Senior cat has rough, red spots on ears. Is it an infection?

It could be a bacterial infection, allergic dermatitis, fungal infection, etc. You could clean it with an antiseptic wound cleaner and then put some neosporin on it and see if it helps. If not, he should be examined by a vet for treatment.

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!

It could be a bacterial/fungal skin infection or an allergic dermatitis. You could clean the area with Mal-A-Ket wipes and see if that helps. Otherwise, have your vet take a look at her to determine the cause and prescribe medications to treat.

The gabapentin administration has nothing to do with these lesions. This is from her scratching at the ears/face. I suggest you have her to the vet for an exam. Using the Neosporin is fine for now - just be sure you don't get it in her eyes.

This can be an bacterial infection from allergies or just from prior conditions before you got her. I would clean the area with soap and water and apply Neosporin to the spots. If they clear and keep recurring I would look into a food allergy and possibly changing her food

This presentation could be due to a trauma (autotraumatism) or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

This could be an indication of infection (bacterial, fungal, mites). She would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. A swab of the ear can be examined under a microscope in the clinic to make the diagnosis. The appropriate medication or treatment can then be dispensed or administered. IN the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent excessive scratching or rubbing.