How to Clean Cat Ears With Wipes, Step by Step

By FurJoy Shop Team · 5-minute read

Maybe your cat's ears look a little dusty. Maybe you just want ear checks to be part of your routine. Either way, you want to do it gently and without a battle.

Here's some good news first: VCA Animal Hospitals says most cats have healthy, clean ears and never need to have their ears cleaned. So this guide is about two things: a quick look to know what's normal, and a gentle wipe of the part you can see when it's needed.

The short answer

Only wipe what you can see. Gently fold back the ear flap and wipe the inner surface with a soft wipe, moving outward, away from the opening. Never push anything into the ear canal, and never use cotton swabs. If the ear looks red, smells bad or has discharge, don't clean it. Call your vet instead.

First, know what healthy ears look like

According to the ASPCA, a healthy ear flap has a layer of hair on the outside with no bald spots, and the inside surface is clean and light pink. When you gently fold the ear back, a healthy ear should be pale pink, with no debris or odor and little or no earwax.

A quick look while you pet or brush your cat is a nice habit. If everything looks like that, there may be nothing to clean at all.

The "yes" zone and the "no" zone

Yes: OK to wipe gently	No: leave it alone
The inner surface of the ear flap you can see when you fold it back	The ear canal opening and anything inside it
The fur on the outside of the ear	Anything you can't see clearly
A bit of dust you can see on the surface	Skin that looks red, swollen, scabbed or sore

The ASPCA is clear on this: don't try to clean the canal, because probing inside your cat's ear can cause trauma.

What you'll need

• Soft wipes made for pet ears, or a cotton ball or gauze with an ear cleaner your vet recommends (that's the ASPCA's suggestion)
• A few small treats your cat loves
• A towel, in case your cat needs a little help staying still
• Good light, so you can see what you're doing

What you won't need: cotton swabs. VCA warns against cotton-tipped applicators because of the risk of puncturing the eardrum or hurting the ear canal.

Step by step

1. Pick a calm moment. After a meal or a nap, when your cat is relaxed, works best.
2. Get comfortable. VCA suggests sitting with your cat on your lap, facing away from you. If she needs help keeping still, wrap her loosely in a towel with only her head out.
3. Look first. Gently fold the ear flap back and check it. If you see redness, discharge or dark debris, or notice a bad smell, stop here and call your vet.
4. Put a wipe on your finger. Use a new, damp wipe. Feeling the ear through the wipe helps you stay gentle.
5. Wipe only what you can see. Softly wipe the inner surface of the flap, moving outward toward the tip. The ASPCA says to lift dirt away rather than rub it into the ear.
6. Stay out of the canal. Don't push your finger or the wipe down into the ear opening, even a little.
7. Use a new wipe for the other ear. Then throw both away.
8. Praise and treat. VCA recommends ending with praise and treats, so ear time has a happy ending.

Going slow with a nervous cat

• Start with touch only. For a few days, just rub the base of her ears during petting, then give a treat.
• One ear is enough. You don't have to do both ears in one session.
• Stop early. If she flattens her ears, growls, swishes her tail or tries to leave, let her go and try another day.
• Keep it short. A few seconds of calm beats a long struggle.

What not to do

• Don't use cotton swabs or anything pointed.
• Don't put anything into the ear canal.
• Don't use products made for people, or anything with fragrance or essential oils. VCA advises checking with your vet before using essential oils or herbal products on your cat.
• Don't clean an ear that looks red, sore or smells bad. That's a vet visit, not a wipe.

Where our ear wipes fit in

If you'd like something made for this, we carry ear cleaning finger wipes for dogs and cats: pre-moistened, soft textured wipes that slip over your finger, 50 to a tub. They work best on slimmer fingers. They're made for routine cleaning of the outer ear you can see, never inside the canal, and they don't treat ear problems. With cats, go extra slow.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow your veterinarian's guidance for your cat.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals: Ear Cleaning and Administering Ear Medication in Cats
• ASPCA: Cat Grooming Tips
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Cats

About the author: FurJoy Shop Team is a small pet care shop in Prosper, Texas. We write simple, practical guides based on trusted veterinary sources and what pet parents tell us. We're not veterinarians, so for anything about your pet's health, your vet has the final word.