Mites, otitis or other problems in a cat's ear can cause problems that, if not treated in time, can even make it deaf. That is why it is very important that when you notice a problem you take your pet to the vet so that he can diagnose his problem and, if necessary, prescribe a few drops to cure it.
The problem that many people find is that their cats do not let them put the drops that the vet has prescribed, because they get scared and run away or try to scratch them. In this article on our site we are going to give you some tricks to put drops in a cat's ear that will make this task easier if you have to do it.
Symptoms of hearing problems
If your cat shows any of the following symptoms you should take him to the vet as he probably needs drops to improve his problem:
- His ears ooze or smell bad
- If you have excess wax. In this case you will see that it has many black spots inside its ears. This may be caused by mites.
- If you have balance problems. This may be caused by a problem with the eardrum.
- If he insistently scratches his ears or constantly tilts his head to one side. This may be a symptom of the onset of otitis.
Keep everything at hand
Once the vet has diagnosed the problem and prescribed the drops your cat needs, it's time to get to work. To avoid surprises, the ideal is that you have prepared everything the material that you are going to need:
- A towel spread out
- Some sterile pads
- The drops
When you have everything ready, it's time to look for your furry friend. One of the best tricks to put drops in a cat's ear is wait for the cat to be calm Take advantage of when he's sleepy or when he comes looking for you, pet him and relax him, you better not catch him by surprise or he will freak out.
You can ask someone to help you hold it, although it is best to roll it up with a blanket or towel, like a burrito, leaving only his head out, and tight enough so that he can't escape (don't overdo it, you don't need to cut off his breath) and take him to the place you have prepared beforehand. This step is essential for nervous cats or cats with a tendency to scratch.
How to put the drops in a cat
With the cat bundled up in the blanket or towel we can pour the drops on it without the danger of it escaping or trying to scratch us. The steps to follow are as follows:
- We will clean your ears before we start to remove any excess wax or pus that may block the passage of the drops. This can be done with a special cat ear cleaner that you can buy at any pet store or vet. However, if you don't have a special cleaner handy, you can use a sterile gauze pad and, with the help of your fingers, lightly rub the inside of the cavity.
- When his ears are clean, tilt his head to one side and apply the drops recommended by the vet. When you have put them in, you can gently massage the ear to make sure they go all the way in.
- When you are sure that the drops have entered the ear well, massage gently, turn the cat over and repeat the operation for the other ear.
If you follow the treatment as indicated by the vet, the disease should subside in a while. If not, you'll have to go back to find out what the problem is.
