My husband’s cat–well our cat, really, but more his than mine–just came up to him with a chunk missing out of her ear. It wasn’t that way when we left last night, and she’s an indoor cat (has been her entire life). We have no idea how she did it, but we’ll probably check her in with a vet tomorrow, just in case…
So has anyone else’s cat–or dog, or whatever–done anything like this? Should we be worried, or is it, like, normal?
If it’s an indoor cat and you come home to find a chunk missing from it’s ear, than you need to seriously reevaluate how “childproof” or “petproof” your home is. Seems to me you aren’t providing a safe environment for it.
Now, if it were an outdoor cat, that would be different.
No, not particularly normal, unless it’s in an unsafe environment. You should be worried. If you came home and found part of your kid’s ear missing, would you be worried, or even asking this question?
That was a little harsh, IMHO. Kitties are inquisitive beasts, and get themselves into the damndest of spots, sometimes to their own detriment. Kitty ears are thin, and can conceivably get caught in many places-use your imagination, and think about where a kitty can go.
If it is truly a kitten (under a year old), you might want to start blocking off the sides of the washer/dryer, keep closet and pantry doors shut at all times. Look for the places that a kitten can go into, but can not turn around fully to get back out. That is normally how they injure themselves. They move forward into what looks like a cool nap spot, realize it’s a dead end and can’t turn around, but in the process of trying to turn around they snag themselves on something. If you have a collar, make sure it is the breakaway kind so if it does get caught up, it won’t strangle her.
I have had house only cats for 23 years now and the only time one became injured was when he swallowed the leaf off a silk plant.