How to Treat Bumps on Cat Ears

Cats have been a part of human society for centuries. Ancient Egyptians respected and cherished cats for their grace and poise, and cats became a fixture on many farms for their skills in eradicating vermin. Cats eventually found their way into the home as beloved family companions. Cats are prone to a number of skin conditions and bumps often spring up on their ears. Treating bumps on the ears of your cat may take a bit of time, but a healthy pet is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber gloves
  • Shampoo
  • Clean towels
  • Flea and tick treatment
  • Cat treats
  • Antihistamine cream
  • Antibiotic ointment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to determine the cause of the bumps. Many types of parasites, including ticks and fleas, can cause an allergic rash on your cat. Your vet will take a skin scraping to rule out a fungal infection and will also aspirate or biopsy the bumps to see if they are cancerous.

    • 2

      Slip on a pair of rubber gloves and bathe your cat, taking care to wash the ears thoroughly. Place your cat in the sink and wet the coat with a generous amount of warm water. Apply a pet shampoo and massage into the fur, rubbing the ears gently with your fingertips to get them clean. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap and dry your cat with a clean towel. If your cat was diagnosed with a fungal or skin infection, your vet may prescribe a special shampoo instead of a plain pet shampoo.

    • 3

      Apply a topical flea and tick treatment if the bumps are caused by an allergic reaction to bites. Your vet can recommend a liquid pest treatment that is applied to the back and neck of your cat that will kill any existing parasites and repel new ones to help eliminate the bumps.

    • 4

      Administer any medications prescribed by your veterinarian as directed. If the bumps are caused by a problem on the surface of the skin, your vet will give you a topical cream that you can rub on the ears. Bumps on your cat can also be caused by an infection under the skin that needs to be treated with antibiotics. Wrap your cat gently in a towel and place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible. Your cat may try to spit the pill out, but gently hold the mouth closed until the pill is swallowed. Reward your cat with a favorite treat to make the treatment a positive experience.

    • 5

      Coat the ears with an antihistamine cream if your cat tries to scratch them. The cream will reduce redness and inflammation and help heal the raw ear tissue. You can also apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to speed healing and prevent secondary skin infections from scratching.