Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My kitten's ears are waxy and itchy. Is it an infection or mites?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 22 days old | 8.3 lbs

Does my kitten have an ear infection? At first i suspected ear mites but ive treated him with Revolution for the past two months and he still has dark grains in his ears and excessive ear wax. He scratches his ears and one ear looks worse than the other. If an ear infection, are there any over the counter remedies i could try?? I'm unable to go to a vet.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 23rd, 2017

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 13th, 2018
I am sorry to hear about Kovu! I would definitely recommend an exam by a vet if his ears are bothering him. We are not actually usually able to see ear mites with the naked eye and have to use a microscope to examine a swab of the ear contents. We can also have bacterial or yeast infections in the ear which can cause pain/itching/discharge, so the vet can check the swab for these as well. Your kitty may require prescription ear drops or oral medications to treat the problem based on their findings. It can be difficult to tell from these photos but your kitty does look like he might be a little overweight. The vet can give you a better idea of his idea weight when he is examined because we often need to put our hands on a pet to truly tell their body condition.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My kitten's ears are dirty, but he's not scratching. Is it mites?

If Mau had ear mites or an infection, we would expect him to be scratching at his ears. Since his ears do not seem to bother him and there is no redness, swelling or odor, I would suspect that it is just debris that you are seeing in his ears. You can use a cotton ball (not a Q-tip) to gently wipe away the debris. You should not need to use any ear cleaner or medication. If the debris is getting worse or Mau starts scratching at his ears, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine his ear canals. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat's ear has dark discharge. Is it dirty, mites, or infection?

Hi and thanks for your request. This is likely to be caused by the proliferation of a certain yeast called Malassezia spp. In the pic the quantity of discharge does not seem a lot and does not look like there is any inflammation.. An ear cleaner like canaural or sancerum could easily resolve this presentation.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat has an ear infection. Is it mites? What can I do for her now?

Ear infections in cats can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and are more common causes of ear infections in adult cats. Ear mites are more common in kittens. In order to treat Belle properly, she does have to see a vet, and vets will see pets for sickness. This counts, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. Give her vet a call to make her an appointment.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat has dark ear wax buildup. Is it an infection or just wax?

Good question! I would be concerned as well that a build up of gunk in one ear is an indication of an ear infection, even if you aren't seeing any other signs at the moment. Based on this, I think it's a good idea to have Nick seen by a vet in the next day or two to have his ear examined. The vet can diagnose if he does have an ear infection, what's causing it (ear mites, bacteria, yeast), and can prescribe medication to treat it. Even if it's just an excess build up of gunk and not an ear infection, the vet can give you an ear cleaner such as Epi-Otic to help clean out that ear. I hope this helps, best of luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's ears stink, have black discharge, and sound wet. Vet needed?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat's ears are brown inside, but no gunk. Could it be ear mites?

Hi and thanks for posting. An ear mite diagnosis is made when the material in the ears is put on a slide and evaluated under a microscope. I can't tell from just a picture alone. Usually ear mites are incredible itchy and cats who have ear mites will often have a great deal of brown or black debris in the ears and they will itch at their ears frequently. Sometimes they will have a secondary skin infection around their ears due to the intense scratching. If you are concerned about ear mites, my recommendation would be to see your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Adopting a cat with waxy ears. Is it ear mites or an infection?

Waxy debris like this can be seen with ear mites, fungal or bacterial ear infections or allergies. Occasionally cats can have an ear wax without any underlying problem. I’d recommend having Quinn examined by a vet when you first bring her home to make sure she doesn’t need medication.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share