Cat's Ears - Anatomy, Care & Disorders of Cat Ears

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Large ears, small ears, folded ears or straight ears. Cats ears come in many different shapes and sizes. Cat ears have two functions, to detect sound and for balance.

Cats have exceptional hearing, much better than ours. So superior is their hearing to that of humans, they are able to hear high frequency sounds undetectable to the human ear, between 50-60 kilocycles (or kilohertz), compared to humans, who can capture approximately 16-20 kilocycles.

Within the inner ear is the vestibular system, consisting of semi-circular, fluid filled canals and the otoliths, this vestibular system controls balance.

Anatomy of the cat ear:

The ears are composed of three parts:

The outer ear. This is composed of the ear flap (also known as the pinna or auricle) and the ear canal (external auditory canal).
The middle ear. This consists of the ear drum (tympanic membrane) and the auditory ossicles (small bones).
The inner ear (labyrinth). Comprising of the sensory structures of hearing and balance.
The middle and inner ears are located within the skull.

Caring for your cat's ears:

Cat earsEvery cat carer should routinely check and have their ears cleaned when necessary. This way, if there are any problems, they can be picked up quickly.

Checking your cat's ears:

This should be incorporated into your cat's regular grooming regime. It is advised that you begin this from an early age so your cat becomes used to it. You should be looking for the following;
Build up of dirt and wax
Blood
Bad odour
Lumps
Redness and inflammation
Scratching and shaking may be an indicator of ear mites
Check the ear for dirt, odour, lumps, redness and pain. If any of these are observed seek veterinary attention immediately.

Cat ear diseases and problems:

There are several problems that can affect cats, some of which include;

Ear hematoma

An ear hematoma (also known as aural hematoma) is a localised collection of clotted blood from broken blood vessels on the ear flap (pinna). This hematoma trapped between the skin and the cartilage of the ear.

When the cat scratches or shakes it's head it eventually causes a blood vessel to rupture, resulting in a hematoma.
There are several causes of ear hematoma including:
Trauma.
Violent head shaking or scratching of the ear. This could be caused by ear mites, ticks, fleas, allergies, otitis externa (infection of the external ear canal).
Ear hematomas are extremely painful and require prompt veterinary attention.
Read more about ear hematomas in cats here.

Ear mites

Ear mites are a common spider like external parasite which causes significant discomfort to the cat. Although the name would suggest otherwise, ear mites can live on any part of the body although they generally live in the ears of cats. They are the most common cause of otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear canal) in cats.
Not all cats will display symptoms of ear mites but often they will scratch at their ears and or shake their heads.
Other symptoms may include:
Reddish/brown discharge in the ear.
Bleeding from the ear.
Coffee-grounds like appearance in the ear.
Scratch marks.
Odour.
Read more about ear mites here.

Otitis externa

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear canal. There are many possible causes, but the most common is an ear infection caused primarily by bacteria or yeast.
Symptoms include:
Head shaking.
Scratching at the ears.
Unpleasant odour from the ears.
Discharge from the ear.
Inflammation (redness, swelling).
Behavioural changes (irritability, depression).
Pain.
Read more about otitis externa here.

Sunburn (solar dermatitis)
White cats, cats with white ears, noses or bald cats are most susceptible to sunburn. This is because of the lack of melanin (skin and hair pigment), and protective hair in these areas.
The ears are most commonly affected, although eyelids and noses can also be affected.
Initially exposure causes mild redness, hair loss along the ear margins. Scaling, thickening of the skin and itching occur over time. This may cause your cat to shake it's head and scratch at the affected area causing bleeding and possibly infection. The dermatitis becomes progressively worse each summer until persistent ulceration and squamous cell carcinoma can develop.
Read more about sunburn in cats here.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common malignant tumour of the skin. Most often caused by excessive exposure to sunlight it is seen most often in white cats or cats with white patches.
Tumours can appear anywhere on the body although areas most commonly affected are the ears, nose, mouth and eyelids. Older outdoor cats are more commonly affected than younger ones.
SCC's are slow to metastasis and remain confined to the skin for some time. If untreated, SCC can spread to regional lymph nodes and distant metastasis, most often the lungs.
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include:
Lesions or sores which are slow to heal.
A red spot on the skin.
Crusty like lesion.
Hair loss in the affected area.
Read more about squamous cell carcinoma in cats here.

Frostbite:

Frostbite is the destruction of tissue due to extreme cold. Cats exposed to severe winter conditions where temperatures fall below zero can be affected by frostbite. The ears are extremely vulnerable because they are more exposed than other parts of the body and only have a light covering of fur.

Symptoms of frostbite include:
Discolouration of the skin.
Redness.
Pain.
Blackening and eventual sloughing off of the tissues.
Miscellaneous:

Ringworm, eosinophilic granuloma complex, fleas, bacterial skin infections, mite infestations and allergic conditions can all affect the skin on the pinnae. [1]

References:

[1] The Cornell Book of Cats
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