My cat has a face scab and is acting strange. Should I see a vet?

I hate to hear that Timmay is not feeling like himself. I would recommend to get Timmay seen by his veterinarian today if possible given that he has been lethargic for a week. They will check his temperature and give him a physical exam. Lethargy can be due to fever, organ dysfunction, anemia, heart disease, infection as well as other causes. That scab on his face could be a few things. An abscess could present like this and it could be superficial or related to a tooth root abscess. Superficial bacterial infections, thyroid problems or allergies could also look this way. The vet will try to figure out the cause and will prescribe appropriate medications. Given that Timmay is 18 years old, the vet may recommend bloodwork to check his enzyme levels and bone marrow function. Older cats are more prone to kidney disease as well as other problems with organ dysfunction. You will want to keep the area protected with an elizabethan collar so that Timmay cannot further cause damage it. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It could be that Ruby sustained a wound from trauma that has caused the scab, and I would monitor it for now for signs of infection. These signs include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and puss. Should any of those signs be seen, I would take Ruby into the vet for antibiotics. I would not put any topical treatment on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. Hopefully, it should heal just fine on it's own.

There could be a couple of things causing these scabs such as mites, allergies, ringworm, or fleas. I think Miran should see a vet before Friday. The vet can diagnose what is causing this skin problem, and can treat him. Best of luck.

Poor cat. This looks wide enough where it should at the very least get a topical treatment. You can try an over the counter antibitoic ointment or spray from your local pet store. Ask a store representative as to what is available in your area. You should also clean this area with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water to help keep bacteria and infection at bay. If it doesn't seem to be healing well in the next few days, then a vet visit is warranted at that point. I hope that this heals up well soon! Best of luck moving forward. Take care. : )

If it's scabbing over, I'd let it be but if Tink keeps scratching at it, then take her into the vet. Also take her into the vet if it appears infected. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, pus, and the area being warm to the touch. I hope this helps!

It does need to be seen and treated by a vet but it is not concerning enough to be an emergency. This can be from scratching or a skin infection. Just keep the area clean and let a scab form until you can him checked by a vet this week

Ouch, poor Jingles! It looks like he could have injured himself leading to the scab. I am concerned about the redness surrounding the sea, as that can indicate infection. I would have him seen by a vet on Monday for this scab. If he does have an infection, he will need antibiotics to treat it. I hope it helps!