Scabbed chin

[frocky the cats]

My cat Freddie has these scabs on his chin and they sometimes bleed. He has always had them. He doesn't like it when you touch his chin due to the scabs. You can't tickle his chin as you might make them bleed.
Does anybody know what this might be?

 

[neely]

It could be chin acne. What type of dish or bowl are you feeding him from? Is it plastic? If so it would be much better to switch to stainless steel, ceramic as long as it's not an old dish that might have a crack, or glass because plastic can harbor bacteria.
Here is an Article that discusses chin acne in cats: Feline Acne – TheCatSite Articles
If the scabs are being caused by something else please contact your vet since you said they bleed when touched.

 

[frocky the cats]

My parents did switch his bowls to metal but it is still the same. It probably is just caused by him being old. As he is 10 or 11. We still have a plastic water dish but he dips his paw and and sucks it

 

[FeebysOwner]

How long ago did your parents change out his food dishes? And believe it or not, there is no guarantee that he always drinks water from his paws. Besides, even if he does always drink water from his paws, that can still cause bacteria transfer from the dish to his paw and on to his chin/mouth area. How often is the water dish emptied, deep cleaned, and water replaced? The water can also harbor bacteria from the dish itself. Plain and simple - get rid of the plastic water dish too. And all his dishes need to be frequently cleaned even if they are stainless steel or ceramic.

Nonetheless, the chin needs to be looked at by a vet and treated. I suppose you could try to take a clearer picture and email it your vet and ask them about treating it without a vet visit. He is probably scratching at it because it is itchy, and that will exacerbate the bleeding and scabbing cycle.

In the meantime, until you can consult with a vet, try using chamomile tea bags. Buy them from most any local grocery as they tend to be German - you absolutely don't want English, or any flavorings/additives. Brew a bag in water, cool the liquid to room temp, and dab (not rub) it on that area with a soft cloth or cotton balls - at least 2-3 times a day. The tea has both healing and soothing properties and is considered an anti-bacterial/anti-fungal agent as well. It is also safe for your cat to ingest. See if you can distract him for a minute or so after application, just to help allow the liquid to 'soak' into the area a bit before he ends up trying to clean it off - maybe give him a treat or two?

Btw - 10 or 11 years old may qualify a cat as a senior, but he really isn't 'old', and his age is not likely the cause of his chin issue.

 

[frocky the cats]

Thank you so much for the advice