My cat has coffee-colored ear discharge and is shaking her head. What to do?

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.

Olive oil isn’t recommended to put in your pets ears unfortunately. It shouldn’t cause any major issues unless Callie has a ruptured ear drum, which your vet can check for with a proper ear exam. If it looks dirty and she is shaking, then she could still have mites (true are quite small and often cause black crusty debris in the ears) or even a yeast or bacterial infection. It’s best to take her in to your vet soon for a proper ear exam, testing to determine what kind of infection is there and pet friendly ear medication and cleaner. If you can’t get her in today, then it’s best to purchase a dewaxing pet ear cleaner from your local pet store right now to help remove some of the residue olive oil from her ear. She likely doesn’t like the feel of having this in her ear so it’s also a good idea to place an e-collar on her to prevent her from scratching at her ears and causing further irritation. I hope Callie’s ear infection clears up soon. Best wishes and take care.

Ear mites is possible but in an indoor only kitty it is less likely and the more likely cause would be a bacterial or yeast infection of the ear, or a foreign body stuck in the ear. I would recommend a vet visit. The vet can look in the ear with an otoscope and can take a swab from the ear to check under the microscope for mites, bacteria or yeast and prescribe medications to treat this.

Ear infections in cats can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and are more common causes of ear infections in adult cats. Ear mites are more common in kittens. In order to treat Belle properly, she does have to see a vet, and vets will see pets for sickness. This counts, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. Give her vet a call to make her an appointment.

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!

Poor Toby! He could have a middle ear infection caused by yeast or bacteria that you cannot see. His symptoms do indicate a problem with his ears, and I would take him into the vet today or tomorrow for an exam. The vet can look down his ears with an otoscope to see if he does have an infection, and can treat him for it. It's important to have any ear problem examined and treated promptly as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss.

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