A kitten getting their eyes and ears cleaned
kitten care

Eye and Ear Cleaning in Kittens

Miyav Stack
November 12, 2024
2 min read

Your kitten’s bright eyes and perky ears show their health and happiness. Regular eye and ear cleaning prevents health problems and keeps your kitten clean.

Why Do Kittens Need Eye and Ear Cleaning?

While cats are clean animals, they can’t always remove dirt, discharge, or debris around their eyes and ears. These deposits can cause infections, irritation, and even hearing loss. Kittens face higher risks because their immune systems are still developing.

Eye Cleaning

What You Need:

  • Cotton balls
  • Warm water or vet-approved eye cleaning solution

Cleaning Steps:

  1. Wet the cotton ball with warm water or cleaning solution
  2. Wipe dirt or discharge from around the eye
  3. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye

Note: Call your vet if your kitten’s eyes water too much or have discharge. This could mean an infection or allergy.

Ear Cleaning

What You Need:

  • Cotton balls or ear cleaning pads
  • Vet-approved ear cleaning solution

Cleaning Steps:

  1. Clean the outer ear and ear flap with a cotton ball
  2. Never put anything into the ear canal
  3. Call your vet if you see excess dirt or discharge in the ear canal

Warning: Don’t use cotton swabs - they can harm the eardrum.

kitten's ear

Training Your Kitten for Cleaning

Kittens accept cleaning better when they learn early.

  • Gently touch their ears and eyes during petting
  • Let them sniff and check the cleaning supplies
  • Stay calm and gentle during cleaning
  • Give treats or pets after cleaning

Summary

Regular eye and ear cleaning keeps your kitten healthy. It prevents infections, irritation, and other problems. Training your kitten early makes cleaning easier for both of you.

Discussion

How do you clean your kitten’s eyes and ears? Share your tips or experiences in the comments!