My cat has black ear gunk, shaking head, not mites. What's the cause?

Question

Hi, I recently took my cats to the vet after noticing black buildup in their ears. They keep shaking and scratching their heads and ears. I tried to give them mite medication however I noticed that it did not help. I took them to a vet and she said she did not see any mites, however their ears keep getting worse with this gunk. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 7 years and 5 months old | 15 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Cats can build up gunk in the ears due to causes other than mites including allergies, waxy build up, yeast infections or bacterial infections. I recommend to call the veterinarian and ask if the cats were checked for bacteria and yeast as well. If they were and everything was normal. I recommend to use an routine ear cleaner like Epi-Otic and gently clean the ears once a week. This may help to remove itchy wax as well as any pollen or other antigens that might be causing itching. If they were not checked for bacteria and yeast, have this done to see if that is the problem. If the ears continue to be a problem, you may want to discuss a food trial with a hydrolyzed protein diet to rule out a food allergy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

My cat has black ear gunk, shaking head, not mites. What's the cause?

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