Flat ears and scratching

I've noticed for a long time that my cat Buffy always has her ears down and scratches them occasionally. When I try to look in her ears, she frantically pulls away like it hurts. The vet looked for mites, but nothing. We clean her ears twice a week with a mild solution. We haven't changed food with her for years. No redness or anything that looks like infection. She's otherwise healthy. Any ideas?

I do know that food allergy often manifests in their ears, and even if you haven't changed the brand of food you are using, the company may have changed some of the ingredients.  It happens all the time.  We got two brother cats into rescue whose ears were just terrible, obviously had been that way for years, and the vet they came through didn't find mites or any obvious cause.  We put them on totally grain-free food and their ears cleared up very quickly -- it was quite dramatic..  They are continued on grain free food in their adoptive home and they are just fine, no ear problems. 

It could be that the solution you are cleaning her ears with is uncomfortable, so that's why she's pulling away every time you touch her ears, or it could be that she is developing an allergy to something in her food.  I have no idea what you are feeding her but you might try switching to a totally grain-free food and see if that makes a difference. 

If not, it is possible that she has a INNER ear infection, which would not be visible on just a plain ear exam by the vet.  I had a cat who had that and the vet gave him antibiotics even though there was no visible sign, and the antibiotics cleared up whatever the problem was. 

She's on pro plan and we're in the process to switching her to 95% instinct wet food. We use an aloe solution for her ears. Interesting what you said about inner ear. I was given a med for my kitten for ear infection (found her on the road) so I'll ask my vet if I could try that in Buffy.

I appreciate the informative response.

It's really best not to put any liquid in their ears.  That can lead to fungal infections.  You can clean the outer part of the ears with a dry q-tip dampened with water, but don't put liquid in there and dont go go deep with the q-tip

Thanks for the tip. We never squirt anything in her ears, just soak the Qtip, then wipe dry with cotton ball.

What about remicin ear treatment for ear infection? The vet said to apply drops in the ear. Since that works against infection then it would be ok, correct?

Inner ear infections are under the skin, you cannot reach them with topical treatment.  They need oral antibiotics.