Though there's no need to clean cat ears very often, sometimes it is necessary for three reasons: removing of earwax before cat shows (especially this concerns Rex breed); removing of dust and moister as one of preventive measures in ear ticks control.
It is recommended to examine cat ears during brushing and in cases when you notice that it constantly shakes its' ears, rubs them and scratches.
Cats rarely suffer acute ear inflammations but if this happens the acoustic duct gets red, the ear hurts and becomes filled with moister (egesta, matter). An alien body may get inside the duct (a grass seed, a piece of brunch). In that case before trying to clean the ear one is better to visit a veterinary.
Ear ticks (Otodectes cynotis) is the prevailing reason of ear inflammation in cats, especially immature animals. And, as it was said above, they cause dark-colored matter and earwax scab inside the acoustic duct. In these cases one should cure ears with eardrops, containing a certain substance (acharacid) that kills ticks. It is better to commit dripping of medicine to your vet. Before each procedure it is very important to extract as much matter as possible from the duct in order to let the drops get inside the duct. Never pour powder in the ear: it may become cemented and absolutely close the duct.
At first, put a bottle with olive or paraffin oil in the pan filled with hot water until oil gets warm. Don't heat up oil right in the pan on no account: it may overheat and burn the ear. After that put a cat on the table and if possible ask somebody to hold it.
Take a cat in the back of its' neck and turn its' head so as to set the ear up. Fill the duct with oil almost to the brim and carefully massage the base of the ear with your forefinger and thumb to let to matter out. Wipe unnecessary oil out with a piece of cotton textile, wrapped around a finger. Repeat the procedure again if necessary. During wiping oil a cat most likely will shake its' head. Therefore conduct the procedure on the table that doesn't afraid of oil splashes. Then wipe the remainder of oil and matter with one or two cotton tampons. Wipe all curves of ear, but don't push too hard. In conclusion drip the drug in and wipe the remainder drops of oil form the hair of animal. Do the same for another ear, if necessary.
Translated by Tatiana Karpova (Moscow)
(MSU, Biology faculture, Dep. zoology and ecology).