Kitten Ear Mites Background. It might be ear mites.see what we did there. Are your cat or dog's ears dirtier than normal?
See a picture of a cat with permanent damage from ear.
Ear mites are tiny parasites that can affect ears. Their presence causes inflammation, and can also lead to secondary ear infections. Ear mites are extremely common in domesticated cats and kittens and if left untreated they can severely damage the ear canals and eardrum and may even cause permanent hearing loss. See a picture of a cat with permanent damage from ear.