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My white cat's ear is red, warm, and twitching. Sunburn or infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My white cat's left ear and near his left eye is bright red. It wasn't like this yesterday. His ear is warm and he twitches it more than the other ear when I touch it. Did he get sunburned or is there something else wrong?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 1st, 2017

It is possible that his ear was sunburned, but he could also have an ear infection. It's not normal to have this area bright red, and I would have your cat seen by a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose if he has a sunburn or an ear infection, and can treat him for it.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 27th, 2017

    If Pepino is a white or a light-colored cat, then it may be due to sun exposure. These cats can get sunburnt ears rather easily; especially in areas of high elevation or little ozone protection. This is concerning, because they can sometimes get skin cancer of the ear. If you have a white cat, then it's important that you apply sunscreen to the ears every day. The ears can also appear red when they have an infection. If there is an infection, you should see an increase in scratching and a great deal of brownish/black wax coming out of the ear. It's best if you can have a veterinarian evaluate him, so they can determine the exact cause and give the best treatment recommendation. I hope that helps.

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