How do we treat this wound on our cat's ear?

April 13, 2013 8:04 AM

Yesterday we noticed this hairless patch on The Grey Lady Jane Grey's ear. What could it be, and how do we treat it?

It's hard to tell what's going on in the photo, but the hairless patch is about half the diameter of a US penny. It seems like there might be some dried pus or scabbing in the area. It's possible that we'd not noticed the patch for a few days, but it's definitely very new.

Here's what's been going on in TGLJG's life recently, and how we think they might be related to the patch:

(1) We introduced a second cat to our household recently (Althea; here's a pic of them both). After carefully following these guidelines for introducing the cats, we've finally reached the point where we let them roam the apartment together, sometimes without supervision. They're still a little territorial, though. We wonder whether Althea might have nicked TGLJG's ear in a tussle, making a tiny cut which she then over-groomed...?

(2) Althea (cat #2) came to us with a few skin problems—there's a small hairless patch on her back, and sometimes she bites herself while grooming. We're wondering if maybe she has some kind of skin thing (mites?) that she could have passed to TGLJG.

(3) We recently switched over to corn-based litter (see previous question). Is it possible that the hairless patch is an allergic reaction to the new litter?

... or maybe it's something else entirely. We're trying to decide whether we can treat this ourselves, or if a visit to the vet is definitely necessary. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

posted by aparrish to Pets & Animals (11 answers total)

That looks like an attack wound. I'd pin it on that.

But take your new cat with mites to the vet right now!
posted by oceanjesse at 8:10 AM on April 13, 2013

Mites are a definite possibility, and a visit to the vet for diagnosis and treatment is in order for both cats, please.
posted by vers at 8:10 AM on April 13, 2013

Mites (or such) is definitely the most likely. Get them both the vet ASAP! And if you introduce a new cat in the future, a vet visit is always step 1.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:12 AM on April 13, 2013

I'm the cats' co-parent. To be clear, we are not sure it's mites but see it as a possibility because Althea scratches her right ear somewhat zealously. Her foster parent said she'd been to the vet recently about skin problems (on her back), and that vet ruled out parasites, etc. as the cause, saying she is probably allergic to something. The agency through which we adopted Althea gave us extensive medical records, and because Althea is so terribly stressed out by being picked up (ever) or put in a carrier, we didn't want to take her to the vet until she recovered some from the move.

The fact that the vet had previously ruled out mites, etc. in Althea's case is what makes us wonder if TGLJG's wound is a fight scratch or an allergy.
posted by brina at 8:20 AM on April 13, 2013

Response by poster: Yes—as brina mentions, both cats have been to the vet very recently and have received clean bills of health. The vet did not think that Althea's skin problems were caused by parasites.
posted by aparrish at 8:27 AM on April 13, 2013

The wound on the Grey Lady Jane Grey's ear looks like a battle wound, but not a bad one at all. I'd keep an eye on it and take her to the vet if it starts to look at all angry/infected or does anything besides heal up normally. They can give you a topical antibiotic if it's infected.

Re; Althea: If she had a stressful home life before she came to you folks, and she's still stressed out sometimes by her living situation, it could just be obsessive overlicking. And since the patch feels weird, she licks it some more and that keeps it hairless. I'd suggest making sure she has plenty of safe-space and safe-time to feel mellow.

Which is really just projection from my experiences -- One of my cats went through a phase where she would lick herself bare in spots (eventually expanding the bare patch to include everything from the belly down to just above her paws and I still regret that I never got a pic of that because it was kind of hilarious-looking) because she was stressed out by her living situation - I was sick and stressed and there were visitors and strange things afoot. A couple of months of kitty antidepressants and "chill-out therapy" where I would make a point to have half an hour or so of quiet time just hanging out with her and patting her every day, she stopped 'barbering' and her fur grew back all over. (Plus I stopped being sick which was awesome.)
posted by rmd1023 at 8:41 AM on April 13, 2013

With that update... it is most likely a battle would. The biggest risk factor would be if it were a bite -- but from the location and the mildness it is most likely a claw scratch. I would keep an eye on it looking for signs of infection, but otherwise would expect it to heal on its own.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:47 AM on April 13, 2013

Best answer: My general protocol with mysterious wounds on my pets is to put some Neosporin on it to help it heal, and some cortisone to keep them from scratching at it further. If that doesn't clear it up, then it's time for the vet.
posted by radioamy at 10:43 AM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]

Another vote for a battle would. My 3, who love each other desrly, sometimes end up with random wounds like that when the roughhousing gets a little too intense. I'd treat it like any human wound -- keep an eye on it, and if it gets infected or hot or whatever (or seems to be spreading), get it looked at. Otherwise, it'll heal on its own.
posted by cgg at 12:42 PM on April 13, 2013

Seconding radioamy. Neosporin usually has some analgesic in it, so may help keep her from over grooming. Take her to the vet if it doesn't improve, of course.
posted by annsunny at 2:29 PM on April 13, 2013

Thirding radioamy. Our (only) (indoor) cat had the same scar last year. We were very worried - rushed to the vet who just gave us an antiseptic cream and it disappeared in no time.
posted by serunding at 12:57 AM on April 14, 2013