My cat has a red bump on her face. Is it an abscess? See a vet?

Hello there, Thanks for the good photo. If it is a small minor wound like a pimple or scratch, it should be mostly healed within a week of forming. If its been present for longer than that or is worsening, I would be more concerned that it is the start of an infection or growth that would benefit from being seen by her veterinarian. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear about Misha's persistent issue! I would definitely advise that you have Misha seen by a vet. If this is truly an abscess, it may require a course of antibiotics to fully clear - otherwise it will likely continue to wax and wane as you've observed, and could become even worse if the infection is allowed to remain. It's also possible that Misha's issue is not a straightforward abscess - she could have another issue such as a cyst or tumor/mass, or even a foreign body (such as a thorn) that could be leading to a secondary infection. Your vet will be able to help determine what specifically is going on with Misha, and from your description I suspect your vet will likely put her on a course of antibiotics to help her heal. Hope this helps!

Hello there. While the bump on Peaches' face could be from a scratch from another cat, it could also be the start of an abscess (either from a cat fight or from dental disease) or could be a growth starting. I recommend taking Peaches to her vet to have it checked out. She may need antibiotics or a dental cleaning. Hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the pictures you provided, I would recommend just monitoring this for the time being. It could be an area swollen from her hitting her chin on something or it could be an infection / pimple (acne). If it does not resolve on its own, I would recommend having Mouse examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Based on its location, this could also be a mammary gland tumor which in most cases are malignant. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

It looks like she make have gotten a small wound on her head, maybe from getting swatted by another cat. Cat claws and bites tend to make wounds with small holes that seal over and trap bacteria inside. This will form a small abscess which will then rupture, which is what this appears to be to me. Keep an eye on it and keep it clean with a washcloth, warm water and a mild soap. Clean it two or three times a day and make sure to get all the soap off or it will irritate her skin. As long as it continues to improve and she is acting fine, eating and drinking, she should be fine. If it closes up again, swells, gets really red, hot, or if she starts acting sick or loses her appetite, get her in to see you vet as soon as possible as she may then need antibiotics to clear up the infection and heal.

Hello, and thank you for your question. This looks very suspicious for an abscess (localized area of infection). The puncture wound may have been the entry point for bacteria to enter. I would recommend getting Angel to the vet within the next 1-2 days. They can take a sample of the fluid to confirm the nature of the mass, and start antibiotic therapy if it is an abscess. In the meantime, I would ensure Angel does not scratch the area, by putting a scarf or e-collar (cone) on (it is difficult to say which would be best, as I can't tell the exact location of the lump in the photo). You can also try to disinfect the area by gently wiping with a dilute solution of betadine and water (1:10). I hope this helps, and that Angel feels better soon.