My cat's ear has pus. Why do I need to clean it and what's wrong?

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.

Yes it looks like the ear must be examined by your veterinarian to have the most appropriate treatment prescribed. There could be an infection there and antibiotics drops may be needed. 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.

Poor Goose! This looks like an infection. if there's a chance he could have been bitten by another cat, this could be the cause. Cat bites usually get infected. I recommend to have Goose examined by the veterinarian for antibiotics and appropriate treatment. If this is an abscess, it may need to be lanced. You will also need to protect the area from scratching and Goose may need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Keep him inside and safe until it is completely healing which should be in 2 weeks. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi Keira! I'm sorry that Jaguar has a bump on his ear. When cats get into fights with each other, it often results in infected wounds. Cats have a lot of nasty bacteria in their mouths, which is why their bites cause infection. Given that there is pus coming from the bump, it does sound infected and he should see a vet for it. The vet can clean the bump and give him antibiotics to treat the infection. On a side note, I see that Jaguar isn't neutered. Neutering him will help cut down on the aggression between your cats, as that is typically hormonally driven for territory and mating with females. I recommend having that done as well. I hope this helps!

If the waxy build up has an odor and also is causing Rex to scratch his ear excessively causing scratches or scabs on the ear pinna, then there is a good chance this is an ear infection which needs to be treated through your vet because there are no over the counter ear medications available for pets. However, if the ear wax does not smell and isn't bothersome, you can purchase an over the counter pet ear cleaner (basically just a dewaxer with no medicine in it) from your local pet store to remove the waxy build up. I hope this helps and best of luck with your pet Rex and his ears. Take care.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend having Olly examined by a veterinarian for further testing. What you are describing sounds like it could be an abscess that burst and the contents of the abscess have now dried on the fur. Your vet can examine this area and make the most appropriate recommendations. Olly may need a course of antibiotics and topical ointment. I would have the hair shaved from the area so it is easier to see what the problem is. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

It sounds like your cat may be dealing with an ear infection. Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Your cat needs to see a vet. Your vet can look at a sample from an ear swab under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Your vet will also need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. Ear infections can be very painful, and can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have your cat seen by a vet as soon as possible. Good luck!