Dirty Ear?

[M0reGinPlease]

My nine year old tabby has over the last few months had a dirty ear. He's always been a bit grubby (unlike his perfectly groomed brother) and his ears have never been pristine. However, lately one ear is worse than the other and has been getting the black dirt-type wax that they get in the outer folds, so I've been gently cleaning it with cooled boiled salt water. His ears aren't bothering him at all, there is no odour and he's not pawing at them or showing any other symptoms at all so I'm sure it's not an infection or mites. Any ideas? Is my boy just getting grubbier in his old age?

Sounds like infection or mites. Vet will give you some dropd which will clear it up straight away.

To add, Its not abnormal for them not to show any symptoms

It's probably ear mites. If so, the vet will give you very oily drops for his ears, which will make him look even grubbier

Actually most likely ear infection, mites are now very uncommon in cats due to wide spread use of flea products that also kill mites. Do not put anything in the ear till a vet has checked if the ear drum is ruptured you can do irreversible damage.

He's off to vets tomorrow.

Nothing wrong at all, he's just one grubby boy 😂