Expert: Jessica - 9/3/2009

Question
Hi jessica.

I have just noticed that on the lips of my moggy male 18 month old kitten he is all black and the bottom lip is slightly scabby.
he doesnt seem to be in any pain but it looks nasty.
any ideas as to what it could possibly be and how to get rid of it??

Answer
Hi Nae.  There are a few possibilities.  Without a photo, it's hard to say, but you may want to look up some pictures of "feline acne" and "rodent ulcers" and see if either of those looks like a hit.  Other than that, it's possible he has an oral infection that's caused some ulcers on his lip.  Except in the case of some mild feline acne, he should definitely see a vet.  Unfortunately, sores located around the mouth are on one of the dirtiest places on a kitty's body and will be exposed to a lot of bacteria.  Most often, and antibiotic will need to be prescribed in addition to addressing the underlying cause of the sore.

If it appears that your kitty just has a mild case of feline acne, this is most often the result of a reaction to plastic, clay or glass food bowls and should be resolved by switching to stainless steel food and water bowls.  Gently wash your cat's chin twice daily with an antibacterial soapy water mix and pat dry.  Also be sure to wash his bowls every day with an antibacterial soap.  You should see improvement with the use of his new bowls in a couple of weeks.

Best wishes!

Jessica