Expert: Jessica - 7/30/2010

Question
Hello!! I sure hope you can help me.  I have noticed this lump in my cats ear(right as you enter the ear just after the hair of the head) She has had this for awhile with a scab.  So today I tried to pick the scab and squeezed the lump and this gray/slate colored goop came out. It was thick like a spackle not watery.  Do you have any idea what this could be??? Please help

Answer
Hi Melissa,

It sounds likely to be a sebaceous cyst.  These are growths that are filled with a waxy substance called sebum, which is made by oil glands under the skin.  Sebaceous cysts may be the result of a minor injury such as a scratch, a splinter a clogged pore, or some cats are just prone to them.  The slow-growing cysts are not dangerous and don't need treatment.  Eventually, many of them rupture on their own, and the gray waxy substance will drain.  This is a time when it may pose a problem, because the skin is open, and infection can sometimes set in.  It's best to rinse the area with a cotton swab dipped in a mild soapy water mixture, and then apply a triple antibiotic cream.  Sebaceous cysts tend to recur over time but are best to be left alone.  Popping them usually causes them to come back more quickly.

I want to stress, however, that if the ear feels warm, if the continues to create discharge, or if the surrounding skin is red, it could be an abscess, which is an infection under the skin. This can create a similar discharge, but it’s usually of a thinner consistency and is white and may be combined with blood. This is a condition which requires prompt treatment with antibiotics.  If the condition isn’t treated, the infection can spread to the blood, causing a life-threatening condition.  Consult a vet right away if any of the symptoms I mentioned are present.

Good luck!

Jessica