Cats with Bald Spot & Hard Scab Behind Ears: What to Do

When you notice a patch of baldness and hard scabs behind your cat's ears, this could be due to a variety of reasons, such as trauma, fungal infections, or otitis externa. To pinpoint the cause, it's advisable to visit a veterinary clinic for a skin scraping examination.

Understanding the Reasons Behind Your Cat's Bald Spot

1. Parasite Infections: Fleas, mites, and other parasites can cause skin irritation, leading to scratching and hair loss, which in turn forms hard scabs.

2. Allergic Reactions: Food allergies or environmental allergies (like pollen or dust) can trigger skin inflammation.

3. Skin Infections: Bacterial or fungal infections can also result in hair loss and scab formation.

4. SelfHarm Behavior: Sometimes, cats may repeatedly lick or scratch the same area due to anxiety or stress, causing skin damage.

5. Outer Ear Infections: When cats have infections from ear mites, otitis externa, or Malassezia, it can lead to ear itching and pain, and frequent scratching can result in scab formation.

Observation and Initial Management

1. Checking for Ringworm

Most cases of ringworm are caused by Microsporum canis, and its metabolic products can produce a green fluorescence under a Wood's lamp. You can purchase a Wood's lamp to check for this under low light conditions.

If ringworm is confirmed, antifungal treatments such as Daktarin (Clotrimazole Betamethasone Cream) or Clotrimazole Cream can be used, applying 23 times daily until the cat recovers and for an additional week.

Additionally, supplementing your cat with Bcomplex vitamins and omega3 unsaturated fatty acids can aid in inflammation reduction and skin repair.

2. Checking for Ear Infections

Observe your cat's ear canal for redness, inflammation, or excessive discharge, which may indicate ear mites or otitis externa. Here are some treatment options:

Otitis Externa: Use Ear Cleanse (Pet Ear Cleaning Solution) and Eardrops (Fluoroquinolone and Metronidazole Ear Drops).

Malassezia: Use Ear Cleanse and Combifungol Ear Drops.

Ear Mites: Use Ear Cleanse, Cincofen (Clotrimazole Ointment), and Ivermectin dewormer.

3. Maintaining Observation

If neither of the above conditions is present, the hair loss may be due to trauma, bacterial infection, or other factors. Here's how to manage this:

Prevent Scratching: Fit your cat with an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from scratching its ears.

Monitor Progress: If the scabs fall off naturally and new fur grows, no further action is needed.

Skin Redness: If there's skin redness, use iodine to disinfect and apply Furantel (Oxide of Zinc Ointment) twice daily.

Seek Professional Help: If symptoms persist or worsen after 57 days, promptly visit a veterinary clinic for a skin scraping examination to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.

In summary, if the condition is mild and there's no significant itching, you can initially attempt selfdiagnosis or home observation. However, if the situation doesn't improve or worsens, seek veterinary care for a skin scraping examination to accurately diagnose and treat the issue.