Why Does My Cat's Ear Smell?

I would have this cat examined by a veterinarian.  The home made ear cleaner described may help prevent infection but will not treat an infection that is already active and chronic.  Your veterinarian should do an ear cytology to check for ear mites and ear infection (both yeast and bacteria).  They will also look down the ear canal to make sure there is not a foreign body like a foxtail, grass, or ticks in the ear canal.
Appropriate medication is needed to treat infection and continued ear cleaning will prevent relapse or reinfection.

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Stinky ear? I use a vinegar/water solution for this.  I use one part white vinegar to 9 parts distilled water.  I use an eye dropper and get in way down the tube and squeeze, not rub the ear.  I then use a cotton ball to absorb the excess. 
If your cat's ear smells like dirty feet, then it's probably fungal/yeast, and this works quite well.  I use it two times a day for a 10 days.  It usually reappears for some reason, and I just do the process again.  Works well of dogs too, including between their toes.

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I have had it suggested that it might be mites, however, but I have dealt with mites in other cats, and none of the solutions I used to cure their problem worked. Also, I don't see any brown gunk, or the typical signs of mites. Its been a problem for several years, but has not spread to the other ear. I took her to a vet a while back, whom prescribed mite drops that didn't work, despite me using them religiously. Should I take her to a different vet, or maybe its something other than mites?

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