Quick Navigation
Cats are well-adapted animals.
Their ears are essential organs that contribute to being well-adapted.
They use their ears to hear and for balance.
The outer part of the ear includes the pinna and the ear canal.
The pinna is the outer triangular part of the ear, capturing a sound that goes to the ear canal.
Whenever you take your feline pet to the vet, he will check the ears on a regular basis.
So what could it mean if your veterinarian finds bumps on the outside of your cat’s ears? Is this normal?
All Felines Are Susceptible To Bumps
The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear make up your pet’s ears.
We’ve all seen cats with weird-shaped ears.
You even get the Scottish Fold cat with ears that hang down, like those of many dog breeds.
These weird gene mutations of the cartilage can cause bone malformations.
But can it cause bumps on the outside of the cat’s ears?
Yes, with any cat, you may feel lumps beneath his fur and for any number of reasons.
The bumps are nearly always harmless.
But if they weren’t there a couple of days ago, you may be concerned.
It’s always important to consult a veterinarian if you notice bumps on a cat, especially new ones.
It’s because inflammatory lesions and cancerous tumors are always an ever-present threat.
Your Cat’s Ears Are Heir To Many Attacks
Bumps on your cat’s skin can fall into several categories.
These can be traumatic lumps, inflammatory lumps, cancerous lumps, and parasitic lumps.
Within these categories, you will see some common bumps on your cat’s ears and other parts of the body.
These can include abscesses, cysts, bites, eosinophilic granulomas, and cancers of the skin.
One of the common causes of an abscess is a bite from another animal. The bite injury has bacteria in the wound.
If a cat develops a lump as a result of a certain tumor, it could appear anywhere on the cat’s body.
Some cats may even have to deal with carcinoma, cancer that emerges on the ear tips.
It is more common in cats that are regularly exposed to harsh sunlight.
Warts – Papillomas
You may think that warts on your cat’s ears are harmless.
True, they aren’t life-threatening as such, but they need to be treated.
It is because they can evolve into cancerous tumors.
It’s an uncommon condition in which raised bumps of tissue occur in different areas of your cat.
The most common areas where you can find the warts are around the cat’s mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
Wart virus presents with raised bumps that can be whitish but also darker shades.
They can bleed, and they can also become infected.
Several viruses cause warts to form. These wart viruses can spread.
Unfortunately for your cat, some kinds of cancer can manifest as warts in cats.
Over time, the growths can spread and become cancerous.
Your veterinarian may want a biopsy of the area affected by the wart virus.
Abscesses
When pus forms under the skin it is an abscess.
These abscesses are localized infections that will form after a wound has healed.
Puncture wounds are a common cause of abscesses in cats.
They are painful and can even cause a fever. Sometimes they will rupture.
The abscess can appear suddenly as a painful bump or swelling.
Some abscesses will rupture, and then foul-smelling pus can ooze out.
Your vet will be able to diagnose your cat’s bumps by doing a physical examination and tests.
The vet will be able to confirm the diagnosis of a bump on your cat based on how it responds to treatment.
The abscessed area will typically be cleaned as thoroughly as possible by your veterinarian, who may also, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and painkillers to ease your cat’s discomfort.
Rarely, the abscess may require surgical treatment.
Miliary Dermatitis
If you’re running your hands over your cat’s head and ears, you may feel bumps or scabs on his ears.
These are a result of miliary dermatitis—a common skin condition caused by an allergic reaction.
The allergen causes the skin to flare up.
The cat can’t resist scratching the itchy rash resulting in bleeding and scabbing.
Mites or fleas can cause this miliary dermatitis. You can’t always see these parasites in your cat’s coat.
If the source of the feline miliary dermatitis is fleas, your vet will be able to offer you a solution for the problem.
Allergies can develop at any time, causing rash flare-ups on your cat’s skin.
You’ll have to try and get to the root of your cat’s dermatitis issues.
Allergic reactions can also come about because of certain medications.
Of course, there are topical treatments for your cat’s ears that can alleviate any itchiness while the scabby bumps heal.
There are also antihistamines you can use to stop itching.
A topical antihistamine can keep your cat from scratching at its scabs.
If creams aren’t stopping your cat from scratching, your cat may require a veterinary cone.
This device will prevent him from scratching his ears.
Parasites
There are actually several skin conditions that affect the outside part of the ear.
Cats rarely develop sarcoptic mange, which is brought on by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
Small, hard round bumps appear on the skin at the start of the condition.
As these lumps develop, the ear edges and other areas of the body develop scaling, crusting, and raw, irritated areas.
Cats may experience severe itching.
Parasites nearly always cause inflammation of the pinna, and redness, swelling, blistering, and itchiness are the result.
Mosquitoes, bees, and ants can all cause bumps on the cat’s ears.
The ears and nose always react more adversely than other areas of the body.
A cold compress held against the ear can help ease the pain if your cat has recently been stung.
Ticks can also attach to your cat’s ears, causing a raised bump.
This is your cat’s response to fighting off the tick.
Ticks carry diseases, so it’s important to remove those that attach themselves to your cat.
They are blood-sucking parasites that feed on your cat.
They only drop off when they’ve had their fill of blood which can take days.
By this time, they could have passed on an infection.
After you’ve removed the tick, apply an antiseptic cream or lotion to the area.
The likes of a tick can control external parasites– and flea sprays, lotions, and powders.
Be sure to only use treatments that are safe for cats and approved by your veterinarian.
Ear hematomas
These fluid-filled bumps can develop on the outer ear.
Nobody really seems to know their cause.
It could be because of ear scratching due to itchiness.
They will usually require surgery to relieve them of fluid.
Medications prescriptions are also necessary.
An aural hematoma is a collection of blood and serum in the ear flap.
When something irritates the ear, the cat responds by shaking its head.
It causes blood vessels to break, resulting in bleeding.
You can use a needle to withdraw the fluid from within the pinna.
The pinna is bandaged to prevent a recollection of fluid.
This method helps when you want to avoid surgery.
If your cat has small, painless aural hematomas, the vet may not recommend any treatment.
While the painful swelling may require immediate medical attention, these hematomas typically heal or disappear on their own.
The ear won’t feel or look natural because both sides of the ear frequently develop thickened, wrinkly scar tissue.
But this is just a cosmetic problem.
Conclusion
With a normal, healthy cat, you won’t find bumps on the ears.
Most of the feline ear disorders your cat endures are acquired.
That means something that there is something you can do to prevent them.
An inquisitive cat or a cat that fights a lot may have to contend with parasites.
Most bumps on your cat’s ears are treatable with the counter and prescription meds.
Lifestyle changes could also help prevent the condition.
A clean environment, security, good nutrition, love, and regular examinations of your furry friend are all he asks for.
You’ll see your care in his glossy coat and bump-free ears.
Purrfect n’ Pawesome is the brainchild of Amanda, who has been into researching and writing about pets to help other pet parents in nurturing their adorable pets. Currently, she runs Purrfect n’ Pawesome along with her team of experienced and dedicated pet experts. Along with being an awesome writer and entrepreneur, Amanda is a cat mom to two innocently spoiled cats, Balanca and Scruffy.
She has been writing about pet care and nurturing and wants to share her readers’ experiences, learnings, and knowledge.
Over the years, she had the opportunity to work with various pet owners having multiple breeds, and that exposure gave her experience and the lessons of a lifetime.
Her family, her entire universe revolves around her two cats, who give her endless support and inspiration to move ahead with her objectives in life. Amanda is a live example of a balanced approach to all parenthood questions we all face in life.
