My cat's ear is draining pus. Should I see a vet or try home remedies?

It's probably an ear infection, often it cannot be seen from the outside. Ear infections are very common in cats, it is usually caused by either ear mites, yeast or bacterial disease. the treatment is usually simple and straightforward, you will have to take him to the vet and get the ears checked, then a prescription ear drops will be prescribed according to the infectious agent.

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

Ear mites and underlying allergic disease (that can predispose to recurrent ear infections) are possible and should be ruled out. A physical and otoscopic examination of the ear canal are enough to rule them out. Bacterial swabs and culture can be used as well to rule out resistant infections. I would recommend to discuss all these options with your veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It is difficult to diagnose the problem in those pictures. If there is pus and redness then there is an infection that needs to be treated. The kitten will need to be examined by a vet for treatment. Your vet can give an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Hi, I assume you have been advised to clean your cat’s ear because there is an infection. One of the possible reasons for the presence of pus is that Orangie has been involved in a cat fight. Hope he gets better soon.

I recommend cleaning the area with a warm damp cloth to remove the discharge. Then you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Actually, now that it’s draining the infection his fever should break and this should heal quickly. It’s important to keep it clean and for the wound to stay open so the infection doesn’t stay under the skin. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Smudge.

The cyst was actually an abscess or pocket of puss from a cat scratch or bite. I'm glad it is draining as it will heal quickly now that the infection is coming out. I would massage all of the infected material out of the wound then clean the area with hydrogen peroxide. Then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Keep it clean and treated daily and this should heal in a few days to a week. Since it's draining a veterinary visit shouldn't be needed unless it fills again and Salem stops eating due to a fever. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Salem.