Why Is My Cat Losing Hair On Ears?

If you’ve noticed your cat’s ear flaps looking sparse or even bald, you’re not alone—and you’re right to pay attention. Hair loss on or around the ear pinnae can be normal in some cats, but it can also be an early clue to parasites, allergies, infections, sun damage, autoimmune disease, or stress-related overgrooming. Below, you’ll learn how to tell benign from worrisome, what the most common culprits are, how veterinarians diagnose the problem, and the treatments and at-home steps that actually help.

1. What Hair Loss On The Ears Actually Means

“Hair loss on the ears” can refer to a few different patterns:

• Preauricular thinning is the natural, symmetrical thinning of hair between the eyes and ears that many cats have. This is normal.
• Pinnal alopecia is true hair loss on the external ear flaps themselves. It may be symmetrical and non-itchy in some cats (especially certain breeds), but it can also signal disease.
• Periauricular alopecia is hair loss just in front of or behind the ear base, often from scratching due to ear disease or skin itch.

Pay attention to itch (scratching, head-shaking, rubbing), crusts or sores, and whether your cat is overgrooming the area. Those clues help sort harmless from treatable causes.

2. The Most Common Causes

2.1. Parasites

Ear mites
The ear mite Otodectes cynotis lives in the ear canal and can trigger intense itch, dark “coffee-ground” debris, head-shaking, and scratching that rubs off hair on and around the ears. Kittens, shelter cats, and outdoor cats are most at risk. Untreated, ear mites can lead to painful ear infections.

Notoedric mange
Notoedres cati (“feline scabies”) causes severe itch with crusting and hair loss that often starts on the ear margins and spreads to the face and neck. It’s highly contagious between cats.

Demodex mites
Two species matter in cats. Demodex gatoi lives in the skin surface, is contagious and very itchy, and can cause patchy hair loss including the ears. Demodex cati lives in hair follicles, is usually not contagious, and often appears in cats with underlying illness.

Clues you’ll notice: intense itch, scabs or crusts on ear edges, hair breaking off rather than falling out, and sometimes lesions spreading to the head and neck.

2.2. Fungal Infection Ringworm

“Ringworm” (dermatophytosis) is a fungal infection (most often Microsporum canis) that causes circular patches of hair loss, scale, and crusts. In cats, lesions frequently appear on the face and ears. It’s contagious to other animals and zoonotic (can spread to people), so quick diagnosis and treatment matter.

2.3. Allergies

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the single most common feline allergy. A single flea bite can set off whole-body itch, typically showing up as tiny crusted bumps (miliary dermatitis) over the neck and head, tail base, and along the back, with secondary hair loss from scratching.
Food allergy and environmental allergies (atopic skin disease) can also target the head and neck, leading to overgrooming and broken hair around the ears.

2.4. Ear Infections Otitis

Even without mites, cats can develop otitis externa (outer ear inflammation) from yeast, bacteria, or foreign material. The discomfort triggers head-shaking and scratching that rubs hair off the ear base and margins—and can even cause a painful aural hematoma (a blood-filled swelling of the ear flap).

2.5. Sun Damage And Skin Cancer

Cats with white or pale ear tips are prone to solar (actinic) dermatitis on the sparsely haired ear margins. Early lesions look like redness and scale; with ongoing UV exposure they can progress to actinic keratosis and eventually squamous cell carcinoma. Catching it early is key.

2.6. Autoimmune Skin Disease

Pemphigus foliaceus is the most common autoimmune skin disease in cats. It often targets the face and ears with pustules that quickly break, leaving yellow crusts and erosions, plus patchy hair loss.

2.7. Overgrooming And Stress

“Psychogenic alopecia” describes hair loss from excessive licking, often a stress-coping behavior. In many cats, overgrooming is secondary to itch or pain, so it’s a diagnosis of exclusion after parasites, allergies, and infections are ruled out. When behavioral, it tends to produce short, stubbly hair (“barbering”) rather than smooth baldness.

2.8. Hormonal And Systemic Disease

Endocrine problems are less common in cats than dogs but can contribute to poor coat quality and diffuse hair thinning (e.g., hyperthyroidism). These typically cause more generalized changes, with the ears affected as part of a bigger pattern.

2.9. Trauma, Bites, And Aural Hematomas

Scratching due to itch, insect bites, or cat fights can break hair and inflame the ear margins. Repeated head-shaking can rupture small blood vessels in the ear flap, creating an aural hematoma—a puffy, warm swelling that needs treatment.

3. How Vets Figure It Out

A thorough workup targets the most likely causes first and avoids missing contagious or serious problems.

• History and exam: distribution of hair loss; presence of itch, crusts, or ear debris; sun exposure; other pets; recent adoption or shelter exposure; flea prevention history; diet and treats; stressors at home.
• Flea combing and parasite control trial: because flea allergy is common and fleas can be hard to spot on itchy cats.
• Ear cytology and otoscopic exam: to look for mites, yeast, and bacteria; assess the eardrum before any medication goes in.
• Skin scrapings: to search for Notoedres and demodex mites.
• Trichogram or tape prep: hair and surface samples to evaluate broken hair and surface parasites.
• Ringworm testing: Wood’s lamp screening for fluorescent hairs (helpful but not definitive), direct microscopy, and confirmatory fungal culture or PCR.
• Allergy assessment: if infections and parasites are ruled out or controlled, dietary elimination trials and, in some cases, allergy testing to guide immunotherapy.
• Bloodwork: when systemic disease is suspected or before immunomodulatory treatments.
• Biopsy: if autoimmune disease, unusual crusting, or cancer is a concern (especially at sun-exposed ear tips).

4. Evidence-Based Treatments That Work

The best plan treats the cause, so your veterinarian will tailor therapy after testing. Here’s what that usually looks like.

4.1. Parasites

• Ear mites: Prescription topical parasiticides with proven efficacy—such as selamectin or fluralaner+moxidectin combinations—often clear ear mites with one or a few doses. All in-contact cats are typically treated. Gentle ear cleaning may be recommended once the eardrum is confirmed intact.
• Notoedric mange and demodicosis: Modern macrocyclic lactones and isoxazolines are highly effective. Because D. gatoi is contagious, treat housemates and follow your vet’s protocol for rechecks.

4.2. Ringworm

• Two-pronged therapy is standard: a topical agent to decontaminate the coat (e.g., lime sulfur rinses or miconazole/chlorhexidine shampoos) plus an oral antifungal (commonly itraconazole or terbinafine) to clear infection in hair follicles.
• Environmental cleaning reduces reinfection: frequent vacuuming, laundering bedding, and targeted disinfection of high-contact areas.
• Public-health note: Ringworm is zoonotic. Minimize handling if you’re high-risk (young children, elderly, immunocompromised), wear gloves for treatments, and wash hands after contact.

4.3. Allergies

• Flea allergy: Year-round, strictly effective flea control for every pet in the home—no exceptions. Many cases improve dramatically once fleas are controlled.
• Food allergy: A veterinary elimination diet trial for 8–12 weeks using a novel-protein or hydrolyzed diet, with no other foods or treats, remains the gold standard for diagnosis.
• Environmental allergies: Short courses of glucocorticoids can control flares; cyclosporine has good evidence for longer-term control in cats with allergic dermatitis. Allergen-specific immunotherapy can help selected cats. Antihistamines and nutraceuticals have variable benefit.

4.4. Otitis Externa

• Targeted therapy based on ear cytology: antifungals for yeast, antibiotics for bacteria, and anti-inflammatories for pain and swelling. Never put anything in the ear until the eardrum is assessed. Address underlying causes (mites, allergy) to prevent recurrence.

4.5. Sun Damage And Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Sun avoidance is key: keep vulnerable cats indoors during peak UV hours, use UV-filtering window films, and provide shade perches. Do not use human sunscreens containing zinc or salicylates on cats.
• Early lesions may respond to topical therapy or cryotherapy; suspicious, nonhealing, or ulcerated ear-tip lesions warrant biopsy. Confirmed SCC is typically managed with surgical removal, cryoablation, photodynamic therapy, or radiation—prognosis is best when caught early.

4.6. Autoimmune Disease

• Pemphigus foliaceus is treated with immunosuppression (most often prednisolone, sometimes combined with cyclosporine or other agents). Secondary infections are common and should be treated based on cytology and culture. Dermatology referral is helpful.

4.7. Overgrooming And Stress

• Because overgrooming is frequently secondary to itch or pain, medical causes must be excluded first.
• When behavioral, combine environmental enrichment (predictable routines, play therapy, vertical space), pheromone support, and, in select cases, behavior-modifying medications prescribed by your vet. Treat any concurrent pain (e.g., arthritis) that might perpetuate grooming.

5. Safe Home Steps You Can Start Today

• Check and protect from the sun if your cat has white or pale ear tips. Create shady window spots and limit midday sunbathing.
• Use year-round vet-recommended parasite prevention—especially if any pet in the home goes outdoors.
• Clean gently: if you see dark ear debris or odor, make a vet appointment; avoid over-the-counter ear drops until the eardrum is checked.
• Don’t apply human creams to ears. Many contain ingredients unsafe for cats, and topical steroids can mask infections.
• Reduce stress: enrich your cat’s world with regular play, foraging feeders, and cat-friendly resting places.
• Keep a photo diary: weekly, same lighting and angle. It helps you and your vet track progress objectively.

6. When To See The Vet

Book a prompt appointment if you notice any of the following:

• Intense itching, head-shaking, or visible discomfort
• Crusts, sores, or a puffy ear flap (possible aural hematoma)
• Red, scaly, or ulcerated ear tips, especially in white-eared cats
• Patchy hair loss on face or ears in households with children, elderly, or immunocompromised people (possible ringworm)
• Failure to improve after you’ve started reliable flea control
• Systemic signs like weight loss, behavior change, or lethargy

7. Frequently Asked Questions

7.1. Will the hair grow back

Often, yes—once the cause is treated. Flea allergy, ear mites, ringworm, and overgrooming commonly reverse with appropriate therapy. Long-standing sun damage or scarring may not regrow fully.

7.2. Is ear hair loss contagious to my other pets or family

Some causes are contagious: ear mites, notoedric mange, Demodex gatoi, and ringworm. Others—like allergies or autoimmune disease—are not. Until you have a diagnosis, sensible hygiene (handwashing, laundering bedding) and treating in-contact pets when your vet advises are prudent.

7.3. Can I treat ear mites or ringworm at home

Skip home remedies. Many over-the-counter products are ineffective or unsafe in cats, and ear medications can harm hearing if the eardrum is compromised. Veterinary diagnosis ensures you use a drug that actually kills the parasite and prevents complications.

7.4. How long before I see improvement

It depends on the cause. Parasite-related itch can improve within days to a couple of weeks after proper treatment. Allergies may take weeks (and food trials take 8–12 weeks). Ringworm typically requires several weeks of combined therapy plus environmental cleaning to achieve negative cultures and regrowth.

Citations

• Disorders of the Outer Ear in Cats. (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• Mite Infestation of Cats. (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• Dermatophytosis in Dogs and Cats. (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• Ear Mites in Cats. (Cornell Feline Health Center)
• Otitis in Cats. (Cornell Feline Health Center)
• Ringworm in Cats Dermatomycosis. (UC Davis Veterinary Medicine)
• Ringworm in Cats. (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• Over-grooming in Cats. (International Cat Care)
• Feline Demodicosis. (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• Demodex gatoi Associated Pruritic Dermatosis. (PubMed Central)
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Dogs and Cats. (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• What Is Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats. (PetMD)
• Solar Dermatitis in Cats. (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• Miscellaneous Diseases of the Pinna including Solar Dermatitis. (MSD Veterinary Manual)
• Ear Cancer in Cats Squamous Cell Carcinoma. (PetMD)
• A Clinical Approach to Alopecia in Cats. (Today’s Veterinary Practice)
• Treatment of the Feline Atopic Syndrome A Systematic Review. (Wiley Online Library)
• FDA FOI Summary Atopica for Cats. (U.S. FDA)
• Implementing an Elimination-Challenge Diet Trial Cat. (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• Bravecto Plus for Cats EU Product Information. (European Commission)
• Ear Mites in Cats Treatment Options. (UW Shelter Medicine)
• Hematoma of the Ear in Cats. (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• Accuracy of Wood’s Lamp Exams for Dermatophytosis. (UW Shelter Medicine)