Is this an abscess?

[IGuessIllbetheFirst]

Got home today after a week away, my neighbour’s daughter has been coming to feed our cats.

She is only 14 so not suprised that she didn’t see this - I have seen what looks like an abscess on one cat’s ear (male aged 10). He is an outdoor cat so maybe got a scratch before we left on holiday and it has got worse since we were away. He seems totally fine - eating & drinking as usual and active as much as the heat allows.

Any thoughts on what it could be from the photos? I will take him to the vet tomorrow but just wanted to check how urgent MN thought it was.

Has he been scratching? If he's got earmites, scratching could cause a haematoma, which could distort the shape of his ear. That said, other things are definitely a possibility, so you are right to get the vet to take a look at him.

Poor love ❤️ The vet will sort him out x

Can't really see where you think the abscess is but I would bathe with warm salted water and try and dislodge any scab that's there. If it is an abscess you'll soon know! Buy some Loucillin spray which is a really good antiseptic.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I’m not sure now if it is an abscess or actually what it is. It looks like a pink lump maybe a blister but he seems fine with me moving his ear to get a closer look so it can’t be very painful. Will go to the vets tomorrow just in case.

Update from vet visit yesterday: it was likely to be from a scratch in a fight but is healing nicely and not an abscess. Got some antiseptic spray and a soft collar to help the healing & stop him from scratching it. The vet recommended he is kept in at night, which he already is. I was glad about this diagnosis as was slightly worrying it could be a tumour.