Image Source:
Pixabay.com
Cats are fascinating animals. They can do amazing things. Almost
everyone is aware of cats' senses of sight and their smell. Many
know about their eyes and noses. However, not many people know
about their ears. That body part deserves a good note as well.
They can do a lot more than simply detect sound. They control
balance and communicate the feline mood. Ears also help to hunt
prey.The cat's ears can be divided into three physical parts: the
inner ear, the outer ear, and the middle ear. The pinna makes up
the outer ear along with the ear canal. Its function is to
capture the sound waves and then transmit the same to the middle
ear via the ear canal.
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Ears and versatile rangeHuman ears are mostly
stationary. The ears of the cat, in contrast, have 32 muscles
which help the body part to rotate, twitch and enjoy a better
hearing range. The ear of the cat could rotate up to 180
degrees. This makes them an excellent tool when it comes to
tracking down small prey moving swiftly from one place to
another.
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Better hearing capabilitiesThere is a
misconception that among pets, dogs have the best hearing
abilities. This is wrong. Cats have a better frequency range to
hear. The dog's hearing range begins from 67 hertz and ends at
45,000 Hertz. In contrast, the range of the cat starts 45 hertz
and ends at 64,000 Hertz. Humans in comparison are 20 hertz to
23,000 hertz. No wonder you see your kitty's ears perking up
while you and the dog continue to lie placidly.
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Maintain balanceCats, like humans, have fluid
inside their ears which helps them to maintain balance. The
inner ear of the cat has a vestibular system. The latter is
full of fluid and assists your cat to maintain balance. Ears
are the reason cats almost always land on their feet.
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Communicate feelingsA good and attentive cat
owner knows what their cat intends to do by the position of its
ears. Since the cat has 32 muscles in its ears, it can move the
part like a satellite dish to communicate different moods. An
uncomfortable cat with have its ears flat against the head and
have a tense stance. The annoyed cat will have its ears twitch
and erect. If the cat's ear is twitched without any
provocation, this means it is trying to locate the source of
the sound.
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Deaf ears at the beginningKittens get born
with closed ear canals. It means your kitty was deaf when it
was just born. The ear canals open when the kitten is a week
old. The cat will begin to recognize sounds after two weeks. It
can differentiate between most sounds within a month.
How to Prevent Ear Disease in your Cat?
Image credit : PixabayCats, in general, are not prone to ear
infections. However, when they do get one, it is important to get
it treated immediately, if not, it can become chronic and lead to
deafness and other complications.A cat inflicted with an ear
infection will show its discomfort by pawing or scratching its
ear or by tilting its head in the direction of its affected ear.
Other symptoms include a yellowish/blackish discharge, strong
odor, loss of balance, swelling of the ear, redness of the ear,
and hearing loss.If you cat has ear disease, then it is better to
take it to a vet, do not try to treat it yourself. You vet may
treat the ear disease with an ointment or with oral/injectable
antibiotics or may recommend a surgery, depending on the severity
of the infection.
Causes of ear
infections
Ear mites are the number one cause of ear infections in cats.
Cats that live outside or those that often go outside are more
prone to get ear mites. An ear infection in a cat may also be due
to some underlying medical conditions. External ear infections
are called 'otitis externa' and middle ear infections are called
'otitis media'. Chronic otitis can be long-lasting. Basically,
any cat can develop chronic otitis. Allergies to certain foods,
as well as environmental allergies can cause chronic otitis. Some
of the other ways how your cat can develop ear infections
include:
- Not cleaning your cat's ears properly
- A ruptured eardrum
- The buildup of wax in the ear canal
- Bacteria/yeast overgrowth in the ears
- Very thick hair in the cat's ear canal
- Presence of foreign bodies in the ear
- Polyps/tumors in the ear canal
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Self-inflicted trauma (heavy scratching)
- Deficiencies/excesses of some hormones
- Eosinophilic granulomas (related to the immune system
disorder)
Prevention
Cleaning the ears of your cat regularly will help to prevent ear
infections. This will also give you an opportunity to regularly
examine your cat's ears. If you notice any signs of infections,
you can immediately take care of it by taking your pet to the
vet. It is better to get advice from your vet on how to properly
clean your cat's ears.Keeping your cat indoors will prevent your
cat from getting ear mites from other cats. Of course, even
indoor cats can get heartworms and fleas. Flea and tick
medication for cats can certainly come in handy. Opting for a
high-quality diet for your cat will keep it healthy, a strong
immune system will help to prevent diseases.Healthy ears are pale
pink in color. They will be free of any odor, and ear wax. Always
make sure you cat has healthy ears. A little care and you can
avoid a world of pain for your feline friend.