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My cat has a red rash under its chin. What is it and what can I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Russian Blue | Male | unneutered | 8 months and 6 days old | 3 lbs

My cat has a rash under his mouth like on his chin.. it’s a little red with some inflammation.. what is that? And what can I do?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 7th, 2018

Milo is a very handsome cat! There could be a couple of reasons why he has this rash under his mouth. It could be caused by a skin infection from bacteria or yeast, it could be due to feline acne, or it could be due to allergies among other causes. The best thing to do is have him seen by a vet for it to diagnose what is causing the rash. Once the cause is found, the vet can prescribe a treatment for it. I would gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap tonight, and if he's scratching at it, put an Ecollar on him. Scratching at it will make it worse and infected. I will put a link below on how to make an Ecollar at home, or you can get one at a pet store. Have him seen by a vet either Monday or Tuesday. Good luck, I hope this helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffR-LzyW1M

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 4th, 2017
It could be feline acne, an allergic dermatitis, skin infection, etc. You could clean the area with a dilute chlorhexidine solution and see if that helps but she may need oral medications to treat. She may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to help treat the condition and your vet can prescribe.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 6th, 2016
This may be a bit of feline acne, especially if he is a ginger cat or if his face is white. This is quite painful and needs treatment, if it is more than one or two spots, very painful, infected or swollen. There are other skin diseases that need to be ruled out, such as contact dermatitis (e. allergy to plastic food bowls) yeast dermatitis, demodectic mange, ringworm, or eosinophilic granuloma complex. This is why you should not put any antibiotic ointment on the lesions and should take Baby to a vet to have the skin examined. I suggest you take Baby to your vet for an exam. Depending on the results the vet will either prescribe a course of antibiotics and instructions on how to cleanse the area, or, if it is minor, no treatment may be required.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 11th, 2019
Hello. This does look like a spot that maybe your kitty managed to scratch at & caused a sore. I would just dab the area with a little peroxide twice a day & it should start to heal. If other spots should start to appear, your cat may be developing a form of an allergic skin condition called military dermatitis. If it continues, your vet can help in the treatment & prevent reoccurrences. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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