History Main / EarNotch

* If you ever see a stray cat with the edge of one ear that looks like it's been sliced off, that means it was caught, spayed or neutered, then released.

On the SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism this can apply to almost all points from NearlyNormalAnimal to BeastMan, though they can even appear on LittleBitBeastly as long as the ears are still large enough and/or discernible as non-human. Even humanoid species with large or long ears like elves can have ear notching too, just don't expect it on a human as it'll be almost entirely invisible, though humans with ear notches is not unheard of--like slit earlobes for instance--some are fixable, some aren't.

On the SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism this can apply to almost all points from NearlyNormalAnimal to FunnyAnimal (though they can also appear on BeastMan) as long as the ears are still large enough and/or discernible as non-human. Even humanoid species with large or long ears like elves can have ear notching too, just don't expect it on a human as it'll be almost entirely invisible, though humans with ear notches is not unheard of--like slit earlobes for instance--some are fixable some aren't.

* Splinter from ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' had one from when he was still a regular rat in the live-action films. In the computer-generated sequel ''WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}}'', he doesn't, prompting one of the directors to joke in the commentary that he's had some work done between films.

-->-- ''Literature/{{Stray}}''

* The protagonist of ''Literature/{{Stray}}'' is a stray cat called Pufftail. One of his defining traits is his ear notch.

* ''Webcomic/{{Avania}}'': Una Pennrose has one on her right ear and two on her left. Major MacIntyre has several, and is missing a substantial portion of his left ear.

[[folder:Anime a& Manga]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In the comic strip ''Outland'' by [[ComicStrip/BloomCounty Berke Breathed]], Mortimer Mouse (a parody of [[Franchise/MickeyMouse Mickey]]) has a bite taken out of one ear -- supposedly the result of a scuffle with Disney exec Michael Eisner.

* Comes up once in a while in the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon:
** Ed the hyena from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' is one of Scar's evil hyena lackeys. As befits his BewareTheSillyOnes status, he has several.
** The ever-mischievous Stitch from ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' has two notches, one near the tip of his right ear and one near the base of his left ear, [[OffModel although they sometimes appear either mirrored in the wrong spots or as being symmetrical to one another]]. A few of [[Characters/LiloAndStitchExperiments his fellow mischief-making cousins]] in [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch the franchise]] also have notches on their ears.
** From ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyfreaksam/3924487470/ Ignacio Alonzo Julio Federico de Tito.]]
** Ronno, the tough deer WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}} has to fight to defend Faline and his rival in the [[WesternAnimation/BambiII midquel]].
** The moose Rutt from ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'', to distinguish him from his brother Tuke.
** Mittens in ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}'' is a stray cat who had a tough life on the streets, showcased by her ear injury.
** Fidget the bat from ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective''.
* Zira from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride''. She's an Outsider and the BigBad. She's very cruel and sadistic towards her enemies.
* Buck from ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeDawnOfTheDinosaurs''.
* The Mouse King from ''WesternAnimation/TheNutcrackerPrince'' has one on his left ear.

* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' series, there's large groups of fighting cats, so someone's bound to get a ripped ear. Particularly notable are the minor character Tornear, who is ''named'' after this, and the BigBad, Tigerstar; it's one of his more frequently noted physical characteristics. Longtail is left with one of these as well, after provoking "the poor lost kittypet" who will eventually become Firestar.
* In ''Literature/OldPossumsBookOfPracticalCats'', the description of Growltiger ("a bravo cat") states, in pertinent part, "One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why...."

* The protagonist of a memorably weird children's book series called "Tough Ted"[[note]]by the creator of ''101 Uses Of A Dead Cat''[[/note]], an [[FunnyAnimal anthropomorphic bear]] who's a former merchant seaman and apparently a bit of a RetiredBadass, sports one of these.
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', abstract conceptual artist [[Creator/TraceyEmin Daniellerina Pouter]] has these due to the fact Lord Vetinari expressed his criticism of her art by nailing her to a sturdy wooden post by the ears. She wears her ear notches with pride and continues to produce avant-garde art.

* In ''Literature/TalesFromDimwoodForest'', [[CatsAreMean Graybar]] is a rough alley cat with a notch in his ear that he received from a fight against three cats, which he won.
* Cunning, one of Titan's two lackeys, in ''Literature/{{Bravelands}}'' is described as a tough-looking lion with a torn ear.
* Several of the cats in the no-good Over the Hill Gang in ''Literature/CatPack'' have ear notches (or in one case, half of an ear missing), including the CoveredWithScars leader Steak Knife.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/{{Stray}}'' is a stray cat called Pufftail. One of his defining traits is his ear notch.
* In ''Literature/GodsAndWarriors'', Lykonian Outsiders such as Hylas and Issi are marked by having a nick cut out of their left ears. By the time of ''The Burning Shadow'', Hylas has cut off the bottom of his earlobe to hide the fact he's an Outsider.

* One of the options in Episode 5 of ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries'' resulted in this [[spoiler:if Batman complies with Lady Arkham/Vicki Vale's demand for him to unmask, it results in her blasting part of his right ear off.]]
* Mae from ''VideoGame/NightInTheWoods'' has a couple small nicks in her left ear, which is appropriate given her history of violence (though she claims it was from a [[FurryConfusion dog bite]]). Two of Germ's friends (the ones who ''have'' ears; the third is a bird) have more prominent ones.
* During the last [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown fight]] with [[BigBad Higgs]] in ''VideoGame/DeathStranding'', Higgs can attack [[PlayerCharacter Sam]] and chew a piece of his ear off. The ear stays damaged until the end of the game, but it's only cosmetic.
* Shanty from ''VideoGame/ThemsFightinHerds'' has an unexplained notch in her left ear. (Well, it's [[AmbidextrousSprite supposed]] to be her left.) The fact that she's a rough PirateGirl might have something to do with it.
* ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'': Elfilin has a notch in his right ear, though he's [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter far more cute and cuddly]] than you'd expect from the trope description. [[spoiler:Possibly given to him in [[EscapedFromTheLab the lab he escaped from]], though nothing's confirmed.]]

* Buwaro in ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'' has ear notches. He's got CuteLittleFangs too, for what that's worth.

* Renowned spacer Ace from ''WebComic/CommanderKitty sports'' one. [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/08/16/listen-up-crew/ CK even contemplates getting his own ear notched.]]

* From the Website/FurryBasketballAssociation, Buck Hopper, Shane Rufus, Cheeto Wolfote, Bruce Bounder (who's missing half an ear). In a universe filled with Badass Furry characters, this is inevitable.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': Furrball.

* Protagonist Charlie Barkin in ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' has two notches on his right ear to show that he's had a tough life on the streets. Those ear notches carry over into his human form in the TV show episode, "Charlie the Human."

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}:'' Melman the giraffe has a small slit on his right ear.

On the SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism this can apply to almost all points from NearlyNormalAnimal to FunnyAnimal (though they can also appear on BeastMan) as long as the ears are still large enough and/or discernible as non-human. Even humanoid species with large or long ears like elves can have ear notching too, just don't expect it on a human as it'll be almost entirely invisible.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': The stray cat Rita has one.
%%* ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars'': Modo.

* Stewie from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' gets one when Brian tried to piece his ear (they were both drunk at the time).