My cat has a bald spot & black dots in his armpit. What's wrong?

Thank you for the pictures, they are very helpful. I see what you mean about the bald spot and black spots. The black spots could be due to flea dirt, and scratching the area could cause the bald spot. Fleas don't live on the cat, they actually live in the environment. They just jump on the cat to feed and then jump off, so he could have fleas even if you don't see any. Make sure he is up to date on his flea treatments if he's not. Should he be up to date on his flea treatments, then this could be due to an injury (the black spots could be dirt), or an infection of the skin. In this case, you have two options. You could take him into the vet to get it examined and diagnosed, or you could watch it. Should you chose to watch it, take him into the vet if it gets bigger, appears infected, or starts to bother him. I don't think any immediate treatment is needed should you chose to watch the area. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to a focal infection though it is hard to know without an examination. You can try to use chlorhexidine containing pads (such as the Douxo chlorhexidine 3% PS pads) to clean the are twice daily for 7 days. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Those are comodones, like plugged follicles/pores. It could be due to any number of underlying conditions: ringworm, skin mites (or other skin parasites) or even allergies. My recommendation would be to change the diet. Whatever you are feeding may be causing this issue. A hypoallergenic diet may be a good choice. I would also recommend you use this mousse. It is nice because it works like a shampoo but you don't actually have to bathe your cat. It is leave on treatment. Use as directed on the label. I would use it twice a week for the first couple weeks. If no improvement you should probably take him for a vet visit. http://www.allivet.com/p-5575-phytovet-ck-antiseptic-mousse-68-oz.aspx I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. This looks like flea dirt. If you put "cat flea dirt" into a Google search you will see many photos that resemble this. I suggest you get her a GOOD flea prevention and treat your house and/or yard for fleas. You can bathe her if she will let you with Dawn dish soap. Use the dish soap sparingly as it is very concentrated. Be sure to rinse it off thoroughly. You should only need to bathe her once. Bathe her either 24 hour before OR after applying the topical flea medication. If you can't bathe her, don't worry too much about it. Once the medication kicks in and you treat the environment her clinical signs will resolve. I have linked some products for you below: ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=120766 ) ( https://www.amazon.com/Virbac-Knockout-Treatment-Spray-16-Ounce/dp/B00AT6FY6A/ ) ( https://www.amazon.com/Black-Flag-Killer-Concentrate-Treatment/dp/B071XPK8M8/ ) Be sure to continue to use a topical flea prevention on her EVERY MONTH. Watch her poop closely in the coming months as often cats will get tapeworms from ingesting fleas. If you see any worms (look like grains of rice) on her poop or around her anus you should take her to your vet to get a dewormer. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. To be honest, this looks like a normal seasonal shed for a long-haired cat. (They May not do it every year and the first one is often at 2-4 years of age). Brush her throughly every day for the next week or two. The little black dots are comedowns (basically blackheads) and are usually not concerning either. If she becomes completely bald over large patches, or the lethargy worsens or you see any other concerning signs, it’s time to see the vet. Best wishes to you and Puss.

Booker could have feline acne. You could clean it with an antiseborrheic shampoos for cats containing benzoyl peroxide and see if that helps. If not, he needs to be seen by a vet for treatment. He may need an oral or topical antibiotic and a short course of a corticosteroid, such as prednisolone. Make sure you don't see any fleas and continue his monthly flea medication. Using stainless steel food and water bowls instead of plastic may help too.

If you could re-post with some photographs of the affected area, it might help us advise you a little more effectively. If the area looks raw, like red and inflammed, Felix may be experiencing some discomfort or pain in or around that region. Parasitic infestation or problems with the anal glands could definitely make a cat want to continue to lick in that area repeatedly. As far as the black dots surrounding the area, I would really need to see a picture of this to give you a better idea of what it may be. Typically repeated licking of an area wouldn't cause such a reaction. If the area is very raw though, you should definitely obtain a cone / collar for Felix to prevent any further self-induced trauma, and he should visit with a vet to obtain some antibiotics and a physical exam. Hope this makes sense.