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Kitten itching ears raw, has a lump. What's wrong and what to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | 5 months and 3 days old | 4 lbs

Hi, my cat is only a few months old but she has beem itching the back of her ears to where she tears off her skin and fur, how do I get her to stop that? Also, she has a big lump that appeared today between her shoulders and is very visible, what should I do?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on September 18th, 2017

The most common cause of itching the ears in cats is from ear mites. These mites are incredibly annoying and cats will do almost anything to make them go away, including hurt their skin as you are seeing. You can try an OTC ear mite medication (see link below), but if it isn't better in a couple days, Sassy should probably be evaluated by a veterinarian. I can't really tell you what is causing the bump between her shoulders. It could be caused by infection, inflammation, or even a tumor. I would recommend that Sassy have this checked out by a vet if it isn't getting better in a couple days. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/r-7m-ear-mite-cat-treatment-kit

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    Answered By Dr. Davis

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Sassy most likely has ear mites which are small parasites in the ear that cause extreme itching. Usually you will see some black debris in the ears. This is common in kittens. I recommend you take her to your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment. They will examine the ear discharge under the microscope and get you medication to kill the mites and clean and treat the ears. The lump between her shoulders may be an abscess or infection under the skin from a cat scratch or bite. You can use a hot compress on it to reduce the swelling and pick off a scab if there is one so the puss inside can drain. Again if Sassy isn't eating well or the area is painful this also may need veterinary treatment including cleaning, drainage and antibiotics. The swelling could also be a vaccine reaction if she was vaccinated recently, particularly with a rabies vaccinations. That type of swelling will resolve in a few weeks. My recommendation in to bring her for an exam to get these things looked at and treated. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sassy.

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