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My cat has a smelly ear and a rash. Could it be an infection?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 9 months and 27 days old

Hi my cats one ear is really very smelly I can smell him a mile away he also looks like he has a rash on his cheek what can I do

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Kevin Sanada, DVM

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 11th, 2018

I would definitely be suspicious of an ear infection from the pictures and what you are describing. Ear infections usually have a primary cause that allows it to be infected. Common primary causes are allergies, excessive moisture, ear mites, or something stuck down in the ear.

It's always best to have her evaluated by a veterinarian, so they can have a good look in the ear and provide the necessary medication to clear this up.

For now, it will be good to gently flush the ear once every two days to help remove the debris from the ear - this will help with treating the infection. Below are a few links that give helpful advice/tutorials about cleaning ears.

The rash on the cheek is likely due to scratching and will get better when the ear infection is dealt with. I recommend cleaning the rash with a medicated wipe or shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day until it's better. If it seems to get worse, then you'll want to take Simba into the vet for an exam.

https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-clean-your-cat-s-ears-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Dh3mJBzts

I hope that helps and Simba gets better soon.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 19th, 2018

    Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

    Sorry to hear about the ear infection! Ear infections in cats can be due to yeast or bacterial infection, ear mites, or sometimes polyps or other masses in the ear can be a cause. I would recommend having Socks taken to her veterinarian for an ear exam. Your veterinarian will look in both ears and may take a ear swab for yeast, bacterial or ear mites. Based on what is found, Socks will be on the most appropriate ear medication and treatment plan. These typically include a good ear cleaning and antibiotics.

    I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on November 5th, 2017

    Pictures can be deceiving, but it looks like their may be an ear infection as well as a skin infection. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian. They can identify if it is an infection and if so is it yeast or bacterial as well as prescribe the appropriate medication. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 16th, 2018

    Cuddles does sound like she is not doing well at all at the moment. Ear infections in cats can also be caused by yeast or ear mites, so treating her with left over antibiotics is not recommended as that may be the wrong treatment. In addition, they may be expired and not safe to give. Because she appears to be so severely affected based on your description, I think immediate vet care is required. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

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Why does my cat have a wound behind its ear? Is it an ear infection?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Simba. Ear infections are a common cause of wounds near the ears. This can occur secondary to scratching the ears. Sometimes owners will not witness the cat scratching as they can do it at night. Look at his ears to see if any brown wax is present. Red and swollen ears can also indicate an infection. If this is not the case, then an allergy or even fleas can cause scratching and wounds. Simba will need to see his veterinarian to know for sure. The veterinarian will use a special instrument known as an otoscope to look deep into his ear canals. If an infection is suspected, then a sample is collected from each ear canal to evaluate under the microscope. This will guide treatment. I hope this information helps!
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What should I do if my cat has a rash on the outside of its ear?
Hi, from the looks of the picture you provided of Saber's ear it looks like he has scratched it raw. Cats will commonly scratch vigorously at an ear if they have an ear infection or ear mites. You can look into the ear just to see if you find any black or brown debris in there and if you touch the ear it causes him irritation. I would highly recommend to NOT put anything into the ear. No solutions or ointments. The wrong products in a cat's ear can cause a lot of harm. It would be best to schedule an appointment with Saber's veterinarian so that they can determine if he needs medication on the outside, or even possibly on the inside of his ear.
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Why are my indoor cat's ears scabby, balding, and dirty inside?
It could be Simba has a yeast or bacterial ear infection. Those tend to happen more than ear mites in adult cats. Kittens are more likely to get ear mites. You do need to have him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose if he does have an ear infection and can treat him. It's important to get him seen promptly as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. I hope this helps!
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What's this dark, bumpy rash in my pet's ear? Allergies or infection?
I would recommend having your vet check to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection first. Otherwise, this could be a bacterial infection, ringworm, or even something cancerous. Your vet can take a sample from the surface to look for sources of infection and then do a biopsy (under sedation at a later date) if it's not clear what is going on. Good luck!
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My cat has ear wax, redness, and balding. Is it an ear infection?
I am so sorry to hear that Sha Sha's ear is bothering her. Ear infections in cats can be very difficult to manage, and are very common. Though cleaning may help prevent ear infections ruins, it won't treat an ear infection that is present. Antibiotics are needed. Unfortunately, there aren't any medications over the counter which would be helpful at this stage. Outer ear infections can progress to inner ear infections. Inner ear infections are very difficult to treat, are very painful and have serious potential complications, such as hearing loss and problems with balance. I would suggest a trip to the vet as soon as you can. The vet will use a tool to look into Sha Sha's ears, and may take a swab of the infected ear and send it away for analysis, so that the exact pathogens causing the infection can be identified and therefore a specific antibiotic can be used. 

 The irritation around her eye is most likely linked to the infection in her ear. She is probably wiping the infected wax around her eye. I hope that this answer was helpful, and more importantly that Sha Sha's ear gets better soon. Warmest regards to you both.
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Why does my cat have a smelly ear, black liquid, and a red bubble?
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!
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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.
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