My cats do this too, I do not understand it. If I do not burry a Q-tip suffeciently the entire bathroom trash will be ransacked. If it is the taste or something, why don't I get my brains liked out through my ears while I sleep? I have yet to wake up with a kitty tonguing my ear.
my cat pulls them out and does the same exact thing ... hes a weirdo ... but then again he also drives me nuts when i bring taco bell home and wont leave me alone till i give him some ....