My cat's eye has dark brown blotches. Is this normal or serious?

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.

It could be iris melanoma but there is no way to know just by looking at a photo. You should have a veterinary ophthalmologist check the eye if you are really worried. At Cali's age I highly doubt it is melanoma but it is possible.

It looks like Memo could have changes to the iris due to anterior uveitis or inflammation in the eye. This can cause the pupil to become smaller and the iris to change colors. It’s also possible that Memo has a growth on this eye. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian so they can examine Memo’s eye in person. They may want to check his eye pressure.

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! : )

Brittany is beautiful! It is common that cats will have color changes in the iris (the colored part of the eye) that will appear darker or almost like a freckle. If your vet has examined Brittany and told you that it is nothing to worry about, then I would just monitor it. It should not change appearance over time or appear to be getting thicker. If that happens, then I would have your veterinarian examine it again. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That new pigment around Butter’s pupil is concerning for inflammation of the iris or melanoma. Cats can get uveitis (which is basically inflammation of the internal eye structures) for many different reasons. Hyperthyroidism can also sometimes change the pigment. Melanoma is a cancer that can affect the eye of a cat at any age. I recommend to make an appointment with your veterinarian. That will at least get you started on the right path. Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious! Please post again with any further questions.

Are you talking the about the black part of the lower eyelid? It is hard to tell but it may be a scab from a scratch or rubbing against something. The eye itself does not look bad. Orange cats can have black pigments changes around there eyes, nose and mouth, which are normal. So you can gently try to wipe the area to see if it is a scab or if it is soft and no raised, it may be a pigment change. If it is a scab there is nothing safe you can put on it because it is too close to the eye itself. You will have to see your vet for eye medication.