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My cat is scratching its head a lot and it's red. What could it be?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My cat is scratching above his eyes (under his ears) frequently and it is getting a little bit red. What would that be?

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on November 25th, 2015

Scratching around the ears or eyes may indicate an allergy, or may even indicate a problem with the ears themselves such as an infection or ear mites (very common in cats). Signs of [ear mites](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/ear-mites/) include dark or dirty debris that is black or deep red in appearance, or you may see other debris that is foul-smelling in the ears. Ear mites and infections usually require a sample being taken by the vet to determine the exact cause, as well as a regimen of [cleaning the ears](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-clean-your-cat-s-ears-what-you-need-to-know/) with a medicated cleaner for 7-10 days. Ear mites can be spread to other pets, so treating any other dogs or cats in the house at the same time is best. If the ears are clear but you are seeing redness, it may indicate an allergy, or even possible problems such as [ring worm](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/ringworm/) (which appear as a red "target" ring that will gradually increase in size over time, and IS contagious to other pets and people). Your vet can provide you with an allergy medication dosage to treat minor allergies, or may ask you to bring in your cat for an exam if you suspect ringworm or other skin infections.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Elva Ma DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 12th, 2018

    Hello, and thank you for your question! Possible causes of ear scratching include an ear infection, ear mites, or allergies. If she has been scratching for a few days and it is not getting better, I would recommend having her checked out by a vet. They can examine the ear canal for debris, and perform an ear swab to see what kind of organisms may be growing in the ear and causing her itchiness and redness. From there, the appropriate medications can be prescribed. In the meantime, I would put an e-collar (cone) on her head to prevent her from further scratching and traumatizing the ear. You can also try using a gentle ear cleaning solution designed for pets to help remove any debris, although this will not treat the underlying infection - medications from your vet will still be needed for this purpose. I hope this helps, and that Cenizas feels better soon!

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on September 17th, 2017

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is possibly allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

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