Cat ?Ear Problem?

My 5 month old female kitten, Storm, who is otherwise a healthy bundle of joy, but I think something is going on with her ears. About a month ago on a Sunday I noticed she kept bending her left ear down and was scratching at it. I decided to wait until the following day to call my vet for an appointment, but she seemed to be ok and had been ok until last Sunday when her right ear seemed to be the problem. Yesterday morning it seemed to be ok, but when I got home from work she was shaking her head and scratching at it again so I booked an appointment for today. The vet had never seen Storm before and first noted she had a heart murmur which we weren't aware of, then continued to say both her ears seemed ok, but perhaps the right ear was slightly red down near her canal. She washed both ears out and gave me anti-inflammatory drops to use for 5 days in hope it helps. She didn't really have an answer to what's wrong with her, especially since it seems to come and go and has appeared in both ears. I'm wondering if anyone can shine of light on A. feline heart murmurs and B. have any guess as to what's going on with Storms ears. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I can't really help with heart murmurs, but ears are not something to mess around with on cats. It could be a yeast or bacterial infection. Both are usually signs that something else is not right with the whole system. I'm assuming your vet ruled out typical things like mites? To really test for an infection, you could have a scraping done to be cultured. Also, have you seen any signs of balance issues?

The first thing I look for when I see a cat bending it's ear down and/or scratching is earmites.

Put a tissue over your finger, and dive in, holding the tip of the ear with your other hand.

If it comes out with dark dirt, looking like coffee grounds it is mites.

Also see if the ear inside seems puffy/inflammed.

Sometimes mites will cause the ear to be infected.

It could be something like airborne allergies, especially since it's not a prolonged thing.  What's the weather doing in your area?

I haven't noticed any balance issues.. and she seems to be her happy, playful self. The vet checked for ear mites and said her ears were clean with little wax so she didn't see anything problematic. Yesterday when her ear seemed to be really bugging her I did get a cool damp cloth and held it inside her ear for a couple seconds and she seemed to enjoy the cooling effect, and when I looked at the cloth after it had some wax on it.. not a lot.. just some yellow. I say she seemed to enjoy the cold cloth because she usually squirms so I cant look in her ear, but she sat contently while I held it there. I live in Toronto, Canada. The weather is starting to get cold and we even had snow for two days last week, but she is an indoor cat.

If the weather is changing (barometric pressure and fronts coming through) that could be triggering it.  Also, if the air in your house is becoming drier that might be contributing to it.  I'm guessing you're running your heater since it's already snowing there. (I live in Texas and it's just now starting to get cool at night! LOL)  That might be drying out the air in your house. 

I hope you're right. She seemed fine all day yesterday and this morning. It's so strange it comes and goes so your explanation could definitely explain it! Thanks Stephanie, maybe I should get out the humidifier 

Sometimes it takes a lot of observation to make the connection between itchy ears and atmospheric conditions.  I have one cat who is very sensitive to those things.