Dirty ears

[ILoveShula]

DCat's ears are very dirty today. Brown gunk on the visible part of the insides. It looks like eye snot. I removed some of it gently and it doesn't smell or anything.

He goes outside a lot and does things like sleep in the flower beds.

He otherwise seems fine, although now very grumpy after being examined.

Any suggestions? DCat's ears are normally clean. He's a teenager.

I would just clean it out and keep an eye on it. If he has more tomorrow, try to work out if it's going from outside in or from inside to out - if the latter vet visit, if the former he's found a new favorite sleeping place.

What colour is it?
Not to alarm you, but some of the cats that have been diagnosed with pancytopenia have had blood in their ears. I'm sure this isn't the case, but are you aware of the food recall going on?

Thanks for the replies.

It's brown, same colour and texture as his eye dirt. It doesn't seem to be in the ear canal.
I've not seen it before and he doesn't seem in any discomfort.

It has been very wet here and he does sleep wherever he likes and I thought it might be from a pile of wood he's been sleeping on.

I wasn't aware of pancytopnia and he doesn't eat the named food, AFAIK.

He has been wormed and got a new flea collar this week.

I'll examine him after he has finished sunbathing on the shed roof.

I've had a proper look and it isn't blood. It's brown, dusty and is coming from the ear canal and looks like ear wax.

Looking on tinternet, it could be ear mites so I'll try to get some drops.

Thanks.

My boy has had gunky ears since we got him 4 1/2 years ago. Vet originally thought it was ear mites but treatment for that didn't help.

More recently we have swapped him to untamed wet good and grain free food and it is gradually cleaning up.

I have to clean his ears out every few weeks when it builds up which he really hates and then I just get the sad sorrowful glares from under the table

Not ear mites, is it?

Not sure, as his ears are normally clean, but I'll treat him for ear mites.
The examination resulted in bloodshed. Mine.

I bought some drops and administered them.
Poor cat, he hates it.

It sounds like ear mites.

What drops did you buy OP? I've only ever had them from the vet at £35 a pop and I'm sure there's a cheaper alternative.

They are Beaphar ones from Wilko. £2.75. They contain a natural insecticide apparently. They were with the dog things but they are for cats and dogs.

He doesn't smell like DCat with them in

There are natural remedies too. According to youtube you can use olive oil or coconut oil, or diatomaceous earth.

I try to treat DCat myself where possible.

I had a go at wiping some of the gunk but I'll give the drops a chance to work.

He knows that I examine him, and worm him and stuff so he's not too bad.

Is he shaking his head?

Not really. Just a little maybe, and a little scratching.