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Kitten's ear is red and painful. What are home or pet store options?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
My kitten of a few months has an ear infection/inflamed ear. Her mother unfortunately ignored her ears when she was a baby, I use polysporin drops to help with her pain and ear wax. This time it seems to really bug her/cause her some pain & her skin around ear canal is more red/pink than the other ear. I'm looking for info on at home treatments or something I can get from a pet store. I live on disability in BC and am trying to avoid a hefty vet bill.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 20th, 2023
The ear, honestly, to me does not look that bad from the photo. Of course I cannot see down into the ear canal or the ear drum without examining her in person with an otoscope so there may be something down there causing the issue. There is no way for me to tell from a photo.
If she is really scratching at the ear or starts to scratch it when you touch the ear then chances are she has ear mites. People often mistake an ear mite issue with a bacterial/fungal infection but the treatments are very different. Ear mites are very common in kittens.
( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-mites-otodectes-in-cats-and-dogs )
The best treatment for ear mites is Revolution topical solution that you would put on like a flea/tick drops on the back of the neck. DO NOT put it in the ear. Typically two doses 3-4 weeks apart is enough to kill all the mites and correct the issues. I would try that before attempting to put medication inside the ear canal at this point. You will need to purchase it from a local vet. Over the counter "ear mite treatments" do not work.
( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/revloution-topical-solution-for-cats-51-15-lbs-blue )
Hope this helps. Best wishes.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 12th, 2018
Hello. There is no way to know if this is ear mites without a thorough otoscopic exam or by looking at a sample of the ear debris under a microscope for the presence of mites. To me, this looks like the normal accumulation of wax as seen in cats. You can take some gentle pet ear cleaner & saturate a cotton ball. Then wipe the parts of the ear you can visualize with the cotton ball. Do not stick anything into the ear, especially Q-tips. You can clean the ears as often as necessary to keep them looking clean. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Catherine Stecyk
Veterinarian
Published on September 7th, 2018
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can try gently wiping your kitten's ears with a DRY cotton ball to wipe out some of the dirt and debris. Do not wet the cotton ball first as this can introduce moisture and encourage the growth of bacteria and yeast. Do NOT put a Q-tip down into the ear canal, as it is very easy to damage their delicate ear drum, or tympanic membrane. Your kitten may have ear mites, which are very common in younger cats. These are diagnosed by your veterinarian with an ear smear and cytology (looking at the debris under a microscope), and treated with topical medications. I recommend having Minu evaluated by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to have her ears examined. Your veterinarian may also recommend putting a cone collar on her to prevent her from itching and traumatizing her ears. I hope this is helpful!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Bobbi Musgrove, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 25th, 2017
Congratulations on your new kitty! Yes, you can safely clean your kitty's ears with a soft cotton ball moistened with warm water or you can pick up an over-the-counter ear cleaning solution that is made for use in pets. Generally speaking, ear mites cause lots of itchy symptoms so it is possible this debris you see is not due to an ear mite issue. I do not recommend any of the over-the-counter 'ear mite' medications because sometimes they do more harm than good. If you notice redness of the skin lining the ear canal, this could indicate infection and it would be best to have your new kitty evaluated as soon as possible.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful