Why Did My Kitten’s Ear Randomly Start Bleeding?
Seeing blood on your kitten’s ear can be scary. It might seem like it happened out of nowhere! One reason for a bleeding kitten ear is an aural hematoma. That’s a big word for a blood blister in the ear flap. Don’t worry, we’ll explain what that means and what you can do.
What is an Aural Hematoma?
An aural hematoma happens when a blood vessel in the ear flap breaks. Blood then collects under the skin, causing the ear flap to swell up. This usually makes the ear droop and feel hot. It can be very uncomfortable for your kitten.
What Does a Bleeding Ear Look Like?
You’ll probably notice a swollen lump on your kitten’s ear flap if they have a hematoma. It might feel soft and squishy, or it could be firm. The ear flap itself might be swollen. You might see your kitten doing these things too:
- Shaking their head a lot
- Tilting their head
- Scratching their ear a lot
- Acting like they don’t want you to touch their ear
Why is My Kitten’s Ear Bleeding?
Even though it might seem like it happened randomly, a bleeding ear flap is almost always caused by something else. Here are the most common reasons why a kitten might get an aural hematoma:
- Ear infections: Ear infections are itchy and painful. This makes kittens scratch their ears or shake their heads, which can cause a blood vessel to burst and bleed.
- Ear mites: Ear mites are tiny bugs that live in the ear canal and can cause intense itching, just like an ear infection. All that scratching can lead to an aural hematoma.
- Allergies: Cats can have allergies, just like people! Allergies can make their skin itchy, including their ears. If your kitten scratches their ears a lot because of allergies, they might get a hematoma.
- Injuries: Sometimes a bleeding ear is caused by an injury, like a scratch from another cat or something sharp.
What Should I Do if My Kitten’s Ear is Bleeding?
It’s very important to take your kitten to the vet as soon as possible. The vet can figure out why the ear is bleeding and give the right treatment.
Important: Never try to treat your kitten’s ear yourself. You could hurt them or cause a bad infection.
How Will the Vet Treat My Kitten’s Ear?
The vet will examine your kitten’s ear to see what’s wrong. They might even look at a sample of the fluid in the swelling under a microscope. The vet might recommend one of these treatments:
- Draining the blood: For small hematomas, the vet can use a needle to drain the blood. Sometimes, though, the blood comes back.
- Surgery: If the hematoma is big or if the blood comes back after draining, the vet might need to do surgery. The vet will make a small cut in the ear flap, take out the blood, and use stitches to close it up. This helps the ear to heal the right way.
- Treating the cause of the hematoma: It’s super important to treat what caused the hematoma in the first place! This will help to keep it from coming back. The vet might give your kitten:
- Antibiotics to get rid of an ear infection
- Medicine to kill ear mites
- Allergy medicine
How Can I Care For My Kitten at Home?
After your kitten is treated, the vet will give you instructions on how to take care of their ear at home. Here are some common things the vet might tell you to do:
- Cleaning: Your vet might tell you to gently clean your kitten’s ear with warm salt water.
- Preventing scratching: To keep your kitten from scratching their ear, you might have to put a cone on their head. This might look funny, but it’s really important to help the ear heal!
- Medication: If the vet prescribed any medicine, make sure to give it to your kitten exactly as directed.
- Watching for problems: Keep an eye on your kitten’s ear. If you see a lot of bleeding, if the ear swells up more, or if the skin looks red, you should call your vet.
Will My Kitten’s Ear Heal?
The good news is that most kittens heal completely from an aural hematoma! It’s best if they get treated early. Be sure to carefully follow the vet’s instructions and keep your kitten from scratching their ear. If you do all of those things, your kitten should be back to their playful self soon!
