Strange red area on cat's lower lip?

ameva · Dec 14, 2011

It noticed this evening when I got home from work that my 6 month old kitten has this red little area below her lower lip. I'm really scared that it is an infection that is untreatable or will cause her to stop eating. She behaves perfectly normal right now and her behavior hasn't changed from the norm.

When I gently touch the spot, she doesn't react with any obvious pain, but knowing from experience with cold sores, I know how they feel. I did some research and I heard that this could be feline acne, but I don't know for sure.

I just want some input advice from cat owners who've dealt with this before I take her to the vet. It would be something minor that will go away on its own or with some care, but I don't want to take any chances with my sweet little girl.

And yes, I wash her dishes and replace her food daily. Here are some pictures:

s

If anyone has any advice or info on what this is, please reply. I'm starting to get concerned that this might be something more serious than it looks.

Thank you!

rollie · Dec 14, 2011

I'm not a vet but I came across a site that shows pictures of common skin aliments in cats. They had a picture that looked exactly like your cats. They called it feline acne. The site was http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=107386. It was the first picture I came too. I wish you the best.

auntie crazy · Dec 14, 2011

Hi, Ameva! Welcome to TCS!

What type of dishes are you using and what kind of foods are you feeding?

I'm asking because ceramic and plastic dishes can still have traces of food particles and oil in their cracks after washing that can contribute to feline acne, and kibble can cause multiple allergic and intolerance issues.

AC

yosemite · Dec 17, 2011

Feline acne is quite common. I only use glass dishes or stainless steel and I have enough so that he gets a clean dish from the dishwasher for each meal. Cats can also get acne from plastic placemats. Dilute some hydogen peroxide and gently wipe your cat's chin after each meal.

Winchester · Dec 18, 2011

May I add my two cents? And the only reason I'm posting this is because we took BooBoo to the vet yesterday (Saturday) morning as he has a bad case of acne right now. It's something that our RB baby Banshee had, too. Boo has been having some issues with sinusitis and the vet thinks that the med he's on right now for the sinusitis may have led to some acne issues.

Our vet recommended a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, as Yosemite mentioned. What she (our vet) said was to take equal parts of the peroxide and water and then dab that on the cat's chin area. In Boo's case, I'm using a small cotton ball because it's a larger area. In your case, with your little baby, maybe a cotton swab/Q-tip? Two or three times a day, no more than that.

And yes, no plastic. None. No plastic food dishes, water dishes, place mats, etc. And no ceramic or stoneware. Only glass or stainless steel. Clean dishes for every meal. We change water dishes two or three times a day. Completely clean dishes with fresh water. (We went to a Reading China and Glass store several years ago and bought a dozen simple clear glass salad plates. They work so well, we went back and bought another dozen. They weren't that expensive at all and they clean well in the dishwasher. We also found large clear glass bowls and we have three of those for water. And as I said, we change their water two, sometimes three times a day.)

If it doesn't start to heal, then I think it's time for a vet visit for your little kitten. I am not a vet and I won't pretend to be. The only reason I'm posting this is because of our BooBoo yesterday. And welcome to TCS, Ameva! There are so many nice people here who try very hard to help your with your questions.

Good luck to your kitten!

feralvr · Dec 18, 2011

Welcome to TCS :hugs:

For you kitty's chin .....

I am very familiar with chin acne issues. I use Hibiclens to wash the chin's http://hibiclens.com/default.html. I found at least for my cat's, that the hydrogen pyroxide even diluted was irritating to their chin's. The Hibiclen's was recommended to me here on TCS and has worked great. Just another option. There is also an ointment - Mupirocin - you could get from your vet if your vet think's that is chin acne. I am not totally sure that it is chin acne. Only because you would normally see black dirt in the pores first and then it will advance into more of what you are seeing on your ca'ts chin. A large red pustule. Do you see black dirt specs on the chin? Over the whole chin? The sebaceous gland's that are located on the chin can over-produce oil causing these breakout's/blackheads. For my cat's, it is some type of allergen, food or environmental. I have it under control now with diet. But Pipsqueak's chin still has some flare-ups and I have to check his chin daily. I would watch the sore closely as there is other possibilities as to what it could be..... I would check with your vet. Keep us posted! :clover:

auntie crazy · Dec 18, 2011

Seconding Winchester's caution against plastic water dishes or fountains. I'm on a couple different forums and this topic has been cropping up recently, with the water fountain finally being identified as the cause.

Hope your kitty is doing well!

AC

ameva · Dec 18, 2011

I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my question. Your advice sounds reassuring, and I will be sure to get some hydrogen peroxide and water to see if this will work. I'll also be more careful about the plastic place mats (I think that and the fact that her food bowls are ceramic are what caused this). I'll keep you updated if anything changes!

feralvr · Dec 18, 2011

I was also surprised to hear that ceramic bowls can harbor bacteria until a member here mentioned it to me. Ceramic can get microscopic crack's the will harbor bacteria... I went to all stainless after hearing about that. :nod: Keep us posted on your kittie's chin

ameva · Dec 26, 2011

Winchester said:
May I add my two cents? And the only reason I'm posting this is because we took BooBoo to the vet yesterday (Saturday) morning as he has a bad case of acne right now. It's something that our RB baby Banshee had, too. Boo has been having some issues with sinusitis and the vet thinks that the med he's on right now for the sinusitis may have led to some acne issues.

Our vet recommended a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, as Yosemite mentioned. What she (our vet) said was to take equal parts of the peroxide and water and then dab that on the cat's chin area. In Boo's case, I'm using a small cotton ball because it's a larger area. In your case, with your little baby, maybe a cotton swab/Q-tip? Two or three times a day, no more than that.

And yes, no plastic. None. No plastic food dishes, water dishes, place mats, etc. And no ceramic or stoneware. Only glass or stainless steel. Clean dishes for every meal. We change water dishes two or three times a day. Completely clean dishes with fresh water. (We went to a Reading China and Glass store several years ago and bought a dozen simple clear glass salad plates. They work so well, we went back and bought another dozen. They weren't that expensive at all and they clean well in the dishwasher. We also found large clear glass bowls and we have three of those for water. And as I said, we change their water two, sometimes three times a day.)

If it doesn't start to heal, then I think it's time for a vet visit for your little kitten. I am not a vet and I won't pretend to be. The only reason I'm posting this is because of our BooBoo yesterday. And welcome to TCS, Ameva! There are so many nice people here who try very hard to help your with your questions.

Good luck to your kitten!

Just wondering since I bought some Hydrogen Peroxide today. Exactly how many milliliters of it mixed with water should I apply to my kitten's chin?

sugarcatmom · Dec 27, 2011

Ameva said:
Just wondering since I bought some Hydrogen Peroxide today. Exactly how many milliliters of it mixed with water should I apply to my kitten's chin?

I personally wouldn't use hydrogen peroxide, despite what some vets say. It doesn't have the anti-bacterial properties that we once thought, and it can actually inhibit healing:

http://www.pilonidal.org/aftercare/cleaning.php

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/79/2/260.full.pdf

A better idea would be to just wipe the chin with a warm wet washcloth. You could add a few drops of liquid silver for a bactericide, or Epsom salts to help with cleaning.

samuel abbott · May 27, 2014

Hi, My cat looks almost identical to yours....Even the same red marks on his mouth. I was wondering if you found out if it was dangerous or removable? ANy advice would be very much appreciated, Regards Samuel

mrsgreenjeens · May 27, 2014

Samuel Abbott said:
Hi, My cat looks almost identical to yours....Even the same red marks on his mouth. I was wondering if you found out if it was dangerous or removable? ANy advice would be very much appreciated, Regards Samuel

Your cat probably has feline acne as well. If so, it is not removable, but is definitely treatable, although, just like with humans, sometimes can get so bad that it requires a doctors intervention. As stated above, do not use plastic around your cat, and wash the affected area. I've heard of people using hydrogen peroxide and water, hibiclens, and even Stridex pads!

Here are a couple more threads about it: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/226488/feline-acne and http://www.thecatsite.com/t/134324/feline-acne

If you just do a search above under "feline acne", you'll get a lot of hits, even an article

Strange red area on cat's lower lip?

ameva

TCS Member

Thread starter

rollie

TCS Member

auntie crazy

TCS Member

yosemite

TCS Member

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies

feralvr

TCS Member

auntie crazy

TCS Member

ameva

TCS Member

Thread starter

feralvr

TCS Member

ameva

TCS Member

Thread starter

sugarcatmom

TCS Member

samuel abbott

TCS Member

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

Latest Posts

Connect with us