Why does my cat have mold-like growth on the base of her outer ear?

I would recommend a veterinary exam for Luna if you suspect something is wrong with her ear. Cats can develop your infections from yeast or bacteria, can have ear mites, can develop cancer of the ear or grow benign polyps within the ear that may pre-dispose to infection as well. Without an exam there's no way to know what may be wrong with her ear or how to treat it. Ear mites, yeast, bacteria can only be diagnosed via cytology by looking at discharge from the ear under a microscope. Ear mites cannot be completely discounted on gross physical exam as they are microscopic. Good luck and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lucy. That doesn't look like mites, but it could be a skin infection. Given that it's growing, I'd have her seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing it, and can treat it. I hope this helps.

It sounds and looks like Lucy could have an abscess. When cats play too rough or get bitten by other cats they can develop an abscess. With an abscess comes fever and lethargy. I suggest you take Lucy to your veterinarian for exam. If an abscess is confined, you vet may need to drain the abscess and give Lucy antibiotics and pain mets. Good luck with Lucy.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to see well in the pictures. This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Lucy sounds like she may have two issues going on, the vomiting and possibly an ear infection or ear mites. I would take her in to your veterinarian for an exam and see if she needs treatment for both issues. She may have gotten into something and gotten a stomach upset and need anti-nausea medication. If she has an ear infection or ear mites, this usually can be treated with topical medication in the ears.

A lesion like this can be related to ringworm, a bacterial infection, skin mites or an allergy. I recommend to have Lucy tested for ringworm since it can spread to humans to be safe. Make sure to keep her from scratching the area with an Elizabethan collar if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This looks like ceruminous cystomatosis which is a non-cancerous tumor of the wax glands in the ears. Treatment involves removal of the lesions (which often will regrow and need to be removed again) either surgically, with a laser, or with cautery. It is important to note that surgical removal will likely lead to scar tissue formation and some deformation of the ear flap. I suggest you have Mowgli examined by your vet when you can.