You may notice when cuddling on the couch with your feline friend that your cat’s ears sometimes get hot. As a cat owner, you may wonder whether their overly warm ears are normal and whether they are a cause for concern. The answer to that question depends entirely on the symptoms and their circumstances.
In general, if your cat’s ears are warm to the touch without any accompanying symptoms, there is nothing to worry about. Your cat’s ears are full of tiny veins that contract in cold environments to retain heat or dilate in hot environments to release heat. So if your cat has been relaxing in the afternoon sun, he may have been radiating body heat through his ears.
But sometimes, there are other reasons. You can identify other symptoms that indicate your cat’s ears are hot; maybe they’re bright pink, itchy, or they also have a dry nose. Perhaps your cat’s ears are warmer than usual after surgery. Some of these additional symptoms may be warning signs and you may need to take your cat to the vet.
Signs of ear infection
Cats are very clean animals and they take very meticulous care of their bodies. Therefore, a cat who frequently scratches his ears may have an ear infection or another health problem.
The first thing you should do is check your cat’s ears. Do they look red? Are they warm to the touch? If so, this may indicate an infection in the ear canal. Here are some other signs that may indicate when your cat should be seen by a veterinarian:
- Ears are inflamed and itchy
- Hot ears are bright pink
- When your cat’s ears get hot after surgery
- The head shakes or tilts frequently
- Scratching your head or face too much
- Dark brown discharge from the ear
- Burning ears accompanied by sneezing
Possible causes of hot ears in cats
Finally, cat ears can be hot for many reasons. Some of these are serious and require urgent veterinary care, while others are not as serious. Below are some reasons why your cat’s ear temperature may be too high.
1. Infection
The most common cause of ear infections in cats is infection. Bacteria or yeast can enter the ear canal and cause irritation, leading to ear inflammation, heat, pain, and sometimes sneezing. Similarly, a dry nose and hot ears can be signs of infection or fever.
The first step in dealing with this type of inflammation is to have your veterinarian treat it with antibiotics or antifungal medications. If the infection is left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to your pet’s hearing or even their life. This is because it spreads to other parts of his body, such as his brain or heart valves.
2. Allergy
Another common cause of swelling and redness in your pet’s ears is allergies. Allergies can affect any part of the body, but they are most commonly seen on the face (including the ears) because this area has more surface area than other parts of the body, causing irritation. cause contact allergies to them more easily. such as on your pet’s belly, where there isn’t much space between the fur. If your cat has allergies, it will be difficult for them to cool down due to inflamed airways.
Symptoms of allergies include frequent sneezing, watery eyes, burning ears and runny nose. If you suspect your cat has allergies, you should see a veterinarian. He may recommend antihistamines or other medications to help control their symptoms until summer ends.
3. Ear mites
Ear mites are small parasites that live inside your cat’s ear canal and feed on blood or earwax. They can cause irritation and inflammation, leading to overheating of the ears, excessive scratching or head shaking.
Ear mites cause hard substances to form in their ears, which can be very painful. Therefore, you must seek advice from a veterinarian if you notice that your cat’s ears are hot and itchy.
4. Bacterial infection
According to PetMD, bacterial infections in cats can cause inflammation and discharge from the ear canal. If your cat’s ears are hot and red, and you notice these other symptoms, consult your veterinarian immediately. This is because bacterial infections must be treated promptly, otherwise they can become serious quickly.
5. Fungal infection
Fungal infections occur when yeast overgrows in moist environments like your cat’s ears, causing them to become red and hot, and to crust or crust with thick white patches that sometimes appear filmy—this is called called “cat dandruff,” according to WebMD.
You should have your cat examined to rule out a fungal infection if you notice dandruff in addition to warmer ears, especially if there is a change in appetite, water intake or litter box use.
6. Earwax blockage
A buildup of sticky wax inside your cat’s ears can cause pain, irritation, and even temporary deafness if it blocks too much sound from entering the inner ear canal (auditory nerve).
If your cat has hot and burning ears, check to see if your cat has earwax blockage. Take them into a quiet space, then gently fold back their outer ears so you can see inside. If it is healthy, it will be light pink in color, free of debris and odors, and contain virtually no wax. If not, your veterinarian will clean this wax buildup using special tools designed for this purpose.
Conclude
In most cases, it’s nothing to worry about if your cat’s ears are hot to the touch when there are no other symptoms. However, some additions and behavioral changes may be a warning sign that you should take your cat to the vet for treatment. Some signs of infection include inflamed, itchy, and bright pink ears, accompanied by frequent head tilts or head shaking or excessive scratching of the head or body.