Why is my cat scratching her ears bloody and ripping paw fur?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to allergies. Benadryl is good as is prednisolone for example. However, these are only going to help with the itch temporarily. However, it is crucial to get rid of the allergic component and treat the allergy as if not, the itch will continue. Also, it is crucial to treat the likely secondary infection. There is no at home treatments as the other medication that can be used in cats for this is a prescription medication called prednisolone. One thing you can do at home besides dealing with the possible allergies is using an e-collar which you can get from your local pet store or online to prevent any further self-trauma. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

The most common reasons that cats scratch at their ears are infections or infestations with ear mites. Ear mites can be treated by several different medications, some of which are over the counter and others that are prescription only. If there is an infection, an antimicrobial flush plus cleaning would be needed to clear up the affected ear. Steroids might also be warranted to assist with some of the inflammation and discomfort associated with the infection. Keep the e-collar on for the time being until you have resolved the problem. Sparrow will only make it worse as soon as you remove it, as you have already noted.

Poor Cinnamon Toast (I love her name!). It sounds like she has an ear infection, and it's pretty bad if she is scratching it until it bleeds. In cats, ear infections can be caused by yeast, bacteria, or ear mites. You need to take her into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose if she does have an ear infection, what's causing it, and can prescribe treatment for her. Best of luck.

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.

It is definitely an injury but whether or not he did it to himself or it was due to another animal I cannot tell. I do not think there are any bugs there. He may be scratching the ear due to an inner ear infection. I suggest you take DJ to your vet for an exam because is there is an ear infection or something down inside the ear canal you cannot fix/treat that at home. In the meantime you can apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream to the ear twice a day and I suggest you put a "cone" collar on him so he stops scratching the ear and making it worse. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Recovery-Collar-PETBABA-Padded-Elizabethan/dp/B00U7DTNB2/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1517593656&sr=1-3&keywords=cat+elizabethan+collar Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It's probably earmites, they usually look like ground coffee or dried blood, very irritating for your cat, you should take her to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated, it is not life threatening though.

It sounds as though Bo is quite uncomfortable since she's scratching her ears excessively to the point of bleeding. While this is not a life-threatening emergency, it is certainly causing some degree of pain and discomfort, which necessitates a more urgent vet visit. It's likely that the ear mite medication didn't work because her issue may be caused by an ear infection with bacteria and/or yeast. At this point, your best option is to call your vet to ask about scheduling an urgent visit. I hope that she feels better soon!