Scabby patch behind cat’s ear

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Hello, can anyone help, please? I noticed my cat felt rough behind her ear while petting her, and digging deep spotted this scabby patch. She was at the vet for her annual healthy check and boosters just last week so is going to be utterly furious to have to return there - any ideas what it could be? She’s happy to let me touch it so it’s obviously not causing any discomfort, and is her normal greedy, bossy self.

I’ve got an appointment for Thursday which was the earliest available slot, and the receptionist didn’t seem especially bothered by it.

My cat has similar but near his tail. I wonder if from fighting?

She doesn’t really go anywhere beyond our garden and next door, but I suppose it’s possible. She had a huge scratch over her nose a few months ago where another cat obviously got a swipe at her, but she’s no other visible injuries today. You don’t think it’s anything serious, garlic?

I wouldn't take her to the vets for that, to be honest.

My cats play fight all the time and often come away with the odd scratch and scab - none of them have ever seen the vet because of it and it always heals within a day or two.

Argh it is so hard to know what to do. She gets so distressed going to the vet that I really would rather not take her, but I am also freaking out that it is something sinister. My partner is away for work for a fortnight on Sunday and really I can’t manage to take her in without him (I mean I would if it was an emergency but she is a pretty tricky customer) otherwise I would be inclined to watch and wait.

My cat has skin issues that show up around her ears and eyes around this time of year through summer. Is the other ear ok?

Yes, the other side is fine. I only came across this because I was rubbing her ears and if felt a wee bit rough. Initially I thought there was a knot of hair - for a short haired cat she is very, very hairy.

Probably from a cat fight or a bit of rough and tumble with a cat she is friendly with. I have 3 indoor cats (health reasons) and they can end up scratching each other whilst playing. I also wouldn't go to the vets for that but as I say I'm used to mine having scabby bits from time to time.

Oh maybe I should cancel and just keep an eye on it? She is absolutely 100% fine in herself, and touching the area is obviously not causing any discomfort as she’s quite happy for you to poke about at it. I wish I had noticed it last week when we were bringing her in for her bloody boosters. DP took her and I swear I could hear her wailing the vet’s down from here.

Definitely get checked out by a vet.
I don’t want to scare you at all as it may simply be a scratch or injury of some sort.
My childhood cat had a scabby patch on her ear but was at the very tip, it was some sort of cancer she had-possibly skin cancer, it was somewhat treated easily by cutting it, but it never fully went away and spread to the other ear (luckily no other part of her body/organs). However, despite it being cancer my cat lived to a ripe old age of 16 (she was probably about 8-10 when she was diagnosed) but bless her soul, she had no ears for the last leg of her life. Other than that she was completely healthy and no other complications from it.

Ours is allergic to any flea bites, just one comes up as a scab. Around the ears and base of the tail are the most affected areas. Could it be a flea bite?

My cat had this occasionally from a territorial fight with the neighbours cat
Bathe on salty water? If he can bear it

@Looloohoohoo this is more her neck than her actual ear, buried under loads of fur. Definitely not an area where she would be exposed to the sun. She is a very hairy cat. We are really careful about cream on her ears because she is pure white.

I feel like you need a photo of her pretty face, not just her scabby skin. Here she is.

She is beautiful! I've seen a reaction to a flea bite on mine in action, small bump and then some pus, then a scab. Any bite makes her skin react. Even keeping on top of medication leaves opportunities for bites and she reacts to every one.

I suspect it's just a scratch or something that's bled and stuck to her fur a bit. I honestly wouldn't worry or stress her out with the vets at this stage.

Mine are always rubbing up on me and I notice random scratches or scabs - they're always healed within a day or so and they're never due to anything sinister.

Mine just like to wrestle (and take over my entire living room) and sometimes it just gets a bit rough and they end up a bit battered.

Our cat gets scratches and little scabs a lot, usually around head and neck. Assume a combination of scrapping with other cats, squeezing through fences and brambles, and bug bites. We don’t take her to vet as long as they heal up quickly and don’t seem infected or sore.

We’ve cancelled the appointment and will just keep an eye on it. DP said he thinks it might be where she got her booster last week and she has scratched at the injection site, which makes sense. She is currently sitting on the shed roof quacking at wood pigeons, in fine fettle.

My former street cat/vagabond comes home constantlywith these. His are just battle scars, despite being neutered and living the life of Riley! 😻