Why is my cat's chin bumpy, bleeding, and sensitive to touch?

It looks like feline chin acne. If he eats from plastic bowls, switch them out for glass, steel or ceramic bowls. Some cats are allergic to plastic. You can clean his chin twice daily with a Stridex acne pad (NOT the kind with salicylic acid, but the kind with benzoyl peroxide), or you can use a cotton ball with regular hydrogen peroxide to clean his chin. If it does not improve significantly in a few days or gets worse, please get him in to see your vet as this could indicate a more serious condition.

Given the location of the white bumps on Kira's chin, it's most likely that this is a case of chin acne. Cats tend to develop this condition as a result of eating/drinking out of porous bowls, such as plastic or ceramic. While I don't know which type of bowls you're currently using, I would recommend using either stainless steel or glass bowls, taking care to wash them daily. This change should help minimize the chance of future recurrence. For now, you can clean Kira's chin with an antiseptic cleanser, like chlorhexidine (Hibiclens is one brand) twice per day. Be sure to rinse his chin after wiping with the cleanser! If the bumps persist in another week or two, or if they get worse at any point, then you'll need to take Kira to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that everything goes well!

The lesions on Chubbs' chin and mouth could be feline acne, viral in origin, among others. Make sure that Chubbs is eating from stainless steel or glass bowls rather than plastic or ceramic, as these materials are more porous and can harbor bacteria, leading to irritation of the chin and feline acne. You can also use dilute antiseptic solution (such as betadine or chlorhexidine) to clean his chin 1-2 times per day, but take care to rinse and dry the areas thoroughly. If he continues to scratch, you can put an e-collar (cone) on him. However, if the lesions persist or worsen, Chubbs may need to go to his vet for further evaluation and medication, such as antibiotics and/or steroids. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Hello, Thanks for the good photo. This looks like it may be either a bad chin acne lesion or a small abscess or infection. You can gently clean the area with a warm saline or epsom salt water solution. Otherwise, keep it dry and don't apply any ointments, as these can sometimes trap bacteria and worsen infections. If it's not significantly improved within a week, I'd have Freya seen by her veterinarian when possible. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello there, I agree with your vet that Eve likely has feline chin acne. It can be frustrating to manage. You can try a different type of bowl, washing it more frequently, and using stridex pads on her chin. Here is a link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chin-acne-in-cats I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach!

This looks like it could be a scab or potentially feline acne. Feline acne can be related to using a plastic or dirty food bowl so you may want to switch to glass or ceramic if you have a plastic bowl. It does not typically require treatment and does not bother the cat. If this lesion is getting bigger, if you notice redness or discharge or if it seems to be bothering Lydia I would recommend having your vet examine it.

If he is continually rubbing on his chin with his paw when the cone is off, then I would leave the cone on for a couple more days. However, you do need to wash the cone with hot water and a mild soap (dish soap or hand soap is fine) twice daily, then dry it completely before putting it back on. If he is NOT rubbing on his chin, its ok to leave the cone off. I hope that helps you! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!