Cats from the feline family, characterized by having flexible and low bodies, long tails that help balance, teeth and claws that make it easier for them to hunt, domestic cats also have qualities similar to those of their relatives in the wild, among which they are mainly carnivorous, their movement is coordinated, and they possess remarkable agility and strength.[١]
The number of muscles in the cat’s ear and their function
A cat has 32 muscles in each of its outer ears, and these muscles give cats the ability to control the rotation of their ears, so they can focus on the exact source of noise, as cats ‘ ears rotate 180 degrees, and use their ears to communicate with other cats, or with their owner.[٢]
Common ear problems in cats
The following are the problems that cats may have with their ears: [٣]
Ear mites: they are very small parasites that infect the ear and the skin around it, and are common in small cats, and cats that spend time outside the house, and spread easily among cats, indicating that the cat is infected with ear mites, shaking her head, scratching around her ear, head, neck, and dry secretions of dark brown and black color also appear.
Infections of the external ear canal: this infection is caused by bacteria or fungi, or both, and symptoms of infection can appear such as symptoms of infection with mites, in addition to other signs such as redness, or swelling of the ears, ear discharge, and unpleasant odor.
Ear tumor: it is a type of lump that appears in the ear, which is an inflammatory benign tumor, and can be diagnosed by endoscopic ear examination at the veterinarian’s office, and is treated by removing them.
Ringworm: this infection occurs in the part of the ear on which the hair grows in the pinna, especially in small cats, and its symptoms include hair loss, redness of the pinna, peeling of the skin, along with itching.
Allergies: allergies that affect the cat can lead to itching in the ear, head, and some food allergens such as fish, milk, and environmental pathogens, such as pollen, and house dust.
Understanding Cats by the movements of their ears
The following are the meanings of the ear movements performed by cats:
Moving the ear forward: the cat is happy and relaxed and feels fun.
Raising the ears straight up: the cat is on the alert because something caught her attention.
Moving the ears to the side flat: the cat’s ears in this case indicate that the cat is upset, worried, or scared.
Moving the ears back flat: is a sure signal that the cat is feeling scared, or angry, and may behave aggressively.
Other important information about the cat’s ear
Facts about the cat’s ear
Some of these facts are: [٤]
The ears of cats are very similar to those of other mammals, and they share the same three structural regions namely, the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
Despite the similarity with the ears of other mammals, there are some anatomical differences that make it difficult for veterinarians to treat infections that occur in the middle ear, due to the presence of an area that is not easily accessible.
Cats have a very good sense of hearing, cats hear higher frequencies and lower frequencies than dogs and people.
Blue-eyed white cats have congenital ear impairments higher than normal, which causes deafness to them.
Some cats have four external ears, and they occur as a result of a genetic mutation.
Cats ‘ ears do not work as soon as they are born, the ear canal is closed, and cats begin to hear when it opens.
The temperature of the right ear of cats is related to the level of hormones that are released in response to stress and can serve as a reliable indicator of psychological stress.
How to care for a cat’s ear
The cat’s ear is cared for as follows: [٥]
Put a few drops of detergent in each ear, then massage the outside of the ear gently, until the detergent covers the ear; the detergent works to loosen the dirt, making it easier to remove.
Use a cotton swab to remove dirt from the cat’s ear.
Repeat the operation in the other ear.
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