Cat Ear, Eye and Dental Care: A Simple Routine
How to check and clean your cat's ears and eyes, how to brush a cat's teeth, and the warning signs that need a vet.
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A quick weekly check of your cat's ears, eyes and mouth helps you catch problems early — and gets your cat used to being handled, which makes vet visits easier.
Ears
Healthy ears are pale pink inside, clean or with a tiny amount of light wax, and have no smell.
How to check: gently fold back the ear flap in good light and look inside. Sniff for odor.
Cleaning: most cats never need their ears cleaned. If there's visible wax on the flap, wipe gently with cotton wool or gauze moistened with a vet-approved cat ear cleaner. Never push anything into the ear canal (including cotton buds) — you can damage the eardrum or push debris deeper.
See the vet if you notice:
- Dark brown, crumbly "coffee grounds" wax — often ear mites, especially in kittens (see parasites)
- Redness, swelling, discharge or a bad smell
- Head shaking, scratching the ears or tilting the head
- A swollen, puffy ear flap (an aural hematoma, often from head shaking)
- Loss of balance
Breeds with large, open ears (Devon Rex, Sphynx) often produce more wax and may need regular cleaning.
Eyes
Healthy eyes are bright, clear and fully open, with both pupils the same size. A small amount of dark, dry discharge in the corner can be normal.
Cleaning: wipe away discharge with cotton wool moistened with warm water or saline, from the inner corner outward, using a fresh piece for each eye. Flat-faced breeds (Persian, Exotic, Himalayan) often need daily face cleaning to manage tear staining.
See the vet the same day if you notice:
- Squinting or keeping an eye closed
- Redness, swelling or cloudiness
- Yellow or green discharge
- The third eyelid (a membrane in the inner corner) showing across the eye
- Different pupil sizes, or sudden blindness (can be linked to high blood pressure in older cats)
Eye problems can worsen quickly and some, like corneal ulcers, are very painful.
Teeth
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in adult cats. See common health problems.
How to brush your cat's teeth
Daily brushing is the most effective way to prevent plaque and tartar build-up. It sounds impossible, but many cats accept it with gradual training.
- Use cat toothpaste — never human toothpaste, which contains fluoride and foaming agents that shouldn't be swallowed. Cat toothpastes come in flavors like poultry or fish.
- Week 1: let your cat lick a little toothpaste from your finger as a treat.
- Week 2: gently lift the lip and rub a little paste along the gums with your finger.
- Week 3: introduce a soft cat toothbrush or finger brush. Brush the outer surfaces of the back teeth (where tartar builds up most) in small circles. You don't need to open the mouth wide or brush the inner surfaces.
- Keep sessions short (30 seconds is great) and always end with praise or a treat.
Other dental care options
- Dental diets and treats with evidence of effectiveness (look for a VOHC seal in the US)
- Water additives and gels — some help modestly
- Professional dental cleaning under anesthesia, including dental X-rays, when your vet recommends it. "Anesthesia-free" dental scaling can't clean below the gumline and isn't recommended by veterinary dental specialists.
See the vet if you notice: bad breath, red or bleeding gums, brown tartar, drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth, or a swelling on the face.
A simple weekly routine
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Ears | Clean, pale pink, no odor |
| Eyes | Bright, clear, no squinting or discharge |
| Teeth and gums | Pink gums, no bad breath, no tartar |
| Nails | Not overgrown, curling or catching |
| Coat and skin | No mats, fleas, scabs, lumps or bald patches |
| Weight | Ribs easy to feel, visible waist |
