Your cat’s ears are an extension of your pet’s skin. The cat’s ear canal is divided into 3 sections: 1) the L-shaped external ear canal extends from the outside to the ear drum, 2) behind the ear drum lays the middle ear (tympanic cavity), and lastly, 3) the inner ear. In contrast to people, the majority of ear problems in cats occur in the external ear canal. Inflammation of the external ear canal, commonly caused by allergies or mites, may result in bacterial and/or yeast infections. Left untreated, these infections may extend into the middle and inner ear cavities, causing diminished hearing and loss of balance.