Cat owners: experiences with a mass in the ear?

[cleo29]

Nico, thought he ear mites, but it was an ear infection caused by a mass in his inner ear. We go back a week and a half to see how things look, infection wise, and then will figure out about getting a biopsy. It is either a polyp or a tumor. 

[mouse]

My cat had an ear polyp. The vet said it’s pretty common around a year old, and that’s when he had it. Because of the pandemic there were longer wait times it had burst his eardrum by the time we were finally able to have it removed. I think it was a good three months before we could get in with the animal dermatologist, and then another month for the procedure.

We did the traction removal - they still had to put him under so still $$, but with the surgical method, they dig into the bone to make sure they get it all. There’s a slightly higher chance it will grow back with a traction removal, but it was worth it to try, IMO. Especially since we’re 9 months out and he’s had no issues or regrowth and she’s pretty confident he’s got a clear prognosis. One thing you want to do is keep the ear as clean as possible and do all the cleanings they tell you, because if you can keep protein from building up, that’s the best chance at preventing a regrowth.

[winecat]

I haven't but paws crossed it's nothing scary.

[foundmylazybum]

Yes, we fostered a cat who also had a polyp in his ear. The polyp was complex and he had to have his entire ear canal removed. He was deaf in his left ear. His ear opening was sewn shut and he had a slight head tilt.

It was critical that he be an indoor only cat bc he was hearing impaired.

But honestly, if you didn't know, you couldn't tell, and he was one of my favorite cats I've fostered.


He also had an ear infection (it's a common sign of the polyp) and we spent the first part of the summer declining with that. Then they tried the simple procedure to remove the polyp, but nope. He had to have the major surgery.

[mbcdefg]

Mine had polyps maybe six years ago. He had surgery to remove them and he was fine afterward. He was seven years old at the time. All the various treatments and surgery came to around $4k. We kept him isolated in a spare room, away from our other two cats, for nearly a month afterward so he could rest.

Nowadays he has chronic rhinitis, where he sneezes and sniffles all the time, but I don’t think it’s related to the polyps.

Best wishes for the best possible outcome!

[cleo29]

mouse, foundmylazybum, mbcdefg,- With the polyps did they show any other symptoms? Like sneezing or noisy breathing? head-tilt? I got the impression from the vet she thinks it might be a tumor vs a polyp. He is nearly 4, possibly 5.

Thank you for the stories and good thoughts. I do think the ear infection is clearing up as the funky ear smell is gone.

[mouse]

Sept 12, 2021 18:44:52 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

mouse, foundmylazybum, mbcdefg,- With the polyps did they show any other symptoms? Like sneezing or noisy breathing? head-tilt? I got the impression from the vet she thinks it might be a tumor vs a polyp. He is nearly 4, possibly 5.

Thank you for the stories and good thoughts. I do think the ear infection is clearing up as the funky ear smell is gone.

I should have said, his first symptoms were a pretty severe ear infection. When we got him at the shelter he had been kept in isolation because of a (mild) respiratory infection, so we weren’t surprised when he was very shy and hid a lot. At some point I think his hiding was more related to the infection, but I couldn’t tell you for sure. It’s hard to say if his behavior changed much due to the polyp or not. We had it biopsied and it was benign, which given his age was what we expected.

His recovery was pretty quick - he was groggy for a day or so, but that was it. I wish I could tell you he bounced out and stopped being so shy afterwards, but now we’re struggling with anxiety symptoms that seem to be strongly triggered by vet visits. Lol. It’s a process, but he’s very loved.

[mbcdefg]

Sept 12, 2021 18:44:52 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

mouse, foundmylazybum, mbcdefg,- With the polyps did they show any other symptoms? Like sneezing or noisy breathing? head-tilt? I got the impression from the vet she thinks it might be a tumor vs a polyp. He is nearly 4, possibly 5.

Thank you for the stories and good thoughts. I do think the ear infection is clearing up as the funky ear smell is gone.

He kept scratching at his ear, weird discharge, and he was walking around with his ear flattened down on his head and kept shaking his head and pawing at it.

Good luck, I hope he’ll be ok <3

[foundmylazybum]

Sept 12, 2021 18:44:52 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

mouse, foundmylazybum, mbcdefg,- With the polyps did they show any other symptoms? Like sneezing or noisy breathing? head-tilt? I got the impression from the vet she thinks it might be a tumor vs a polyp. He is nearly 4, possibly 5.

Thank you for the stories and good thoughts. I do think the ear infection is clearing up as the funky ear smell is gone.

He had a severe ear infection and he always had head tilt. He also had occasional post nasal drip but it was very minor.. We were his foster family and we had to get his ear infection cleared up first, but some of the signs of the polyps are chronic respiratory issues.

In our case, they always knew it was a polyp but they knew it was a more severe form. They were hoping his medication would shrink it to where they could snip it at the stalk, but nope. The medication cleared up the infection but didn't touch the polyp.

[foundmylazybum]

Also, with his ear infection it didn't ever smell. There was brown gunk in his ears. Blood and a lot of gunk. We had to fill his ear canal 3x a day with medicine and it got better.


The medicine was strong and it wasn't just drops..like we had to burrito him, then fill his entire ear and let the medicine sit. It took 14-20 days to get better.

I will say this about ear stuff: you want to follow the directions of the vet exactly and if you aren't sure, then I think I'd get a second opinion from a specialist even if it's pricey.

Our foster cat had kind of a complex polyp as I mentioned and they were taking it seriously.

[cleo29]

Sept 13, 2021 9:56:20 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Also, with his ear infection it didn't ever smell. There was brown gunk in his ears. Blood and a lot of gunk. We had to fill his ear canal 3x a day with medicine and it got better.


The medicine was strong and it wasn't just drops..like we had to burrito him, then fill his entire ear and let the medicine sit. It took 14-20 days to get better.

I will say this about ear stuff: you want to follow the directions of the vet exactly and if you aren't sure, then I think I'd get a second opinion from a specialist even if it's pricey.

Our foster cat had kind of a complex polyp as I mentioned and they were taking it seriously.

We did not have to give him drops, she put in some really thick meds which were a combo of antibiotic and something to help it stay in.  His ear definitely had a funky smell and some gross thick ear wax like crap. His ear is smelling normal again and I think it is not bothering him as much.

We go back in next week to see what's what.   

[foundmylazybum]

I hope he continues to feel better and that you are able to get some answers for him--and that it's a polyp and not a tumor! Our foster cat (His name was Monte) was amazing. I'm sure he was amazing because he was amazing and not b/c he had a polyp in his ear lol, but now I think I feel a special affinity for any cat who happens to have some sort of ear issue haha so I will be thinking of your cat!

[cleo29]

foundmylazybum, thank you! he is very sweet and he is slowly getting better with the dogs. Honestly, I think once he really accept that all they want to do is sleep and have no desire to hurt him, he will be good. They are Greyhounds. If they wanted to really get him, they would have already.