Veterinary cases can present in many ways – some sudden and urgent, others more gradual. A wound that doesn’t heal. A change that doesn’t quite resolve. Tilly’s story is one of these, highlighting how small observations can lead to big outcomes.

Tilly is a 13-year-old white and black cat who was brought to us with a three-week history of a wound on her left ear that simply would not heal. Her owner’s had noticed that there may have been some initial improvement, but Tilly continued to scratch at it, reopening the area and causing episodes of bleeding. There had been no witnessed fight or injury, however small dark spots had previously been noted on her ears.

On examination, it became clear that this was more than a simple scratch. Tilly’s left ear had a wound affecting the ear tip, with some tissue loss, that had failed to heal. The right ear, while less dramatic, also showed worrying changes, with some darkened scabby lesions affecting the tips of the outer ear (pinna). Taken together, these changes increased our concern that an underlying disease rather than simple trauma was responsible.

White and light-coloured cats are particularly prone to developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common skin cancer that most often affects areas with little pigment and sparse hair, such as the ear tips, nose, and eyelids. These areas are less protected from ultraviolet light, and over time repeated sun exposure can damage these skin cells, leading to cancerous change. Although SCC lesions often begin subtly and tend to spread very slowly, they are very locally invasive if left untreated. The encouraging news is that when SCC is confined to the ear tips and identified early, surgical treatment is often curative.

The recommended option for Tilly was a bilateral pinnectomy – removal of the affected portions of both ear pinnae. While the thought of ear surgery can feel daunting, cats generally adapt extremely well, and most owners are surprised at just how quickly their beloved pets return to normal. With her owner’s keen to do whatever was in Tilly’s best interest, she was booked in for surgery, and the visibly abnormal tissue of each pinna was removed. Tilly then returned to see us for follow-up checks with our wonderful nursing team, who monitored her healing closely and ensured she remained comfortable throughout her recovery.

Today, Tilly is back to enjoying life as normal – comfortable, content, and very much herself. True to form, she remains a dedicated sunworshipper, albeit with a little more shade and protection built into her routine. Like many cats, she has adapted effortlessly, proving once again just how resilient our feline patients can be.