Black/brown mark on nose

Hi there. Over the last week my kitten (10 weeks) has developed this little black smudge on his nose. It potentially could be a scab, but it's hard to tell.

He loves getting into everything and is not the most graceful kitty so a scrape on his nose would make sense.

Have you seen something like this before? He is 100% OK in himself so I wonder if I can wait before going to the vet, as he has an appointment with her in 2 weeks anyway.

Another pic. Sorry they're bad. Only managed to capture photos one handed with him wrestling me [emoji]128518[/emoji]

Is it hard at all? Like a scab? To me, it looks like what one of my cats gets on his nose. He always has a bit of a smudgy nose and a runny eye because he has feline herpes. Are your cat's eyes runny at all? Has he been sneezing?

It is a little raised and hard but not obviously so.

He has been sneezing actually. Not excessively at all, just a couple times here and there. No other symptoms. He was vaccinated 2 weeks ago, could it be residue illness from that?

Sorry to bump but wondered if anyone has any more ideas. Over the last 2 days it has definitely got darker. It really just looks like dirt but it can't be. I'm looking to go to the vet this weekend

I don't know if it would be from his vaccinations. I'm suspecting a cold or allergies.

hometownglory said:

Sorry to bump but wondered if anyone has any more ideas. Over the last 2 days it has definitely got darker. It really just looks like dirt but it can't be. I'm looking to go to the vet this weekend

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Glad you are taking him to the Vet.

It's really hard to tell from the photo if it's dried blood, or if it's a little raised, like an abscess underneath.

Can you take a soft compress, soft guaze, or even paper towel, and only use warm water, and apply it to his nose.

The water and warmth should be able to relieve or lift off any dried blood.

Only use warm water for now, since saline or salt water might hurt him.

Do you use plastic food bowls, or metal ones....since there have been a few threads where members mentioned cats getting odd looking allergic reactions from plastic food bowls.

Because of the sneezing, it does sound like what pushylady mentioned, about herpes, colds, or allergies, too. I don't have any experience with that.

cat nap said:

Glad you are taking him to the Vet.

It's really hard to tell from the photo if it's dried blood, or if it's a little raised, like an abscess underneath.

Can you take a soft compress, soft guaze, or even paper towel, and only use warm water, and apply it to his nose.
The water and warmth should be able to relieve or lift off any dried blood.
Only use warm water for now, since saline or salt water might hurt him.

Do you use plastic food bowls, or metal ones....since there have been a few threads where members mentioned cats getting odd looking allergic reactions from plastic food bowls.

Because of the sneezing, it does sound like what pushylady mentioned, about herpes, colds, or allergies, too. I don't have any experience with that.

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Thank you for this insight!

My boyfriend helped me hold him still so I could look at it under a harsh torch light and really see its texture. It definitely looks like some sort of scabbing, whether it's a normal scab or otherwise. My OH has now mentioned he had a small scratch on his nose about 2 weeks ago [emoji]128529[/emoji] And a small piece of it seems to be gone. That said, no joy when using a warm damp cotton pad.

And as for the sneezing, I think I have the source of that too. We are using a premium litter (because we ran out of the supermarket stuff and it's all the 24hr place had). After watching him super closely, he only sneezes in/around/within a few mins of using it! Some googling of the brand found others with a similar experience. He's also had itchy ears (but definitely no mites), which is a symptom of cat allergies. If this is the case, it could even be this irritating his nose scratch.

I will still be taking him to the vet of course! But I'm hoping it's simply this...

Edit: and yes we do use plastic. Thanks for this.ill buy ceramic this weekend

hometownglory said:

Thank you for this insight!

My boyfriend helped me hold him still so I could look at it under a harsh torch light and really see its texture. It definitely looks like some sort of scabbing, whether it's a normal scab or otherwise. My OH has now mentioned he had a small scratch on his nose about 2 weeks ago [emoji]128529[/emoji] And a small piece of it seems to be gone. That said, no joy when using a warm damp cotton pad.

And as for the sneezing, I think I have the source of that too. We are using a premium litter (because we ran out of the supermarket stuff and it's all the 24hr place had). After watching him super closely, he only sneezes in/around/within a few mins of using it! Some googling of the brand found others with a similar experience. He's also had itchy ears (but definitely no mites), which is a symptom of cat allergies. If this is the case, it could even be this irritating his nose scratch.

I will still be taking him to the vet of course! But I'm hoping it's simply this...

Edit: and yes we do use plastic. Thanks for this.ill buy ceramic this weekend

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You're welcome.

I kind of smiled at your mention of .."no joy when using a warm damp cotton pad."

I should have probably mentioned that having a tasty treat handy, to give afterwards, would have been helpful.

Yes, I think most cats don't like anything wet, or warm, touching their face or paws.

Though some like water, but only on their own terms, I guess. 

It makes sense about the different type of litter causing sneezing, and if it is 'scented litter' then it's not really recommended for cats...they have very sensitive noses.

It might smell good to us, but not to them.

Hopefully, you can go back to your old brand, or another less sneezy one, to make sure he does not start avoiding his litter box.

Allergies in cats are hard to figure out.

Some say it may be cat food, pollen, dust,...and like you mentioned, which I never thought about till now, cat litter, too,...so hoping that you, and your vet, figure out why his ears are itchy.

Even flea dirt can cause itchiness, so make sure to check for fleas, too.

(My labrador dog has a yeast and bacterial infection in his ear, right now, so our Vet put him on an ear cleaner, and antibiotic drops. He was shaking his head a lot.)

About the cat food dishes, ...members have mentioned that 'stainless steel bowls' are the best, because ceramic ones can get fine cracks in them.

(I use all three types of bowls with my cats, and have no issues, but I do prefer the stainless steel ones...easier to clean, too.)

If you do have the time, can you tell us your furball's name?

And maybe post a full photo of him. We love kitten photos.  You can post in the 'New Cats on the Block' section, too.

Good luck with your little guy. Hope that nose thing goes away soon.