Crumpled cat ear - help me feel better

[Feliz]

About 10 days ago I was playing with the Big Fluff’s ear while he was sitting on my lap and I discovered a ear haematoma, not especially big and didn’t seem to be painful. Mr F took him to the vet the next day, where it was drained with a needle. Vet couldn’t find a cause for it (not ear mites or infection) and did warn that it could come back.

So it came back about 3 days later, a bit bigger. We talked it over and decided against surgery - vet said it could also come back after surgery and it’s purely a cosmetic thing.

However, I’m mourning his beautiful ears - he’s a Maine Coon and his ears are very tall. It’s crumpling already and I suspect it’s only going to be half the size.

He’s totally unconcerned and I know this is totally pathetic of me. I’m trying to tell myself that he will be even more devilishly handsome like this but I’m still sad.

Here is the obligatory photo (pre-crumple)
http://s979.photobucket.com/user/annaellisnz/media/Big%20Fluff/Mac%20in%20the%20basket_zps1xpwtqva.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

[JoZ]

I’m not following the story – what do you mean by surgery? Draining it? If you don’t drain it, what happens? Is that what makes it crumple?

But I get the gist! And I feel for you. It is hard to witness a change in appearance whatever the cause. I took an abandoned cat to be neutered and described him as a stray because the real story – left by a loser tenant in an apartment full of fleas and feces – wasn’t something I felt like going into. But as a result they notched this kitty’s ear. Totally understandable. But had I thought it through I would have come up with a different shortened story so his beautiful big ear could’ve been left untouched. He was half Maine Coon.

You don’t need me to tell you you’ll get used to it and love him anyway. So for this in between period you have my sympathy!

[Kneigh]

He’s got such a cute expression - he’ll still be a super cutie no matter what he’s ear looks like.

[Louise]

I understand where you are coming from and sympathize. He’s a handsome fellow, for sure. Our scars, inside and out, however, are what give us character. He’ll be much more Big Fluff with that distinctive ear. And, I predict that, in time, it will be that ear, and behind it, that you scratch and rub the most.

[clint]

About three weeks ago one of my favorite all time cats developed an ear hematoma, not especially big but definitely there. We took him to our vet who could find no reason for it and didn’t think it warranted surgery or draining. Well, my adorable orange tabby now has been renamed “Crumple”. His ear looks like a potato chip, or worse. He thinks everything is fine so, sigh, I guess I do too. But having someone else have exactly the same problem with the same outcome does make it a little better.

[cnigh]

It happens. My mom’s cat was diabetic. His ears looked horrible from all the blood testing done on him. But it was just cosmetic. My vet won’t drain pillow ears (hematoma). The ears heals better without intervention.

[Feliz]

Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts – it has made me feel better. Just as I was reading them he came in and demanded some attention, walked all over my work laptop and then carried on as per normal.

JoZ – the blood fills between the skin and the ear cartilage, when it is naturally reabsorbed by the body the ear ends up crumpling. The surgery drains it, then stitches it back together somehow (I read up on this the other night but I’ve forgotten the details now). It can still reoccur after surgery.

I’m sorry to hear about your one getting the ear notch – that is upsetting but I bet he really appreciated being upgraded! Thanks for looking out for him.

Clint – how about some photos?

[clint]

Here he is, Charlie, with his ear that looks like a potato chip, all crumplie. No worries though; he is the best. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209802650811390&set=a.1226454589917.35303.1485619212&type=3&theater

[DrBeckett]

While aural hematomas may heal better if left alone, they are quite painful while there. Surgery is usually recommended if for no reason other than comfort.