Most people land on a page like this after noticing something small but nagging: a bit of eye “sleep”, a head shake, a sneeze that won’t quit, or ears that look darker than usual. With cats, the sensory organs sit right at the boundary between normal daily maintenance and problems that can worsen quickly if they’re missed.
Below is a clear, practical look at how a cat’s eyes, ears and nose are built to gather information, what “normal” tends to look like, what changes are worth taking seriously, and how to clean safely without pushing debris deeper or irritating delicate tissue.
The anatomy of a cat’s eyes, ears and nose (and why it matters)
Cats are designed for low light, faint sound and subtle scent trails. Their sensory organs are not just “better than ours”; they’re tuned for different tasks, with trade-offs that show up in everyday behaviour.
Eyes
A cat’s eyes are built to gather scarce light and register movement. A reflective layer behind the retina (the tapetum lucidum) helps recycle light that passes through the retina, which is why cats’ eyes can appear to “glow” when a torch hits them at night.1
Cats also have a third eyelid (the nictitating membrane). It helps protect the surface of the eye and spread tears, and it’s sometimes visible when a cat is very relaxed, sleepy, or unwell.2
Ears
The outer ear (pinna) is moved by many small muscles, letting a cat swivel and “aim” each ear to sample sound from different directions. Cats can hear much higher frequencies than humans; behavioural testing has found hearing extending into ultrasonic ranges (up to around 85 kHz under test conditions).3
Nose (and the scent-sensing add-ons)
A cat’s nose does more than detect odours. Cats also use a specialised scent system (the vomeronasal organ) to process certain chemical cues. You’ll sometimes see this when a cat pauses and draws air in with an open mouth (the flehmen response).4
Common eye, ear and nose problems in cats
Eyes: conjunctivitis and other causes of “weepy” eyes
Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissues around the eye) is common in cats and can be linked with infectious upper respiratory disease, irritants, or other eye surface problems. Redness, squinting, obvious discomfort, or thick yellow-green discharge are all reasons to arrange a veterinary check rather than trying to manage it at home.5
Ears: mites and otitis (inflammation/infection)
Ear trouble in cats often shows up as head shaking, scratching, sensitivity, a smell, or dark debris. Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a frequent cause, especially in kittens and cats with outdoor contact, and they can lead to significant irritation and secondary infection if not treated properly.6
Otitis externa (inflammation/infection of the outer ear canal) can also occur, and if it progresses it can affect deeper ear structures with consequences for hearing and balance. A vet exam is important because treatment depends on the cause (mites, bacteria, yeast, foreign material, allergy-related inflammation).7
Nose: the “cat cold” picture (upper respiratory infection)
Sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion are classic signs of feline upper respiratory infection, which is often contagious between cats (especially in multi-cat settings). Some cats remain bright and eating; others feel miserable and stop eating, which is where the risk rises quickly.5
How to clean your cat’s eyes, ears and nose safely
Eyes: gentle wipe, no chemicals
For small amounts of normal debris at the inner corner of the eye, use damp cotton wool or a soft pad and wipe away from the eye. Avoid rubbing the eyeball itself, and use a fresh pad for each eye to reduce the chance of spreading infection.8
Ears: never use cotton buds in the canal
If your cat only has light wax at the entrance of the ear and no pain, smell, heavy discharge or redness, you can clean the visible outer ear with cotton wool or gauze and a vet-recommended ear cleaner.
- Do not use cotton-tipped applicators (cotton buds/Q-tips). They can push debris deeper and can injure the ear canal or even the eardrum.9
- Do not “deep clean” an ear that looks infected or very painful. That needs a vet exam first.9
Nose: wipe the outside only
Use a damp, soft cloth to wipe away discharge from the outside of the nostrils. Don’t insert anything into the nostrils, and don’t use fragranced wipes. If the discharge is persistent, thick, or your cat is congested and off food, treat it as a reason to book a vet visit rather than a cleaning problem.5
Signs of allergies (and look-alikes) in cats
Allergies in cats often announce themselves through skin signs (itching, over-grooming, scabs), and sometimes through watery eyes or sneezing. The tricky part is that infections, parasites (including fleas), and irritants can look similar from across the room.
If a person in the household is reacting to the cat, it’s worth knowing that “hypoallergenic” cats are not reliably supported by evidence, and the main sources of allergen include saliva and skin particles (dander), not just fur.10
The importance of regular vet check-ups for sensory health
Cats are good at carrying on quietly, even when an eye is sore or an ear canal is inflamed. Routine check-ups give your vet a chance to look into the ears properly, check the eyes for surface pain and internal clarity, and spot early changes before they turn into ongoing discomfort or recurring infection.
Protecting eyes, ears and nose from environmental hazards
Most household hazards are simple, persistent irritants: smoke, aerosols, strong cleaning fumes, dusty renovation areas, and heavily scented products. Keeping the air calm and clean matters more than frequent cleaning of your cat’s face.
Also note the quiet hazards: grass seeds and plant fragments can lodge in eyes and noses, and repeated loud noise can be stressful even when it doesn’t cause obvious injury.
Understanding your cat’s sense of smell (and how it shapes behaviour)
Much of a cat’s world is mapped in scent. Scent-marking (rubbing the face and body on objects) is a normal way of leaving chemical information behind. The flehmen response—open mouth, slightly raised lip, still posture—is one way cats pull scent molecules towards the vomeronasal organ for extra analysis.4
Final thoughts
A healthy cat’s eyes, ears and nose usually look quiet: clear eyes with minimal debris, ears without smell or heavy discharge, and a nose that’s clean and easy to breathe through. When something changes—colour, smell, swelling, repeated scratching, squinting, appetite drop—it’s often more useful to stop cleaning and start observing, then take that information to your vet.
References
- The International Cat Association (TICA) – Can Cats See in the Dark? Night Vision Explained
- Nictitating membrane (overview and function) – Wikipedia
- Costalupes JA. Hearing range of the domestic cat. Hearing Research. 1985 (PubMed abstract)
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Vomeronasal organ and flehmen response (cats)
- The Animal Medical Center – Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI): signs and transmission
- Cornell Feline Health Center – Ear mites in cats (Otodectes cynotis): signs and complications
- Cornell Feline Health Center – Otitis in cats: causes and risks
- VetZone – Taking care of your cat’s eyes: routine cleaning and warning signs
- VCA Animal Hospitals – Instructions for ear cleaning in cats (avoid cotton-tipped applicators)
- RSPCA NSW – Advice on cat allergies (sources of allergens; “hypoallergenic” claims)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom