How do I safely clean my cat's Henry pocket if it has ear wax buildup?

Ear wax can be wiped out with something soft like a cotton ball. Using a commercial ear cleaner that is meant for cats can also help. You could clean out his ears and then monitor to see if it returns. You should also watch for any signs of infection such as itching, head shaking, redness to the ears or an odor. That cut may be from his back claws and that’s good that you trimmed them. Most healthy cats can heal this on their own but monitor it for any problems. Some ear wax is normal in cats but it should be equal in both ears. If one ear has it and the other doesn’t, this could indicate a problem. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If the waxy build up has an odor and also is causing Rex to scratch his ear excessively causing scratches or scabs on the ear pinna, then there is a good chance this is an ear infection which needs to be treated through your vet because there are no over the counter ear medications available for pets. However, if the ear wax does not smell and isn't bothersome, you can purchase an over the counter pet ear cleaner (basically just a dewaxer with no medicine in it) from your local pet store to remove the waxy build up. I hope this helps and best of luck with your pet Rex and his ears. Take care.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend having Olly examined by a veterinarian for further testing. What you are describing sounds like it could be an abscess that burst and the contents of the abscess have now dried on the fur. Your vet can examine this area and make the most appropriate recommendations. Olly may need a course of antibiotics and topical ointment. I would have the hair shaved from the area so it is easier to see what the problem is. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

An appropriate ear cleaner would be strongly recommended. Most veterinary clinics and pet stores will have several options. Do not use water, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean ears. If you have no other options, a dry cotton ball or soft washcloth can be used to clean what can be reached. Do not insert anything into the ear canal. Read more about ear cleaning at the link below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-clean-your-cat-s-ears-what-you-need-to-know/

Wax accumulation is quite common and I would not be overly concerned without any pain, loss of appetite or activity. I would recommend cleansing with a cat safe, alcohol free ear cleanser daily for one week then once to twice weekly for 3-4weeks. A vet check and ear exam would be recommended to rule out any structural issues or infections if symptoms change or persist beyond a couple of weeks

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he truly has mites, they are not going to completely go away with the peroxide so if the ears get dirty again as before, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If properly diagnosed, ear mites can be easily treated. Best of luck!

Great question! There is an OTC ear cleanser called Epi-Otic that you can get from your vet's clinic. It helps break up wax and dirt, and it's easy to use. Just put the top of the bottle in Abby's ear, squirt a little in, and the massage the base of her ear. You should hear it squishing around in there. That will help clean her ears. That being said, if Abby is always scratching her ears and there's a lot of black in there, I would be concerned that she has an ear infection. I would have her seen by a vet to check her ears because an ear infection will require prescription medications to treat.