Why is my kitten's ear leaking brown liquid? Should I see a vet?

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!

Poor Jojo! If he has some kind of discharge or fluid coming from his ear, this is definitely not normal. It sounds like he may have an ear infection, or even some type of injury to his ear. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to - he/she can examine the ear canal with an otoscope to help determine exactly what's going on, and may also take a sample of the discharge for analysis. In the meantime, you can try gently cleaning away the drainage with a warm washcloth as often as needed - this will not treat the underlying problem, but it may help to make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

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!

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!

It appears that your kitten has an ear infection. This could be caused by mites, bacteria or a fungus. She will need to be seen by a veterinarian who will examine the ear with an otoscope, and he will take a swab of the discharge of the ear and look at it under the microscope. This should help with diagnosing the cause. Your kitty will then get medicine according to the diagnosis, usually ear drops. The ear will also need to be cleaned by the vet

Poor Kiara! Normal cat ears should not have any visible wax at all - so if you are seeing yellow, brown, or black waxy material in the ear, this means that she either has an ear infection or ear mites. Treatment will depend on what type of infection is present, so I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can take a sample of the discharge for analysis to determine the problem and will prescribe appropriate medication to treat it depending on what is found.

Your cat's eyes appear to be quite inflamed with a clear, watery discharge. The reddish-brown discoloration is more likely a reaction between the enzymes in the tear film with the hair rather than blood. This issue could be related to infection (bacterial or viral), allergic, or due to trauma (such as a corneal ulcer). She will need to be examined by a vet to determine the cause of her eye discharge so that the appropriate medication can be prescribed. Keep an e-collar (cone) on her until the time of her appointment to prevent her from rubbing/scratching her eyes. For your kitten, the picture is quite blurry, so I'm having trouble seeing the white lesions on her ear very well. These scabs could be a result of an ear infection, ear mites, ringworm or other fungal infection. If the scabs come off easily, you can try removing them. However, if they come back or spread elsewhere, your kitten will need to take a trip to the vet for evaluation. I hope that all goes well for both cats!