Why do people crop their cats' ears?

Holly in Tavares, FL
June 18, 2018

While looking through a cat lover's magazine today, I saw some pictures of cats with cropped ears. Interesting. Why would anyone do that? Is it for health reasons?

Answers
Sydney in Chicago, IL
June 18, 2018

The most common reason in my experience is Spay/neuter places will crop a small part of one ear of a feral cat that has been recently spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, etc. this is to let other shelters know that, in case the cat is captured and brought to them, that this cat has something taking care of them.

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User in Columbus, MS
Sept. 8, 2016

some things for animals are for beauty reasons. like some dog or cat owners prefer a nub for their pets tail instead of the long kind. they clip ears and tails for this reason. other cases are where cats have been fixed and returned to the wild where they were found. usually this clipped ear(only one) accompanies a shaved belly.

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User in Miami, FL
July 18, 2016

Sometimes cats ears are cropped when they've been neutered so that it can be easily identified.

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Diane Hoelter
July 14, 2016

Hi Holly,

I'm not a cat owner ( we have dogs) and with most dog breeds its more of a breed standard, vanity type of thing.  I did find this interesting article on the history of cropping ears and tails of dogs.  I would assume its similar for cats. 

A link http://www.americananimalcare.com/pethealth/ear_cropping_tail_docking_dewclaw_removal_cosmetic_laser_surgery.html
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