for ear infections in older cats as well. Unfortunately because the problem has been going on for over a year she really needs to be examined by a veterinarian. They can take an ear swab to look for mites or bacterial infection. They can also make sure Lily's ear drums are okay. Without knowing what kind of infection is causing the issue and not knowing if her ear drums are okay there's really nothing safe you can do at home. Most veterinary clinics accept Care Credit so this may help you with payments and make Lily's treatment more financially feasible for you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Lily's ear issue resolves quickly!

Poor Spookette! It sounds like she may have a pretty bad ear infection. Ear infections can be due to mites, bacteria, or yeast in cats. I'd recommend scheduling an examination with a veterinarian so Spookette can have her ears checked out. A swab can be taken from the ears and evaluated under the microscope to determine if the cause is mites, bacteria, or yeast. She will likely need prescription ear medication to treat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Spookette's ear issue resolves quickly!

This looks like ceruminous cystomatosis which is a non-cancerous tumor of the wax glands in the ears. Treatment involves removal of the lesions (which often will regrow and need to be removed again) either surgically, with a laser, or with cautery. It is important to note that surgical removal will likely lead to scar tissue formation and some deformation of the ear flap. I suggest you have Mowgli examined by your vet when you can.