Symptoms of Kitten Ear Infections

Ear mites are common in kittens. And those tiny, crab-like parasites that live in the ear canal are not just uncomfortable, they can also lead to infection. Other causes of ear infection in kittens include allergies and bacteria and yeast, which thrive in the warmth and darkness of the ear canal. Keeping your kitten's ears clean and dry will help prevent infection. Knowing the symptoms of ear infection in kittens will help avoid serious complications.

  1. Shaking the Head

    • Kittens with ear infections are uncomfortable and shake their heads to get rid of the debris and fluid in their ears.

    Black Specks in the Ears

    • An accumulation of black specks resembling coffee grounds in the ears is a symptom of ear mites, or a bacterial or yeast infection. The black specks are dried blood from the kitten's infected ear canal.

    Scratching and Pawing

    • A kitten with an ear infection will scratch and paw at its ears to try to ease the itching and discomfort.

    Rubbing the Head Against Furniture

    • Some kittens with ear infections are so uncomfortable, they rub their heads against the furniture or carpeting.

    Smelly Ears

    • Bacterial and yeast infections cause an unpleasant odor. Yeast infections also cause a brown, waxy discharge. Yellowish discharge from the ear is a symptom of a bacterial infection.

    Tilting the Head

    • Tilting the head downward is a sign of a serious middle or inner ear infection.

    Swollen Ear Flap

    • Vigorous head shaking or scratching the ears can cause blood to accumulate in the ear flap, leading to swelling or an aural hematoma.

    Loss of Balance

    • Kittens with a serious inner ear infection may lose their balance or even walk in circles.

    Facial Paralysis

    • Infection of the middle ear can lead to paralysis as the facial nerve adjacent to the middle ear becomes inflamed. Difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids and facial muscles, and the third eyelid partially covering the eye are all signs of facial paralysis.