Urgent — same day vet contact
Within 1–3 days; same day for head tilt, balance loss, or severe pain
Cat scratching ears, head shaking, or ear discharge
Black coffee-ground discharge in a kitten or young cat is typically ear mites; persistent scratching, head shaking, or pain in any cat needs vet review within a few days.
Recognise the signs
- Scratching at ears with hind paws
- Head shaking
- Black, gritty 'coffee-grounds' discharge — classic for ear mites
- Brown, yellow, or red discharge with smell — infection
- Visible swelling, redness, or scabs on or in the ear
- Head tilt, walking in circles, eye flicking — more urgent
- Reduced grooming, irritability
First aid steps
- Look gently into the ear without inserting anything.
- Note the discharge type and any signs in other pets in the household (mites are contagious).
- Phone the vet within 1–3 days, sooner if head tilt, severe pain, or balance loss.
- Restrict outdoor access if mites are suspected — easier to treat without re-exposure.
- Treat all cats and dogs in the household if mites are confirmed.
Do NOT
- Do not use cotton buds in the canal.
- Do not use over-the-counter ear drops without vet diagnosis — wrong type worsens many problems.
- Do not assume kitten ear discharge is always mites without confirmation — secondary infections are common.
- Do not pull at scabs.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Head tilt, balance loss, walking in circles
- Sudden swelling of the ear flap
- Severe pain
- Bleeding from the ear
- Persistent infection despite treatment
- Older cat with new ear mass — possible tumour
Signs that can usually wait for a routine appointment
- Mild occasional scratching in a bright cat with no discharge or smell can be monitored briefly, but persistent scratching warrants a vet visit.
Common causes
- Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) — very common in kittens and outdoor cats, gritty black discharge
- Bacterial or yeast ear infection
- Polyps in the ear canal (especially young cats)
- Foreign body
- Allergies
- Tumour (older cats, ceruminous gland tumours)
- Middle/inner ear disease — head tilt, balance loss
What the vet will need to know
- How long the signs have been present
- Other cats or dogs in the household and any signs in them
- Indoor/outdoor lifestyle
- Recent contact with kittens or new cats
- Discharge type and amount
- Other signs — head tilt, hearing, behaviour
Aftercare
- Ear mites: prescription anti-parasitic spot-on (e.g. selamectin) for all in-contact cats and dogs.
- Bacterial/yeast infections: targeted ear drops.
- Polyps and tumours: imaging and possibly surgery.
- Address underlying allergies.
- Recheck visit to confirm resolution.
Prevention
- Year-round flea and parasite prevention covers many ear mite risks.
- Quarantine new kittens until checked.
- Treat all in-contact pets when one has mites.
- Routine vet checks for older cats with persistent ear issues.
Frequently asked questions
What do ear mites look like?
Ear mites themselves are microscopic, but the black, gritty, coffee-ground-like discharge in the ear canal is highly suggestive. The vet confirms with a swab under the microscope. All in-contact dogs and cats usually need treatment to break the cycle.
Can humans catch ear mites from cats?
Very rarely. Human cases are uncommon and usually mild and self-limiting. Standard hygiene after handling treated cats is sufficient.
Will ear mites go away on their own?
No — without treatment they persist and cause progressive damage and secondary infection. Prescription anti-parasitics resolve the issue cleanly when applied correctly to all in-contact pets.