My cat has a dark eye spot. Vet says it's nothing. Should I worry?

Certainly. The brown pigment of his eye appears to be an eye freckle. These are quite common in pets and are bengin, so no worries. Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck moving forward with Sir Henry. Take care! : )

It is not uncommon for cats to develop brown or black spots on the iris. A pigmented area on the iris can be benign or malignant, and differentiating them is sometimes difficult. My guess is that these spots are what we call iris nevus. These are benign (like freckles). Since she has so many, this would be called iris melanosis. Iris melanosis is classified as benign, but in time, it may progress to a malignant melanoma. Although melanomas are rare in cats, the eye is the most common site for it to show up. The first hint that this could be melanoma is rapid growth. If you know the spot(s) is getting larger quickly, that is a warning sign. If the shape of the pupil has become deformed as it dilates and constricts, that is another potential red flag. I suggest you have Dixie examined by your vet to get a diagnosis. She needs a thorough exam with a ophthalmoscope. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

There are a couple of possibilities here for the changes to Creo's iris. One is iris atrophy, which is a normal aging change. This can often result in pigment change and a "moth-eaten" appearance to the iris or an irregular iris border. Another would be a uveal cyst, which is a darkly pigmented circular lesion that can be attached to the iris. Both of these are generally benign. If you notice any changes in Creo's vision, changes to the eye, or signs of pain (squinting, redness, swelling, etc.), have him re-evaluated by your vet just to be safe.

The type of lesion on Bisou's iris (the pigmented part of the eye) looks most like a cyst (iridal or iridociliary cyst), which is a fluid-filled structure that can change in size. That said, it's important to have this area evaluated to differentiate between a cyst and a mass, as they can appear pretty similar. Diagnostic testing, such as transillumination and ultrasound are often used to differentiate between these two issues. Since this has been changing so slowly, it certainly isn't an emergency, but it's best to have this issue evaluated in the coming weeks. I hope that everything goes well!

This appears to be just a change in color of the hair alone. No worries. THe haircoat in kittens often does change as they get older. As long as the skin itself looks good as you part the hair, there is no concern. : ) Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Take care. : )

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Emma. I would recommend that she has her eye evaluated by her veterinarian. Hopefully it is just a normal pigment change, but cats can develop a type of cancer known as melanoma in the eye. You would want this diagnosed as soon as possible. I hope this information helps you and Emma!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It could be a scratch (or other form of trauma) to the eyelids. If it is not bothering Fergie and she is acting as normal, you should monitor her at home for now. However, if she scratches the area excessively or the eyelids become swollen or painful, you should take your cat to your local vets for an appointment.