Why does my cat scratch her ears if she doesn’t have ear mites?

Ear mites are the cause most owners think of first, but they are far from the only one. A yeast or bacterial ear infection, a wax buildup, an allergy (food or environmental) that flares in the ears specifically, or even a small foreign object can all cause the same head-shaking and scratching. Ear mites tend to produce a distinctive dark, coffee-ground-like debris, so a normal-looking ear canal with scratching is a good reason to think past mites rather than assume they were simply missed. Grabbing an over-the-counter mite treatment for a non-mite problem can delay the actual diagnosis by weeks.

When to call a vet: Ear scratching without visible mite debris should get an actual otoscope exam rather than a guessed treatment.