My kitten has itchy ears. What's the best way to treat them safely?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. 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.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You may want to consider treating the ear mites with a different medication which is applied to the base of the neck instead of inside the ears. This product is called Revolution and is a prescription medication you can get from your veterinarian that can be used to treat ear mites in cats. Might be a better alternative in Muffin's case. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear Lily is having this issue! Mites can be a common cause of itchy ears in younger cats but in older cats ear infections are more common. Food allergies can be a trigger for ear infections in older cats as well. Unfortunately because the problem has been going on for over a year she really needs to be examined by a veterinarian. They can take an ear swab to look for mites or bacterial infection. They can also make sure Lily's ear drums are okay. Without knowing what kind of infection is causing the issue and not knowing if her ear drums are okay there's really nothing safe you can do at home. Most veterinary clinics accept Care Credit so this may help you with payments and make Lily's treatment more financially feasible for you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Lily's ear issue resolves quickly!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely an ear infection and I am afraid that there is likely an underlying allergy causing him to scratch a lot and continue to cause further trauma to the ear. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated as soon as possible as this is likely causing him a lot of discomfort. They would be able to diagnose this and start therapy. Medications such as steroids may help decrease the itch. You may use the e-collar to prevent further self-trauma. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he truly has mites, they are not going to completely go away with the peroxide so if the ears get dirty again as before, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If properly diagnosed, ear mites can be easily treated. Best of luck!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks possibly consistent with ear mites. If not, an ear infection would be considered likely. I recommend you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so this suspicion can be confirmed and he can be treated for it. Treatment usually result in quick relief. Good luck!

Because ear mites cause severe itchiness and can lead to more serious bacterial ear infections it is best to treat Mozart. It is also possible that Mozart already has a bacterial or yeast ear infection as this can look similar to ear mites. I recommend taking Mozart to see a veterinarian so they can take a swab from his ear and determine the cause of the ear infection. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Mozart is feeling better soon!