Cat's Bald Spot Behind Ears: Possible Causes & Solution
Have you ever been petting your cat when you suddenly noticed a patch of baldness behind its ears? This can be quite concerning. Let's delve into what might be causing this issue.
It's often the case that a sudden bald patch on a cat is due to skin conditions. However, if baldness is specifically noticed behind the ears, it could also be a symptom of an earrelated disease.
Next, we'll discuss the specific causes and solutions to help you address this issue effectively.
What Could Be Causing the Bald Patch Behind Your Cat's Ears?
1. Ear Disorders
● Ear Mites
● Malassezia Infection
● Water in the Ear or Foreign Objects
● Ear Tumors
● Bacterial Ear Infection
If your cat is suffering from ear mites, Malassezia infection, or an ear infection, you might notice redness, itching, and excessive discharge in its ears. The cat may scratch or shake its head frequently, leading to hair loss and even bleeding behind the ears. The discharge might be brown, black, yellow, or gray.
2. Skin Diseases
If the inside of your cat's ears appear clean, the bald patch might be due to skin conditions such as:
● Ringworm
● Eczema
● Seborrheic Dermatitis
● Allergic Dermatitis
● Pemphigus Foliaceus
3. Parasite Infections
Infestations of fleas, lice, mites, and other parasites can also lead to localized hair loss in cats. These parasites can cause itching and discomfort, prompting the cat to scratch excessively, which can result in hair loss and skin damage. Cats with scabies or demodectic mange may also exhibit bumps, odor, and thickened skin.
How to Deal with a Bald Patch Behind Your Cat's Ears?
1. Limit Scratching Behavior
To prevent your cat from scratching its ears further, which could lead to more extensive hair loss and skin damage, consider putting on an Elizabethan collar and trimming its nails appropriately.
2. Investigate Ear Issues
Check if there's a significant amount of brown or black earwax in your cat's ears, and if it smells musty. If so, your cat might have ear mites or Malassezia infection. Since these conditions are quite similar, it's best to take your cat to a vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
▷ Ear Mite Treatment: Erchonia (Pet Ear Care Solution) + Hydrocortisone (Compound Miconazole Ointment) + Dropia (Pyriproxyfen Moexiphen Drops)
▷ Malassezia: Erchonia Solution + Ketoconazole Ointment/Combimazole Nitrate Ear Drops, or oral Itraconazole for severe cases.
If your cat's ears are red and there's a lot of watery or puslike discharge, it might indicate an outer or middle ear infection, and immediate veterinary care is necessary.
3. Diagnose Skin Diseases
If there's no apparent issue with your cat's ears, the bald patch might be due to skin diseases. You can use a Wood's lamp to check for ringworm.
Most ringworm is caused by Microsporum canis, leading to hair loss, dandruff, scabs, and circular ringworm spots. The metabolic products of the fungus will also show a green fluorescence under Wood's lamp light.
Solutions:
（1）First, disinfect the affected area with iodine to remove scales and dust;
（2）Apply Dasatin (Ketoconazole Ointment) or spray Pipette (Tebuconazole Hydrochloride Spray) twice or three times a day.
If the Wood's lamp test doesn't reveal any green fluorescence, it could be another type of mite infection or other skin conditions. It's advisable to take your cat to a vet for a skin scraping test to determine the cause and then proceed with treatment.
4. Regular Deworming
If you suspect a parasitic infection, make sure to deworm your cat regularly. Different deworming medications target different types of parasites, so it's best to choose a broadspectrum dewormer or alternate between dewormers with different ingredients.
