Ear Infections in Cats: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Last reviewed: April 2026
Ear infections in cats are caused by ear mites (most common), bacteria, yeast, or structural problems like polyps. Symptoms include scratching, head shaking, dark discharge, and odor. Unlike dogs, cats often mask discomfort — subtle signs like head tilting or avoiding touch near the head are worth taking seriously.
Dealing with recurring ear infections?
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Track My Cat's Health RecordsYour cat is scratching relentlessly at one ear, shaking their head, and you can see dark brown discharge inside. Here's what you're likely dealing with, why cats are different from dogs when it comes to ear infections, and what treatment looks like.
Types of Ear Infection in Cats
Otitis Externa (Most Common): Infection of the external ear canal. This is the standard ear infection — treatable with ear drops.
Otitis Media: Middle ear infection. Often develops from untreated externa or from a polyp growing into the middle ear space. More serious — may require oral antibiotics or surgery.
Otitis Interna: Inner ear infection. Causes balance problems, head tilt, and rolling. Can cause permanent vestibular damage. Requires aggressive treatment and imaging.
Symptoms of Ear Infections in Cats
Common Ear Infection Symptoms
Behavioral Signs
- • Scratching or pawing at one or both ears
- • Head shaking (frequent or vigorous)
- • Rubbing head on furniture or floor
- • Head tilt toward the affected ear
- • Hiding or avoiding being petted near head
- • Vocalizing when ears are touched
Physical Signs
- • Dark brown/black crumbly discharge (ear mites)
- • Yellow or brown discharge (bacterial/yeast)
- • Foul or yeasty odor from the ear
- • Redness or swelling inside the ear flap
- • Scratches or scabs around the ear from clawing
- • Swollen ear flap (aural hematoma)
Serious Signs — See Vet Urgently
- • Loss of balance, falling or rolling to one side
- • Rapid involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
- • Drooping eyelid, sunken eye, or elevated third eyelid on one side (Horner's syndrome)
- • Facial weakness or asymmetry
- • Sudden hearing loss
These suggest middle or inner ear involvement — imaging is needed.
Causes of Ear Infections in Cats
Cats Are Different From Dogs Here
In dogs, allergies are the number one cause of ear infections. In cats, ear mites are the most common cause — accounting for roughly 50% of feline ear infections. If your cat has bilateral dark crumbly discharge and intense itching, assume mites until proven otherwise.
Ear Mites (Otodectes cynotis)
Tiny parasites that live in the ear canal. They cause intense itching and produce characteristic dark, dry, coffee-ground-like discharge. Almost always affect both ears simultaneously. Highly contagious between cats (and dogs) in the same household — all pets need treatment even if only one is showing signs. Outdoor cats and kittens are most commonly affected.
Bacterial and Yeast Infections
Bacterial: Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Pasteurella. Often secondary to another underlying cause (mites, polyps, or immune suppression). Yellow-brown discharge, odor, pain.
Yeast (Malassezia): Dark waxy or brown discharge with a musty/yeasty smell. Often secondary to moisture or underlying disease.
Nasopharyngeal Polyps
Benign inflammatory growths that originate in the middle ear or Eustachian tube. More common in cats than dogs, and more common in young cats. They grow into the ear canal (causing chronic otitis that doesn't resolve with drops) or upward into the nasopharynx (causing snoring, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing). Ear drops will not resolve a polyp — surgical removal is required.
Other Causes
- • Allergies: Environmental or food allergies — less common than in dogs but can cause chronic bilateral otitis
- • Foreign bodies: Grass seeds, debris lodged in the canal
- • Immune suppression: FIV or FeLV infection predisposes cats to secondary ear infections
- • Tumors: Ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — more common in older cats, often unilateral and progressive
Recurring ear infections?
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Track My Cat's HealthHow Ear Infections Are Diagnosed
- • Otoscope exam: Visualizes the ear canal and checks eardrum integrity. Polyps or foreign bodies may be visible.
- • Ear cytology: Microscopic exam of discharge — distinguishes bacteria vs yeast vs mites. Essential before treatment, as the wrong medication won't work.
- • Ear mite identification: Mites may be seen directly with an otoscope or under microscopy of the discharge.
- • Ear culture & sensitivity: For chronic or non-responsive infections — identifies the specific bacteria and which antibiotics will work.
- • Imaging (X-ray or CT): When middle or inner ear disease is suspected, or to evaluate a suspected polyp or tumor. CT is more sensitive for middle ear assessment.
- • FIV/FeLV test: Considered in cats with chronic or recurrent infections — immune suppression is a significant risk factor.
Treatment Options
Ear Mite Treatment
Ear mites respond well to treatment, but all cats (and dogs) in the household must be treated simultaneously, even if they show no symptoms:
- • Topical parasiticides: Revolution (selamectin) or Advantage Multi — applied to the skin at the back of the neck. Treats mites, fleas, and some other parasites simultaneously. Convenient and highly effective.
- • Ear drop treatments: Acarexx (ivermectin), Milbemite (milbemycin oxime) — instilled directly into the ear canal.
- • Ear cleaning: To remove the accumulated discharge before or alongside treatment.
Never Use Dog Ear Medications on Cats
Some ingredients in canine ear medications — including certain preservatives and carrier compounds — are toxic to cats. Cats cannot metabolize some substances that dogs handle safely. Always use products specifically labeled for cats or prescribed by your vet. This includes over-the-counter ear mite treatments — check the label before use.
Bacterial & Yeast Infection Treatment
| Medication Type | Used For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotic drops | Bacterial infections | Otomax, Tresaderm, Mometamax |
| Antifungal drops | Yeast (Malassezia) | Clotrimazole, miconazole-based |
| Combination drops | Bacteria + yeast + inflammation | Posatex, Otomax |
| Oral antibiotics | Middle ear involvement, resistant infections | Amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin |
Treatment duration: Most uncomplicated infections require 7–14 days of once- or twice-daily ear drops. Chronic or middle ear infections may need 3–6 weeks of treatment plus oral antibiotics. Recheck cytology at the end of treatment confirms resolution.
Polyp Removal
Nasopharyngeal polyps require surgical removal under general anesthesia. The most common technique is traction-avulsion — gently pulling the polyp free. Recurrence rates are higher with traction alone; a procedure called ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO), which opens and cleans the middle ear, reduces recurrence significantly but is more involved. Your vet or a veterinary surgeon will advise on the best approach based on imaging findings.
Treatment Cost Breakdown (2026)
| Service | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Veterinary exam | $50–100 |
| Ear cytology | $40–80 |
| Ear medication (7–14 days) | $30–100 |
| Ear mite treatment (topical parasiticide) | $30–60 |
| Ear cleaner | $15–30 |
| Ear culture (if needed) | $100–200 |
| Polyp removal under anesthesia | $500–1,500+ |
| Total (Uncomplicated) | $80–250 |
Applying Ear Drops to Cats
Cats resist ear drops more than dogs. A few practical tips:
- • Wrap in a towel ("cat burrito") to control the body and prevent scratching
- • Warm the drops to room temperature — cold drops in the ear are more uncomfortable
- • Apply from behind so the cat can't see the bottle coming
- • Massage the base of the ear after applying to distribute the medication — you'll hear a squelching sound
- • Reward immediately with a high-value treat
- • If your cat is too fractious, ask your vet about long-acting single-application products that only require one clinic visit
Prevention
- • Year-round parasite prevention: Monthly topical products (Revolution Plus, Advantage Multi) prevent ear mites alongside fleas and other parasites
- • Regular ear checks: Look inside your cat's ears monthly — dark discharge, redness, or odor warrant a vet visit
- • Don't over-clean: Healthy ears don't need routine cleaning — cleaning a normal ear can disrupt the natural protective environment
- • Treat all pets: If one cat has ear mites, treat every cat and dog in the household
- • Address underlying disease: FIV/FeLV-positive cats need monitoring; allergies causing chronic infections need allergy management
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Track Your Cat's Health Records
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- ✓ Track which ear infections responded to which treatments
- ✓ Spot patterns in recurring ear problems
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my cat has an ear infection?
Common signs include scratching or pawing at an ear, head shaking, dark crumbly discharge (ear mites), yellow-brown discharge (bacteria/yeast), odor, redness, and head tilt. Cats often mask pain — even subtle signs like avoiding being touched near the head are worth a vet check.
What is the dark brown stuff in my cat's ears?
Dark brown, dry, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds is the hallmark of ear mites. Darker waxy discharge can also indicate a yeast infection. Yellow or pus-like discharge suggests bacterial infection. Your vet can distinguish these with a quick cytology swab under the microscope.
Can I treat my cat's ear infection at home?
Do not attempt to treat without a vet diagnosis first. Using the wrong product (antibiotics for mites, or antifungals for bacteria) will not work and delays proper treatment. Some human or dog ear products are toxic to cats. A vet visit is needed to identify the cause with cytology before starting treatment.
What is a cat ear polyp?
Nasopharyngeal polyps are benign inflammatory growths originating in the middle ear or Eustachian tube. They cause chronic ear infections that don't resolve with drops, and sometimes nasal discharge or difficulty breathing. They require surgical removal and are more common in young cats.
My cat has a head tilt — is that serious?
Head tilt toward an affected ear suggests middle ear involvement. If accompanied by loss of balance, falling, rapid eye movements (nystagmus), or a droopy eyelid and sunken eye (Horner's syndrome), this indicates inner ear or nerve involvement and requires urgent veterinary care and imaging.
How do I prevent ear mites in my cat?
Year-round monthly topical parasite prevention (Revolution Plus or Advantage Multi) prevents ear mites alongside fleas. If one pet in the household has ear mites, treat all cats and dogs simultaneously — mites spread easily between pets.