I came home from work today and was alarmed by how red and angry Tabitha's ears were looking. She has also scratched so much that the fur behind the ear and in front of her ears, on the front of her head, are thinner and patchy and looking pink. So I took her to the vet this evening. I explained that she has had her flea treatment 4 weeks ago and is due again now. I also explained that I have just had an enclosure built and our 3 cats now go outside into the enclosure daily.

The vet checked her ears for mites and her fur for fleas but couldn't see anything. So she thinks it is an infection and has given me ear drops to put in Tabitha's ears twice a day for 5 days.

Lennon and Ringo's ears appear to be fine but I will be checking them too.

Have any of your bengals had problems with their ears and what was the outcome?

is there an easier way to give ear drops? Tabitha doesn't like it and she is getting stressed.

Poor Tabitha. Ear drops must be given in the ears! There is no other way. I had a cat that scratched his ear constantly. I looked and looked and saw nothing. Days later, I found a tick in there. Removed it, and he was fine. Your vet obviously did not spot anything unusual. I'm going to guess that something may have stung Tabitha in that area and it has caused a reaction. When Raiden is outside, the wasps and bees seem to LOVE him. Spiders can also bite! Check the enclosure, If you have any flowering plants near it, it could attract bees. And spiders are hot and heavy this time of year, so check for spider webs. They can spin one in a matter of hours.

Poor Tabitha! I expect you get upset as well, but unfortunately I don't think there is an easy way...

Jagger was stung in his ear once, the redness was very localised and it was localised swelling as well. He was also sick and had diarrhoea in the space of half hour from when he came in, ears flat and shaking his head. Typical sting in the ear reaction apparently although scary at the time. So if you had none of that it probably is an infection. Ear infections aren't very nice so well done for spotting it so promptly. She'll thank you when it's gone I'm sure!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

I know poor Tabitha she looks likes nobody owns her and I am covered in scratches from holding her down but I don't mind that, we love her to bits. Just 2 more days of ear drops to go....hopefully she will be okay by then... if not then we will be going back to the vets.

I tried wrapping Tabitha in a towel and, although she struggled like crazy, it made it much easier to give her the ear drops, thanks for the tip!

Tabitha's drops are finished now and her ears are looking better but she was a little sick last night, so I will be keeping a close eye on her...