By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
A cat that scratches its ears now and then is simply grooming. A cat that scratches until the skin bleeds, shakes its head constantly or tilts its head to one side is telling you something is wrong. Ear mites are the classic cause, especially in kittens, but in adult cats, allergies, fleas and grass seeds are just as likely. In Australia, white or pale-eared cats also face sun damage on the ear tips, which can turn into skin cancer if it is ignored.
Key takeaways
- Ear mites cause intense itching and dark, crumbly, coffee-ground debris, mostly in kittens and young cats.
- Flea allergy and food or environmental allergies are common causes in adult cats.
- One-sided scratching, head tilt or sudden onset can mean a grass seed or a polyp.
- Crusting or sores on the tips of white ears may be sun damage or skin cancer.
- Scratching can cause an aural haematoma, a blood blister in the ear flap.
Signs that go with ear scratching
- Head shaking or tilting
- Dark brown or black waxy debris
- Redness, swelling or smell from the ear canal
- Scabs, hair loss or scratches behind the ears and on the neck
- A puffy, swollen ear flap
- Pain when the ear is touched, or hiding
- Loss of balance, circling or flickering eyes in more serious cases
Common causes
Ear mites
Otodectes cynotis mites live in the ear canal and are very contagious between cats, dogs and ferrets. They are a common cause of ear problems in kittens and cats from shelters or multi-cat homes. The debris looks like coffee grounds. See our article on ear mites in pets.
Fleas and flea allergy
Fleas often bite around the head and neck. Cats with flea allergy dermatitis can scratch their ears and face raw. You may not see fleas at all, because cats groom them off. Read more on flea allergy dermatitis in cats.
Food and environmental allergies
Allergies can cause itchy ears, face and neck, sometimes with overgrooming elsewhere. They tend to recur.
Ear infections
Bacteria or yeast can overgrow in an inflamed ear canal, usually because of mites, allergies or a foreign body. See ear infections in cats.
Grass seeds and foreign bodies
Common in Australia from late spring. Usually one ear, often sudden, with violent head shaking and head tilt. Grass seeds can travel deep into the canal and pierce the eardrum.
Polyps
Inflammatory polyps are benign growths that start in the middle ear or throat, mostly in young cats. They can cause discharge, head tilt, noisy breathing and recurrent ear infections.
Sun damage and skin cancer
White or pale cats that spend time outdoors can develop solar dermatitis on the ear tips: redness, crusting and scabbing. Over time this can become squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer. Early treatment gives the best outcome.
When to see a vet
Same day: a sudden head tilt, loss of balance, violent shaking after being outside in long grass, a very painful ear, bleeding, or a cat that is unwell or not eating.
Within a few days: ongoing scratching, dark debris, smell or discharge, a swollen ear flap, or crusts on the ear tips.
How vets find the cause
Your vet will look into the ear with an otoscope, which often shows mites, grass seeds or polyps. A swab of the debris examined under a microscope identifies mites, yeast and bacteria. For recurring problems, allergy investigation, a diet trial, sedated ear flushing, or imaging for polyps may be suggested. Biopsy is used for suspicious ear-tip lesions.
Treatment depends on the cause. Your vet may prescribe ear medication, parasite treatment for all pets in the home, allergy management, removal of a grass seed or polyp, or surgery for skin cancer.
What you can do at home
- Keep every pet in the household on a vet-recommended flea and parasite treatment.
- Use only cat-safe parasite products. Some dog flea products containing permethrin are extremely toxic to cats.
- Do not push cotton buds into the ear canal.
- Do not use oils, vinegar or essential oils in the ears.
- Keep pale cats indoors during the middle of the day and ask your vet about pet-safe sun protection.
FAQ
Can I treat ear mites with over-the-counter drops?
It is best to confirm mites first, because allergies and infections look similar. Your vet can recommend effective treatment for every pet in the home.
Can I catch ear mites from my cat?
Ear mites rarely affect people. Occasionally they cause a temporary itchy rash.
Why is only one ear affected?
One-sided problems are more likely to be grass seeds, polyps or a localised infection, so a vet check is worthwhile.
My cat's ear flap is suddenly puffy. What is it?
It may be an aural haematoma from scratching. See aural haematomas in cats and dogs.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has been scratching its ears and you are not sure how urgent it is, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you decide what to do next. Talk with Dial A Vet. A sudden head tilt, loss of balance or an unwell cat needs in-person care today.
References
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Ear mites and ear disorders in cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Otitis externa and otodectic mange in cats
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: Skin cancer in white cats
- Greci V, Mortellaro CM. Management of otic and nasopharyngeal, and nasal polyps in cats and dogs. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 2016
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.
