Health & WellbeingMy cat's lip went from bald to red and irritated. What's wrong?
Ouch! Spots like this can be due to a number of things in cats, including allergies to the environment or food, inflammatory conditions causing ulcers, dental or gum problems (leading to rubbing the spot from pain), growths, infections, and more. If it is rapidly changing size, shape, or appearance, or is bothersome to Moose, it's best to schedule an appointment with your vet. They can take a small sample of the area to test for issues such as infections or growths, examine Moose for any signs of dental problems, and help rule out any allergies with a full exam and/or medications and diet changes. Until you can get into your vet it's a good idea to keep Moose from rubbing or pawing at the spot with an Elizabethan (cone) collar, and to keep the area clean and dry. Keeping note of any sizes or appearance changes can also help your vet narrow down the cause. And, if it's causing any trouble with eating, softening Moose's food with some warm water can help ease any pain until your vet c
Updated on September 24th, 2025