Your cat’s ears are somewhat self-cleaning but you should check them regularly for signs of infection, injury and parasites. You may see redness or swelling, a bad odor, dark wax or other debris. Your cat may be rubbing or pawing at her ears. Ear mites look like coffee grounds and can be very itchy. These conditions require medical care. However, you also need to clean your cat’s ears too. Use an ear rinse formulated for animals. Pour a little in each ear. Fold over the earflap and gently rub the ear to spread the rinse and loosen debris. Use cotton balls to clean the ears thoroughly. You can use cotton swabs but only reach in as far as you can see to avoid damaging the eardrum. Change the cotton often and don’t cross-contaminate from ear to ear. Continue until the ears are clean and dry. Contact your Vet Clinic Ellicott City, MD to learn more.