Why do my cat's ears have a red outline? Is it normal or serious?

The spots could be from your cat itching excessively at her ears, or they could be a little bruises under the skin. It is difficult to know which is going on based on the pictures. I would recommend taking your cat into the vet because if it is bruises this could indicate a bleeding or clotting disorder. Hopefully it is nothing too serious going on, but I would have it checked out just to be safe.

This looks like ecchymosis/petechia that are usually from a clotting disorder or vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels). This can be a serious issue and I think you need to take her to the vet for an exam as soon as you can get her an appointment. Check her gums and her belly for any more signs of bruising like this. I really don't think this is due to trauma.

It's a little difficult to tell from the pictures, but those areas may be bruises or areas of small bleeds. If you don't know of any possible injury to Lola's ear then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her for any other signs of abnormal bleeding or bruising. Sometimes it can be difficult to see on cats with her coloring, but we can sometimes see bruising in the mouth or eyes or on the belly if there is something abnormal going on. It may be worth having some blood work checked just to be safe. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would highly recommend taking Jasper to a veterinarian. The swelling at the ear looks like a hematoma according to the picture. It also appears that Jasper may have some eye discharge and potentially an ear infection. I don't like the fact that Jasper is lethargic and laying around. Your veterinarian can make sure there is or is not an ear infection, see if he needs antibiotics and discuss options regarding the hematoma on his ear. With the ear you can either drain it, leave it and let it scare down or have surgery performed to fix it. They would also have to treat the possible ear infection. The veterinarian can also make sure there are no ear mites in his ear. I hope Jasper feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Is your pet itching or scratching at its head/ears? Outdoor kitty with the potential for being in a fight or being wounded? These could be excoriations/superficial wounds. If your pet is scratching/itching a lot than these could be caused by an ear infection (bacteria/yeast/ear mites) or allergy (food, flea, etc.), etc. Some medications older cats take can also cause an itchy face, so if your pet is taking a new medication this could be the cause and you should alert your veterinarian. As the lesions appear raw and ulcerated the best plan would be to have your pet seen by your family veterinarian for an exam and ear assessment. That way if medications are needed to improve comfort they can be prescribed. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am not sure what you think is abnormal. It is normal for a cat's ear to have that shape. There may be a little crust in the top part of that cavity, but it does not look serious. If it gets infected or red have a veterinarian examine it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Xiaoqi. Some cats will have abrasions to this area if they have been scratching at their ears. Have you noticed him doing this or shaking his head? If so, he may have an ear infection. You can also check the ears for redness or a waxy build up. If you notice these signs, then he will need to see a veterinarian. If not, monitor the red area closely. It should resolve within a few days. If not or the red spot gets larger, he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!