This is a very common injury, and one that apparently results from a bruise, although the owner may be quite unaware of any such injury.

The ear gradually assumes a baggy appearance, due to the accumulation of an inflammatory fluid between the skin and cartilage (or ear flap), causing a bulging both on the inner and outer side of the latter.

The swelling comes on gradually, and with increasing tension the pain increases; in fact, cats suffer a great deal when afflicted with this injury, technically known as hæmatoma of the ear.

Treatment

It is better to take the cat to a veterinary surgeon, but if this is not convenient make a half-inch cut through the skin on the inner side of the flap of the ear, taking particular care to have the cut lengthwise, not transverse, otherwise the ear will become deformed, when healing has taken place.

The fluid will now escape, but the adhesions, i. e. the blood-clot inside the cavity, must be broken down, and this can be done by inserting the blunt end of a hairpin, or a probe.

The wound must be kept open for a few days by means of a pledget of tow, and washed out with a solution of iodine as follows: Compound Tincture of Iodine 1 part. Water ..... 6 parts.

Half an ounce of the foregoing solution will be quite sufficient to wash out the cavity twice, using a small glass syringe for this purpose.

There is another method of dealing with the wound, i. e. to sew the cartilage to the skin of the ear by inserting two or three stitches right through it, but this, in the author's opinion, is not so good as the older plan.