Why is my cat's mouth swollen, painful, and has an open sore?

It's possible that it could be an allergy or infection. Additional causes could be an underlying viral illness that is coming back in times of stress or at regular intervals. Tooth abscesses may also cause pain in the mouth and jaw, as well as swelling. It would be best to have some more tests done by your vet next time it occurs, such as a dental X-ray, bloodwork, or sample of the affected area taken for testing. This may help you and your vet figure out what the underlying cause is.

It is difficult to tell form the picture alone what is going on with your cat's lips unfortunately. It almost looks like she/he has a sore or even infection in her/his whiskers and commissure of the mouth. I would recommend you take your cat to your vet for an exam. She/he may need antibiotics to resolve this and possibly pain medication is she/he is is uncomfortable. I would also be concerned there may be sores in the mouth that need to be addressed if you are seeing them along the outside. It is possible your cat licked something toxic or caustic causing these problems. I would look around your home to see if there is anything she/he could have gotten in to. I hope your cat improves quickly!

This is a common look for cats who are allergic to their food bowls -- if any of his bowls are plastic, I'd recommend switching them out for glass and washing daily (or at least every other day). It could be caused by other allergies or a bug bite as well, and often goes away on it's own. If switching bowls (if applicable) and giving it a week doesn't make it go away, I'd recommend a vet visit.

I can't tell from the photo if it is swollen. If you think it is, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian because it could indicate the beginning of an infection or tooth root abscess. There's not much you can do in that area because Misty will lick off any topical treatments. She should wear an elizabethan collar at all times so she cannot rub the area. If the lesion is not swollen, you can monitor it for a few days. If the area is not healing or is getting worse, I recommend to have Misty examined by the veterinarian. A lesion like this could signify ringworm (which humans can get) or allergies. I hope this helps.

That looks like some sort of an ulcer on Mickey’s lip. This is generally related to an allergic reaction, a tooth root abscess or an immune mediated disease. Have Mickey examined by his veterinarian who may get a clue to the cause from the rest of the physical exam. He will likely get medications to heal the ulcer quickly. He does need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times to protect the wound from any further trauma. I hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Korra. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian as soon as you are able. The lip is swollen and possibly ulcerated. This is likely uncomfortable for her. The veterinarian will examine her especially looking inside the the mouth. She could have further wounds in her mouth or even a bad tooth. Treatment will be started based on these findings. I do not believe an over-the-counter medication will help. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications either as they are toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

I am sorry to hear that! I do think going to the vet would be a good idea. Cats can get many types of lumps at their mouths. From your description one thing I would want to rule out is eosinophilic plaques. These can be caused by allergies so getting on a low allergen food (I would recommend prescription due to cross-contamination at the manufacturing level) and medications can be vital! Of course it is hard to tell without looking at her so your vet may want to rule tests or take a biopsy first! I hope this helps!