My 7-month-old cat licks chin raw. What causes it and how to treat?

Question

My cat (7 months old) started licking like crazy 3 weeks ago. Now has an open sore under his chin. Still very active and eating fine. I have not seen fleas and no changes in diet. Should i bath him. Thankd. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 8 months and 22 days old | 7 lbs

Lauren M. Jones, VMD · Accepted Answer

Poor Sheldon! Cats typically begin itching as a result of underlying allergies to fleas, food (even if there hasn't been a diet change), or environmental factors. Make sure that Sheldon is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Advantage, Bravecto or Revolution) regularly even though you aren't seeing fleas. Some cats can begin scratching after just 1 or 2 flea bites. A bath with a gentle oatmeal based shampoo won't hurt, but it is unlikely to provide much benefit for this type of lesion. Instead, you can try washing the affected area with an antiseptic solution, such as diluted chlorhexidine or diluted betadine 1-2 times per day, taking care to rinse well afterwards. If the lesion continues or worsens, Sheldon will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

My 7-month-old cat licks chin raw. What causes it and how to treat?

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