My cat’s ears have a lot of crud in them and he is
itching at his ears all the time. What does he have
and what should I do for him?

Cats (and dogs, too) can get ear infections (caused
mainly by yeast, bacteria, or both), or they can have
ear mites. Both can make your pet very itchy, although
ear mites usually cause a much stronger scratching
reaction. The way to tell the difference is in the
color of the crud in the ear and if it has a smell. If
the crud is very dark and looks a lot like coffee
grounds, and has no smell, then chances are it is ear
mites. Ear mites are very contagious and can spread
from one pet to another quickly, although thankfully
we humans cannot catch them! If the crud has a smell
to it and in many cases is a regular (not real dark)
brown color and rather slimy looking, then chances are
your cat has an ear infection.

It is best to bring your pet to the veterinarian to
let them diagnose your pet’s condition. Medication is
needed to help kill ear mites or clear up an
infection. In the case of ear mites, other pets will
most likely need to be treated in your home as well.
Some cats and dogs are prone to ear infections, and it
may be necessary to buy some ear cleaning solution to
keep your pet’s ears clean and healthy. If going to
the vet is not possible, and you are sure your cat has
an ear mite infestation, then there are products
available over the counter that can help kill ear
mites. But if the infection does not get better, or
gets worse, within four to five days, then a
veterinarian should be consulted right away.

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