My cat has a sudden bald spot with rough skin. Is it serious?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this happens to be in the abdomen, it is possible that this is a nipple. If not, then yes I agree it could be a growth. In that case, I recommend you have Leo evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

This definitely looks likes a trauma area, where the hair was ripped out. I would monitor it for now, especially if Reggie doesn't seem to be bothered by it. It should start to heal and fill in if this was an isolated incident. However, if you start to notice other bald patches pop up, then a vet visit is needed to have some skin testing done and find out the underlying cause (fleas, mites, etc). I hope that Reggie recovers well. Best wishes and take care.

Thank you for the pictures, they are very helpful. I see what you mean about the bald spot and black spots. The black spots could be due to flea dirt, and scratching the area could cause the bald spot. Fleas don't live on the cat, they actually live in the environment. They just jump on the cat to feed and then jump off, so he could have fleas even if you don't see any. Make sure he is up to date on his flea treatments if he's not. Should he be up to date on his flea treatments, then this could be due to an injury (the black spots could be dirt), or an infection of the skin. In this case, you have two options. You could take him into the vet to get it examined and diagnosed, or you could watch it. Should you chose to watch it, take him into the vet if it gets bigger, appears infected, or starts to bother him. I don't think any immediate treatment is needed should you chose to watch the area. I hope this helps!

Leo is a handsome guy! It may be that he has some allergies causing the bumps. It could also be an infection in his skin. Get him in to see your vet when you are able. If his fur is very matted and preventing you from being able to actually see the skin, it would definitely be advisable to take him in either to your vet if they have a groomer, or to an outside groomer and have him shaved and bathed. This will get good airflow down to the skin which can alleviate irritation if the hair has been matted a great deal. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for attaching a picture of Leo's bump! It could be from an injury, such as him scratching his chin and accidentally cutting himself. I would keep an eye on it for now. If it doesn't go away in the next few days, gets bigger, there is pus from the area, and/or it starts to bother him, take him into the vet. Best of luck.

Hi there! What you're describing sounds more likely to be a skin problem of some kind (allergies, etc.) vs. an actual wound or something more serious, although of course it's always hard to say without being able to see her in person. It does sound like this is something that should be seen by a vet, since skin issues in cats that are severe enough to cause hair loss and raw spots will virtually always need prescription meds to treat effectively. But if she's acting normal otherwise (eating and drinking, relatively active, no other obvious symptoms), then I wouldn't consider it to be an emergency. It should be okay to call your regular vet's office and get an appointment scheduled for her when you're able to, hopefully within the next week or two. :)

Ouch, poor Leo! Even though his skin is not overly red and inflamed, it seems likely that he may have burned himself on the candle melt yesterday. Burns are extremely painful, which could explain his sudden behavioral changes. Since there are no safe over the counter pain medications for cats, I recommend taking Leo to his vet. The vet will be able to perform an exam and prescribe any necessary medications. I hope he feels better soon!