Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat's ears are brown inside, but no gunk. Could it be ear mites?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

I believe my cats have ear mites but would like to make sure before I make the trek into the vet's office. Please see the attached photos of their ears. Now they do not have any built-up gunk that I can see, just the brown discolouring in the ears that used to be white

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

Veterinarian

Published on October 28th, 2019

Hi and thanks for posting.

An ear mite diagnosis is made when the material in the ears is put on a slide and evaluated under a microscope. I can't tell from just a picture alone. Usually ear mites are incredible itchy and cats who have ear mites will often have a great deal of brown or black debris in the ears and they will itch at their ears frequently. Sometimes they will have a secondary skin infection around their ears due to the intense scratching. If you are concerned about ear mites, my recommendation would be to see your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 3rd, 2018
It appears that your kitty is suffering from an ear infection which could be caused by ear mites, bacteria or a fungus. You will need to take him to your veterinarian for an ear exam and correct diagnosis as each of these causes are treated differently, Your vet will take an ear swab and look at it under the microscope. He may also prepare the swab in such a way that he can identify bacteria and fungi. Treatment for mites is usually either acaricidal ear drops which will have to be given over a period of time to kill the mites and their eggs and larvae or injections, bacterial infections are treated wit antibiotic ear drops and fungi (usually yeasts) will also be treated with ear drops. Please take bear to a vet soon, as an ear infection is very itchy at best and painful at worst. There is always a chance that your cat can suffer hearing loss as well.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on May 3rd, 2017
Yes it sounds like ear mites, your veterinarian can easily treat that with specific ear drops, so I would strongly suggest a check up.
Other differentials could be ear infection (bacteria) or presence of other skin parasites like fleas or other type of mites.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on April 26th, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is in fact likely ear mites. This typically responds well to therapy. It is recommended to get a diagnosis by a veterinarian first which is easily accomplished on an ear exam. I recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can check for this and start therapy accordingly based on findings. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My cat has brown ear buildup. Is it just wax or an infection?

Hello. This ear looks like a normal, healthy ear with some wax buildup. Ear infections typically will have classic symptoms of odor, redness, inflammation and often discomfort or itchiness. Your cat’s ear looks good, but if he is experiencing any discomfort or rubbing/scratching at the ear, have your vet check it out. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat's ear has dark discharge. Is it dirty, mites, or infection?

Hi and thanks for your request. This is likely to be caused by the proliferation of a certain yeast called Malassezia spp. In the pic the quantity of discharge does not seem a lot and does not look like there is any inflammation.. An ear cleaner like canaural or sancerum could easily resolve this presentation.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My kitten's ears are waxy and itchy. Is it an infection or mites?

It is difficult to diagnose an ear infection without examining the discharge under a microscope to see if there are any bacteria, yeast, or mites. Based on the pictures, it does not appear to be a large amount of discharge. There aren't any OTC ear medications for infections but you could clean the ear with just an ear cleaner labeled for cats and see if that helps. Clean three times a week for now and then once weekly and see if that gets rid of all the discharge. If not, he really needs to go to a vet for treatment.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My kitten's ears are dirty, but he's not scratching. Is it mites?

If Mau had ear mites or an infection, we would expect him to be scratching at his ears. Since his ears do not seem to bother him and there is no redness, swelling or odor, I would suspect that it is just debris that you are seeing in his ears. You can use a cotton ball (not a Q-tip) to gently wipe away the debris. You should not need to use any ear cleaner or medication. If the debris is getting worse or Mau starts scratching at his ears, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine his ear canals. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Brown gunk in my 7-month-old indoor kitten's ear. What's the cause?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common cause for brown discharge in the ear is either an ear infection or ear mites. In order to diagnose either a Vet examines some of the brown wax under the microscope. They then will clean his ears and provide the appropriate drops to either treat the infection or the mites. Cats that are indoors can develop both of these possibilities. I hope this helps and I wish Orlee the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Brown stuff in my dog's ears and scratching. Are they mites?

This amount of "dirt" on the external part of the ear i would considered normal, ear mites tend to be darker, like ground coffee, but in some cases it's not possible to actually see it from outside, the vet needs to check it with a cotton bud and under the microscope to confirm what it is. there 3 types of ear infections in dogs: yeast, bacterias and mites (less common). if Wallace seems to scratch his ears or shakes his head then it would be a good idea to get it checked by your vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat is shaking head, has ear discharge & mites. Is it serious?

It sounds like Pojii could have ear mites. You usually can't see ear mites without a microscope but they could be moving ear wax around. Other types of mites, lice and fleas could also be near the ears. Ear mites usually cause a very dark, dry waxy debris in the ears and can cause secondary ear infections. I would recommend seeing a veterinarian for a diagnosis - they might take a swab from the ears and examine it under the microscope - and treatment options. Ear mites and ear infections are not particularly serious and are easily treatable, but if they are untreated they could lead to permanent damage to the ear.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share