Overview:

Large ears, small ears, folded ears or straight ears. Cats ears come in many different shapes & sizes. Cat ears have two functions, to detect sound & 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 & 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 & inner ears are located within the skull.

Caring for your cat's ears:

Every cat carer should routinely check & 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 & wax
• Blood
• Bad odour
• Lumps
• Redness & inflammation
• Scratching & shaking may be an indicator of ear mites
• Check the ear for dirt, odour, lumps, redness & pain. If any of these are observed seek veterinary attention immediately.

Read more on caring for & cleaning your cat's ears here.

Cat ear diseases & 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;

Ear hematomas are extremely painful & require prompt veterinary attention.

Not all cats will display symptoms of ear mites but often they will scratch at their ears & or shake their heads.

Other symptoms may include;

Symptoms include;

White cats, cats with white ears, noses or bald cats are most susceptible to sunburn. This is because of the lack of melanin (skin & hair pigment), and protective hair in these areas.

The ears are most commonly affected, although eyelids & noses can also be affected.

Initially exposure causes mild redness, hair loss along the ear margins.  Scaling, thickening of the skin & itching occur over time. This may cause your cat to shake it's head & scratch at the affected area causing bleeding & possibly infection. The dermatitis becomes progressively worse each summer until persistent ulceration & 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 & eyelids. Older outdoor cats are more commonly affected than younger ones.

SCC's are slow to metastasis & remain confined to the skin for some time. If untreated, SCC can spread to regional lymph nodes & distant metastasis, most often the lungs.

Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include;