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Why is my cat losing hair and scabbing behind her ear?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Longhair | Female | spayed | 8 months and 14 days old | 8 lbs

My 8 month old cat has bald spot scab behind her left ear. It started as just a normal small scab and now it's bigger and she is completely bald now where the scab is. Is there anything I can do other than take her to the vet? I'm really coneed about it

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 15th, 2017

Typically, areas like this pop up after excessive scratching. I would be concerned that your car may have an ear infection that is causing her to scratch excessively. I would recommend taking your cat in to the vet to be checked for an ear infection. Also, if the area is infected severely enough, your vet may recommend an antibiotic as well. In the meantime you can try putting some triple antibiotic ointment on the affected area and see if that helps. Best of luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 10th, 2017

    Hello. I am sorry that Juliet isn't feeling well. The picture you have provided looks like it could be a bunch of different things including a wound that is being scratched at, pyoderma (skin infection), self-trauma scratching (ear mites or fleas being the underlying cause, look in the ears for gunk), ringworm, etc. I would recommend having your Juliet seen by a vet. Alternatively, you can get a cone for Juliet to prevent her from scratching at it, and just keep it clean with warm water wash once a day, and monitor if it heals. If it isn't healed after 3-4 days I would have it seen by a vet. Good luck with her!

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on August 6th, 2019

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. 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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    Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 8th, 2018

    It is difficult to say what it could be without doing my own exam. It is possible that it could be ringworm even though the culture came back negative. Since it is only in one spot, you could talk to your vet about starting a anti-fungal lotion on that area as well as an antibacterial ointment in that location to see if it helps. I am just worried that they both have it now. You could also put them both on Benadryl twice a day. See link below. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/#!

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