Treating Persistent Cat Ear Wax Buildup

One of my cats continuously gets an excessive buildup of ear wax in her ears. At first, I thought it was due to ear mites. However, after ruling that out with my vet, I began researching “cat excessive ear wax” on the internet and soon realized that the problem is actually a pretty common one.

Most cats will NOT need to have their ears routinely cleaned. This is the case with my gray cat, Sierra. But there is a lot of variability in the amount of ear wax cats produce. Some cats will produce excessive amounts of ear wax, like my other cat, Blackie. Ear wax buildup can irritate your cat and may lead to infections. So if this is the case with your cat, you will need to learn how to clean your cat’s ears.

Before following the steps below, however, please make sure your cat does not have mites or an actual ear infection. Symptoms of ear infections in cats are pawing at the ear or head shaking. If your cat exhibits these symptoms, make sure to take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Cleaning Cat Ear Wax Buildup

To clean your cat’s ears, use a piece of cotton that has been wet with one of the following substances:

1. Vinegar. In her book New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, Amy D. Shojai recommends using vinegar to clean a pet’s ears. Veterinarians often recommend using white vinegar because it removes dirt and debris and helps restore a healthy chemical balance in the ears. You should dilute the vinegar 50 / 50 with water.

2. Mineral Oil. Experts say that you can safely massage a few drops of mineral oil into your cat’s ear. Then wipe it away with a clean cotton ball. Mineral oil will clean and disinfect your cat’s ears, loosening ear wax and debris.

3. Zymox Ear Cleanser With Bio-Active Enzymes. If you prefer to use a professional cleaning product for your cat’s ear wax buildup, the Zymox Ear Cleanser solution is one that was recommended to me by my vet and that seems to receive rave reviews on Amazon from those cat owners who have used it.

Can I Insert a Q-Tip into My Cat’s Ear? My vet showed me how to clean my cat’s ear with a Q-Tip as well. If you decide to take this extra cleaning step, you must proceed very carefully. You could push the ear wax further into the cat’s ear, or even damage the ear canal if you are not careful with the Q-Tip. This You Tube video illustrates how to clean the visible portions of your cat’s ear with a piece of cotton, and also illustrates how to use a Q-Tip to clean the cat’s ear even further. By following some or all of the steps above, you too will be able to successfully treat your cat’s excessive ear wax buildup.

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