cat scratching ear, shaking head...

my cat has been scratching his ears for about a week and favors one side. he hasn't been himself lately just hiding behind the couch. His ear is swollen and he has scratched both side to the point where there is missing fur. I just want to know anyones opinion. I have another cat that has shown no signs. the cat is indoors and going on 2 yrs old.Im thinking about bringing him to the vet in 2 days. any guesses? 

I would take your cat to the vet for an exam. He could have earmites. Also if he is hiding a lot he may have an ear infection which is painful. The swelling to me also sounds like some sort of infection. It is not normal for a cat's ear to be swollen.

Poor kitty   

Please take him to the vet ASAP. He's probably in pain too. It could be mites, an allergy or anything else that brought on scratching followed by an ear infection. 

I'm glad you're taking him to the vet. Sooner is better than later here, so make sure your appointment doesn't get moved ahead for any reason. In fact, I would try and find out if they can see you earlier. Until then, it's important not to try and treat him at home. Not even with anything "natural". Ears are sensitive and the treatment has to be adjusted for the exact problem (which only the vet can diagnose).

Let us know what the vet said and how your cat is doing.

He may have gotten cut in the ear and has been biting at the scab,thus causing him to get bacterimia which leads to sepsis (blood poisoning) take him to the vet

It could be a bacterial or fungal infection or an allergic reaction to something. It is weird that it is so localized if this is the case. I think you should go to the veterinarian. They can give you a better guess, and probably a topical ointment for it! Keep us updated!

It sounds like an ear infection to me, too. Have you gotten him to the vet yet? What did he/she say? Keep us posted.

Any update? What did the vet say? I know in your original post you said you were taking him to the vet in a couple of days.

My female tuxedo Thirteen was doing something similar.  She was scratching at her right ear with some occasional head shaking.  I did two weeks of Zymox and changed her food to a novel protein (Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Venison) but she still scratched more than normal.  She never broke the skin but I could tell that her fur was getting sparse in that same area.  When we went to the vet he gave her a shot of prednisone and some oral tablets too.  He thinks her itchiness is caused by an allergy to either plastic, nylon or rubber, so I've been trying to adjust my house accordingly.  The prednisone has helped a lot but it didn't alleviate it entirely.  

I'm taking my old dude in today for exactly the same thing.  I noticed nothing until late yesterday evening, he woke up from his daily slumber and came into the kitchen holding one ear out slightly down and to the side.  He had been itching at it a bit, but he has severe seasonal allergies, so I thought it was his allergies flaring up again (mine and hubby's allergies are going crazy right now too).  I looked in his ear and he has bruising inside from having scratched it so much.  I felt HORRIBLE that I hadn't noticed before then, but honestly, he has shown no signs of it bothering him and there has been no discharge.  He has no brown ear gunk, no black specks, no nothing inside his ear, just looks very red and purple and blue and swelled.  You can't tell unless you really look down in there, and he has those hairy ears that kind of cover everything.  I still feel like a bad kitty momma.  I used his ear cleaner and it seemed to make him feel better, although slightly miffed at me.  He kept his ear up the rest of the night and it looked much better this morning, but I will feel better after he is checked out.

Off we go to the vet....I'll update when we get back to the house and I get him over his mad spell, which I know is coming!  He will be a perfect angel at the vet's and be madder than a wet hen at me when we get back home!

Update--Wurp had a bacterial infection in his ears.  I have the meds for that now.  At least it wasn't fungal....had a heck of a time getting rid of a fungal ear infection with another cat I had!

My guess is fleas or earmites or some sort of fungal infection.  I agree with the other posters that a vet visit would be the wise course of action regardless of the circumstances.

hbunny

Glad to hear that his infection is being treated!

Thanks for the update! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

He already feels better, thank goodness. I'm just glad I caught it before it got worse. Thanks!

Have you seen anything resembling a polyp inside the ear canal?

I hope the OP responds and gives us an update!

Yes, I hope so too!

Another Wurp update, he is 100% better. But of course he will still get the greasy ear treatment for another few nights. Man he hates that! Treats all around afterwards!