To go, or not to go, that is the question!

[Soapets]

This might sound kind of stupid, but I'm wondering if I should have the Vet. check my cat, Angel, for two little scabs under her chin. I noticed the first one about a week ago when I playing with her. It was a dark spot in her fur. I looked at it more closely, and it was dried blood. I moistened a q-tip and used it to gently soften and remove the scab. A clump of hair came out with it. Now it's pretty well healed, but she has a bald spot there.

A few days ago when I was checking the first one, there was another little spot next to it with more dried blood. I don't know where she's getting these from. They don't seem to bother her, and they don't appear to be infected. She's healthy otherwise, and still ornery as the dickens in the mornings when I'm trying to get ready to go to work!

Is this something that warrants a trip to the Vet. to be checked out? I have mixed feelings about it. It doesn't appear to be anything too serious, but I sure don't want to NOT take her and then wish later that I had.

What do YOU think?

[catcrazylady]

It sounds like kitty acne and that is nothing to be concerned about. I ahven't had to deal with it but I think others have said to wash the chin area with peroxide and don't use anything plastic for her food or water. For some reason plastic is a problem and you should only use glass.
Others will be able to suggest more but I really wouldn't worry. It's not a horrible thing and it won't hurt her. Hang on for the experts and they will tell you how to treat it.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Yes, this does sound like it could be acne but usually the areas will be black and look like pepper. My Sunny has had several episodes but nothing serious to require a vet visit. I now use only stainless steel bowls and I also wash the food bowls each time after they eat which is twice a day and their water bowls once a day. I also put the bowls in the dishwasher once a week. So far this has helped Sunny's acne a lot and he's now acne free.

When I had to wash Sunny's chin I used some Hibiclens which contains chlorhexidine gluconate and this is supposed to help the acne. If you're still unsure about Angel's chin, then you may want to call your vet's office and just let them know what is going on. She may also have a food allergy and may be scratching her chin and this is causing the scabs that you've been seeing. Good luck and please keep us updated.

[Cataholic]

It does sound like kitty acne. My Tex gets it from time to time. I only use glass bowls, as plastic is too porous, and can harbor bacteria. I must confess to not being as fastidious as KAK.

runs away to wash food and water bowls...

[krazyaboutkatz]

Originally posted by Cataholic
It does sound like kitty acne. My Tex gets it from time to time. I only use glass bowls, as plastic is too porous, and can harbor bacteria. I must confess to not being as fastidious as KAK.

runs away to wash food and water bowls...

LOL I used to only wash their food bowls once a day and Sunny would still have his acne. Now that they're eating both wet and dry food mixed together, I have to wash their bowls two times a day. This has now cured my Sunny for now. I guess he just needs to have extra clean bowls.

[csanchezveloso]

Hi.. I've been doing research on kitty acne as I think my little girl may have developed some. Does anyone have any pictures of what theirs looks like?
This site is the post I did yesterday and it has a pic of her chin
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=94381

I'm going to the vet for their routine checkup next month and since Bieli seems to be fine, I am not going to move the appt up... however, just wondering what other kitties w/ acne look like...

Thanks!

[RedHedd]

Yup, looks like kitty acne to me. Mishi gets this. The vet gave me some blue stuff that I mix up in warm water and wash him with twice a day. It works very slowly but his condition is getting better. Of course, my smooching on him probably doesn't help, but I just can't resist - his little chin is just SO cute and smoochable!

[Lizzie]

I wouldn't use hydrogen peroxide on the chin because it is drying and will irritate the skin further. You can get a special cleanser from the vet or simply use a wash cloth with warm water. The main parts to clearing up the chin acne are: cleaning the mouth and chin area twice a day; gently scrubbing the chin to rev up blood circulation in the area; and don't use plastic bowls.

I once had 7 cats with chin acne at the same time and thought I would go mad. But it did clear up eventually and I've stuck with ceramic and glass bowls every since, one day of use and into the dish-washer which has a final sterilize function.