My cat's fur is lumpy and she cries when touched. Is it a skin problem?

Rosie is quite a cute cat! The spot looks very painful, and it could be infected. She may have injured herself leading to the swelling and bleeding. It is concerning as well that she is lethargic, laying down constantly, and her fur is getting dull looking. A dull coat can be a sign of allergies, parasites, or infection. I would have her seen by a vet for this bald spot and her other symptoms. The vet can diagnose what is causing them so she can be treated. I would take her into the vet on Monday morning.

It could be a severe skin infection or an acute allergic reaction. I would recommend a vet check up so that she can get some treatment on board. These reactions can be quite painful and cause itchiness. Vomiting could also be a sign of allergic reaction, leave water down but no food until you see your vet. I would arrange a visit this morning, if possible.

Poor girl. Yes this looks like a possible cyst that may be infected, hence the yellow crusting seen there. Typically cysts or masses can become itchy if they are pushing on a sensitive nerve or if they are infected. Have your vet take a look at it and it can likely be drained to remove the discomfort it is causing. If it is indeed infected then the vet can prescribe a short course of antibiotics to treat it. Surgically removal of this cyst in the future should be considered. Best of luck moving forward with Donna and her cyst like mass. Take care.

Ouch! Those are some major hot spots in that photo. I would recommend having Lili seen by your vet so the area can be clipped and cleaned and any medications such as pain or antibiotics can be given to help it heal a bit faster. I'd also keep Lili from scratching or pawing at it as this can introduce bacteria and more inflammation which can slow healing. If only Lili is affected and you're not noticing other issues like parasites, etc, it is possible there is an allergy underlying. She could be rubbing up against something causing the itchiness, or could have an ingredient allergy to something in her food (or a treat if the spots correspond with intermittent feeding of a treat or wet food). Other issues such as an underlying illness like an immune or metabolic issue can also cause scabbing and skin issues that affect only one cat in the household. A vet visit is a good option at this point both to treat the current scabs and to see if a food trial, allergy meds, or additional testing such as bloodwork to rule out any underlying health issues may be beneficial in finding the cause.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell what is going on with a skin problem by just looking at the skin since most skin problems look very similar. My best recommendation would be to have your veterinarian perform some simple skin tests to get a sample of the area to examine under the microscope. They will be able to evaluate for bacteria, yeast, mites, fungus and abnormal cells. Hopefully that will determine what is causing the problem and how to treat it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

In a cat this young, the lump is likely to be something like a cyst or a benign tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I'd call Baby's vet to make her an appointment to get this checked out. Best of luck.

Hello there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From there description, Bugs may be dealing with a skin infection Or insect bite hypersensitivity. Mosquitoes and fleas can cause bad allergic reactions after biting a cat. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics and / or flea medication. I would get her examined by your vet to determine what the primary cause is so she can receive the most appropriate treatment. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.