Can I use tee tree oil to clean my cats ears? He has this black stuff inside it, but I'm not sure what to do about it. All I have is Tea Tree oil.
By Anna from New York, NY
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Do not use tea tree oil because it's toxic to cats if ingested and since they even bathe the inside of their ears it's simply not worth the risk! NEVER ever pour anything in to any animal or humans ears!
Just in case they are ear mites instead of excessive ear wax please take your baby to the vet. They'll give you special drops that you must use because if it is mites they do or might already have spread in to the inner ear which can cause hearing loss :-(
For general cleaning of wax just use a cotton ball with a little veggie type oil on it, then one dipped in soapy water and then dry ear :-)
Ok. Confused because there are a number of cat and dog ear cleaners at chewy that contain tea tree oil ?
Your cat probably has ear mites, and cleaning the ear with a damp cotton ball will help (well, likely several cotton balls) I wouldn't put oil in the cats ears, as that will just attract dirt. You must get medicine from the vet to treat the ear mites. And he will likely show you have to clean out the cat's ears.
I agree with Deeli - DO NOT use tea tree oil. I tried it on my cat once, she immediately began foaming at the mouth and ran off. I was so worried, I called the vet who told me that when I got home from work, she may have already died. I couldn't find her to take her to the vet.
She did not die and lived several more years. But we were very lucky!
Do not use tea tree oil, it is deadly to cats. If possible, see a vet to be sure if it is ear mites or just dirt, and best if you can have a vet clean the ears. If you can't, go to a pet store like PetsMart or Petco and get a good ear cleaner. One with a miticide is good. And never use motor oil, used or otherwise, in any animal's ears. It is an outdated and dangerous practice. If you have livestock, you can put a few drops of liquid ivermectin in each ear, but be careful, too much can be risky.
Your cat may have ear mites. It will spread to the other ear and other pets. A vet has the best stuff to get rid of it. Just cleaning out the ear will not solve the problem.
If unable to get to a vet right away use oil (olive is good) a small squeeze bottle will make the job easier & pour some into each ear it can be messy (the cat will not like much) try to hold cat still for a moment & rub ear gently. The oil works to smoother the mites this is an old folk cure that does takes more time than vet cure.
You can clean the outer part of the ear with just warm water on cotton ball. Do not enter ear canal.
If you see stuff inside the canal - it could be mites, so let your vet check it out.
Take your cat to the vet. She likely has ear mites.
Tea tree oil is great for mold and mildew when mixed with water. However it is poison to animals. What are people thinking? Contact your vet, please.
If your cat is an outdoor cat, you will always have this problem. It's not necessarily mites but is more likely flea "dirt" containing the microscopic flea eggs, too.
To be better in control of the cat, wrap it gently but firmly in an old clean towel after you have yourself set up to get to work helping the cat. Speak softly and reasurringly to the cat the whole time, even if she meows.
Likely she will know you are trying to help if you don't hurt her in any way. Because she meows does not necessarily
mean she is hurting, perhaps only frustrated with being wrapped up and controlled for a few minutes. It works.
I'd use a tiny amt. of used motor oil, or A-1 all purpose oil on a qtip if you are frugal, or transmission oil will also work and be even gentler. Be careful that you don't go deep. It has "petroleum distillates" and can be used this way if you have any.
Rinse with mild soapy warm water on a clean q-tip, and you should have it. A secret is that most folks don't realize the "dirt" isn't just "dirt", so VERY carefully stick each used q-tip into a zip-lock baggie and toss it when ears are clean. Do NOT use the same q-tip over and over, you are only spreading the eggs. You'll probably go through six q-tips or so.
Wipe rather than spread, pick up rather than rub, then place them immediately into the baggie, not laying them anywhere else. The oil kills on contact, but might not contact all of them since they are microscopic.
Also check your cat for fleas, and it's bedding. It only takes a couple to make dust and eggs, you know.
If your cat is strictly indoors, you must find where the cat is getting it from, perhaps behind or under something
that you've forgotten to clean, cannot easily reach? Remember that cats LOVE house plantss to use the bathroom in. So check and smell the dirt of each one.
If there are other pets the cat comes in contact with, check them as well.
Only one good cleaning every week for about a month should do the trick. If your cat is scratching a lot, that's it.If not, it could be simple dust mites, so get to dusting everything from your waist down or wherever the cat goes, high or low. The oil can kill both mites, fleas, eggs!
Check your dust pan, your closets, your shoes, and at the base of the threads of your carpet. You may need a new vacuum. If you can get a Hoover WindTunnel which gets most everything well. I sold vacuums and could never beat that product, and then bought one and have had it five years!
Don't over-clean the cat's ears, just clean as if your own, wash gently and dry. The cat will thank you for it! : )
Don't ever use motor oil or A-1 oil! Vegetable or canola oil maybe...
Go to Walmart or Kmart in the animal section. They have a great cat/dog ear cleaner that cleans, kills mites and takes out any moisture that could cause inner ear infections. It's about 3 dollars a bottle. put about 4-5 drops inside ears and then rub well. If they are super dirty, very gently rub with a damp wash cloth then use ear cleaner.
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