Importance of Cat Ear Cleanser

While furry felines are excellent groomers and prefer to keep their majestic appearance spotless at all times, they often miss out on cleaning tricky spots, such as their eyes, ear canal, and paw pads, which can accumulate dust, body oils, and dead skin cells. In this regard, inspecting your feline buddy’s healthy cat ears on a regular basis can help you spot build-up of earwax, or infections or other cat ear problems.

Types of Cat Ear Cleansers

• Salicylic acid ear cleanser -

  Commercially available cat ear cleansers contain salicylic acid, which can help break down wax buildup, and get rid of foul odour as well.

• Cleansing solution -

  Solutions with a saline content are also frequently used to clean feline ears and are available commercially.

• Advanced cat ear wipes -

  Alcohol-free ear wipes designed for cats with cat ear problems are easy to use and often contain an aloe extract that helps soothe feline ears.

What do I need to clean my cat’s ears?

Feline healthy cat ears cleaning can be easily carried out at home without professional assistance, and in addition to removing any excess wax build-up, it can also help spot other irregularities and cat ear problems, such as swellings or ear mites, which might require a professional check-up. However, before starting to clean your feline munchkin’s ears, make sure you have a cat ear cleanser, some gauze or cotton balls, and a towel at hand.

Guide for ear cleaning

To start the ear-cleaning process for cat ear problems, make sure you are comfortably sitting with your kitty on your lap. Having your cat swaddled in a towel can not only help them feel secure, but also prevent them from accidentally scratching you.

Gently pull back the ear flap of an ear so that you have an unobstructed view of the ear canal. Using a few drops of the cat ear cleanser into the ear canal should give you a good start to the cleaning process. Make sure the bottle is placed above the ears, as forcing the nozzle into the ears can cause injuries. Massage the ear gently, allowing the cat ear cleanser solution to be evenly distributed within the ear. Wipe out the ear canal with a soft cotton ball or gauze to remove debris and excess cat ear cleanser solution, before offering some treats to your kitty for being a good baby.

Steps for Medication Application

Most veterinarians recommend transdermal medications for infections in a cat’s ear, which are easily absorbed through the skin layers. Since the ear flap of a cat’s ear does not have a fur coat, gently applying the ointment in the inner part of the ear canal is sufficient for the medication to be absorbed into the skin. However, make sure not to apply the ointment deep inside the ear canal as it may cause accidental injury and might even rupture the eardrum.

Eye Diseases in Cats

• Causes of Cat Eye Discharge

  Among the infections cats often suffer from, eye diseases caused by bacterial and fungal actions can be pretty common and might require urgent cat eye disease treatment to avoid any lasting impacts on healthy cat eyes.

  Conjunctivitis, one of the cat eye problems, is frequently caused by bacterial, fungal and viral actions. Exposure to viruses such as the feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) can also lead to cat eye problems.

Types of cat eye disease

• Eye problems

  Eye problems in cats can also be a result of physical damage, such as wounds from fights and insect bites as well as poor cat eye health. If your cat is suffering from a visible wound around the eye, it is best to consult a veterinarian.

• Feline upper respiratory infections

  The feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is a common health issue faced by cats and is usually caused by viral actions.

• Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)

  Conjunctivitis is an eye disease frequently experienced by cats. Irritants such as pollens, weeds, and dust can cause conjunctivitis which can worsen cat eye health and is also one of the contagious cat eye problems.

• Corneal disorders

  Corneal disorders, such as corneal sequestration which causes a part of the cornea to darken and die are also significant cat eye problems that require professional intervention.

• Watery, tearing eyes (epiphora)

  An obstruction in the nasal duct of cats can also lead to epiphora, which causes chronic overflow of tears from the eyes. Although epiphora is harmless, it can result in visible discolouration around the eyes.

• Uveitis

  Feline uveitis is a condition that causes painful inflammation of the vascular tunic of the eyes and can affect the iris, choroid and ciliary body of the eye. Cats with uveitis can show symptoms such as frequent blinking or pawing at the eyeball.

• Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

  The lacrimal gland present around the feline eyes is responsible for producing a thin film of tears mixed with mucous, moisture, and oils which prevent any foreign particle to enter the eye, as well as keep it moist. Dry eye syndrome partially or completely affects the production from lacrimal glands, resulting in itchy eyes.

Treatments for Cat Eye Diseases

While cat eye diseases can be quite uncomfortable, most are easily treatable with over-the-counter medications as well as home remedies. However, the cat eye disease treatment and kitten eye care can also vary, such as:

• Over-the-counter feline eye medications, kitten eye care ointments, fluids and decongestants can be particularly beneficial for feline upper respiratory infections.
• Since conjunctivitis is commonly caused by particles that can irritate the eye, steroid ointments can be extremely effective for cat eye disease treatment. Conjunctivitis caused by bacterial action may require antibiotic ointments for quick relief.

Cat Skin Care

What are the types of hair coats that a cat must have?

Before we find out more about the feline coat and their skin care routines, here’s all you need to know about the different types of hair coats in cats.

• Hairless - The Sphynx cat is notoriously hairless, but it has elastic skin covered with an extremely fine lining of fur.
• Smooth coats - Cats, such as various oriental breeds can have a smooth coat characterised by shorter, sparse undercoats.
• Curly coats - Rex cats often have a curlier coat of hair known for minimal shedding.
• Short-hair coats - Shorthaired cat breeds are known to have a regular coat, consisting of an outer coat, and a softer inner lining of fur for additional insulation.
• Long-hair coats - The Persian cat, Norwegian Forest cat, and Maine Coon cats are known for their luxurious longhaired fur that looks majestic but is also prone to tangles.

How does nutrition influence the appearance of a cat’s coat and skin?

Nutrition is one of the deciding factors when it comes to cat skin care. Cats are carnivores, and most of their everyday diet consists of animal protein and fats, both of which play a vital role in cat skin care. A lack of protein can result in excessive shedding and cat hair getting dry and brittle.

Furthermore, the fatty acids present in a cat’s diet are important for maintaining good haircoat and are responsible for keeping the feline skin elastic and moisturised. Essential minerals, such as copper and zinc must also be present in a feline’s diet to avoid pigment discolouration of the haircoat, dry hair, loss of hair in patches, skin ulcers, and cracked skin.

Whiskas cat food is rich in all the necessary nutrients required to keep you fur baby happy and their coats shining with good health.

How often should I bathe my cat?

Given that most cats groom themselves thoroughly and share an aversion to water, cat skin care does not require frequently bathing them. However, you can consider giving your cat a bath using a shampoo designed for cat fur on a monthly basis to ensure good cat skin health, and get rid of tangled and matted fur, excess body oils, and dead skin cells.