Glossary
Ear-tipping
The removal of the tip of one ear under anaesthesia, done at neutering, to show at a glance that a free-roaming cat has been sterilised.
Also called: eartipping, ear tip, ear notch, ear-tipped cat
Ear-tipping is a surgical procedure in which a vet removes the end of a cat's ear, in a straight line across the tip, while the cat is under anaesthesia for its spay or neuter operation. It is the international sign that an outdoor cat has been through a trap-neuter-return programme. The tip is usually the left ear in the United States, though some programmes use the right ear or a notch.
The mark lets caretakers, animal control officers and vets spot from a distance that a cat has been sterilised, vaccinated and returned, so it is not trapped and operated on a second time. A cat caught and anaesthetised twice would face avoidable stress and risk. The healed ear looks neat and the cat does not seem bothered by it.
Because the cat is already anaesthetised, ear-tipping adds little extra pain, and vets give pain relief. The amount removed is small, often about a quarter of the ear's visible length or a fixed measure that the programme specifies. It is only done for free-roaming cats, not for pets. If you see an ear-tipped cat, leave it where it is, since it is probably part of a managed colony. Check for a collar or microchip if it seems friendly or lost, and ask a local rescue for advice.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026