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My cat has a hard black scab on her nose. Is it cancer?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 5 years and 2 months old | 11 lbs

Cat has small hard black scab like bump on her nose. Is this symptoms of cancer?tks

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 25th, 2017

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! It is difficult to say from the pictures but because it is black and is on an area where there is not much hair, I am concerned it could be a melanoma, which is a type of cancerous tumor. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine this and consider further testing on this to ensure it is nothing to be worried about. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 29th, 2023
Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This looks extremely serious. My best guess by the looks of this lesion would be cancer - squamous cell carcinoma. The biopsy should be able to tell that with certainty. If you put "squamous cell carcinoma cat nose" in google and check the images you will see ones that look very similar to this. Of course, I am not 100% certain that is what it is but I think it is very high on the differential diagnosis list. Fungal is also possible. It is hard to say what kind since I am not sure what is prevalent in her area/country.

I hope this helps and gives some direction. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 21st, 2019
Hello. I would watch this very carefully. Squamous cell carcinomas can occur on cats, but since Naomi is so young, I do not want to jump to conclusions. If this is not completely healed in another 7-10 day, or it repeatedly scabs, bleeds, scabs, then please have your vet take a very careful look at this. A small biopsy may be necessary to know if this is worrisome or not. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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