My cat is scratching her ear. Could it be her reabsorbing tooth?

Hello, and thanks for your question. If Gizmo is suddenly scratching at her ear, usually that does mean that it is uncomfortable or painful. Gizmo may have an ear infection or ear mites, so it’s best to have a vet take a look so she can receive the appropriate treatment. Hope this helps!

Oreo could have a bite wound and associated abscesses causing the swelling, or have ear mite infestations and be working on aural hematomas. Aural hematomas are fluid pockets in between the ear cartilages and are very painful. When cats have ear issues they often scratch and shake their heads because it makes them itchy and painful. Oreo needs to see a vet to get her on the proper medications to make her feel better. She may need to be on a steroid like prednisolone, antibiotics, and anti-parasitic medication for ear mites, if that is going on.

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.

Tyga could be suffering from allergies causing her to itch, or she could have an ear infection causing her to scratch at her ear. An ear infection can be caused by bacteria or yeast in addition to ear mites, so I would recommend having her seen by a vet tomorrow. The vet can diagnose what is causing her to scratch a lot, and can treat her for it.

With a clean ear canal, the most common cause of tiny bumps on the ear itself is related to hypersensitivity reactions from insect bites. The inflamed and sore lesion in front of Teak's left ear is most likely due to self-trauma from him scratching. The concern is that this skin may be infected from the excessive scratching. Your best bet is to take Teak to his vet for an exam because he may need a course of antibiotics and antihistamines to manage this issue. Be sure that Teak is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Advantage or Revolution) monthly because flea bites can also cause bumps on the ears. I hope that all goes well!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Mimi is scratching one ear more than usual, it is likely that she has an ear infection. Ear infections can be bacterial and/or fungal in origin. If left untreated, simple external ear infections can progress to middle or inner ear infections, leading to vestibular disease or even central nervous system signs. I recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have Mimi checked for an ear infection. He/she will likely perform an ear cytology, meaning he/she will swab her ear and look at the material under a microscope. This way, your veterinarian can look for evidence of bacteria and/or yeast and treat her accordingly. I hope this is helpful!

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! If her ears have been checked by a vet to ensure there is no infection I would be suspicious she could have an allergy, either to a food ingredient https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951526 (most often a protein source and not grain as so many pet food commercials would have you believe) or an allergy to something in the environment like pollen/dust/etc. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952664 . I would recommend bringing Chessie into the vet for an examination. This often requires at least a short course of medication to get the itching under control, such as a steroid, Atopica (cyclosporine) or Apoquel. The vet can discuss if a diet trial with a hypoallergenic diet is recommended and help you decide on the best diet for Chessie to try.