Difference between dirty ears and ear mites in cats

Dirty ears in cats may be caused by ear mites, where the secretions in the ear canal appear black. However, it could also be caused by other factors, such as inadequate cleaning or middle ear infection. The dirty ears caused by inadequate cleaning do not have itching or unpleasant smells, while those caused by middle ear infection produce purulent secretions. Additionally, if it is ear mites, it will be accompanied by severe itching, and the cat will frequently shake its head and scratch its ears. However, these characteristics cannot confirm the presence of ear mites. A sample of the secretions in the cat's ear canal should be taken for microscopic examination. If it is ear mites, active treatment is necessary, and medications containing ingredients such as ivermectin and avermectin should be used.

Although ear mites can cause some black substances in a cat's ears, dirty ears in cats do not necessarily indicate ear mites. It may also be due to the cat's long-term lack of cleaning, where wax deposits can be seen in the ear canal. However, the cat's ears do not have any unpleasant smells, redness, itching, or persistent shaking of the head. Moreover, when a cat has middle ear infection, purulent secretions will also appear in the ear canal. It is recommended to take the cat to the hospital immediately for treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and leading to inner ear infection.
Ear mites not only cause black or brown secretions in a cat's ear canal but also produce purulent secretions when secondary bacterial infections occur. At the same time, they are accompanied by severe itching, causing the cat to shake its head and scratch its ears frequently.

To diagnose ear mites, a sample of the secretions in the ear canal should be taken for microscopic examination. If the cat is indeed infected with ear mites, cleaning the ears with ear wash first is necessary to make the cat shake out the dirt in the ear canal. Then, put the ear medicine inside the cat's ear canal. The treatment time for ear mites is usually long and requires continuous treatment.