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My cat has raw, bloody sores on his chin and mouth. What is it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 3 years and 4 months old | 14 lbs

My cat has two sores on his chin and one sore at the corner of his mouth. He is acting fine- eating well, good energy- but scratches the sores every now and then. They are bloody and raw. What does he have??

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1 Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 17th, 2017

The lesions on Chubbs' chin and mouth could be feline acne, viral in origin, among others. Make sure that Chubbs is eating from stainless steel or glass bowls rather than plastic or ceramic, as these materials are more porous and can harbor bacteria, leading to irritation of the chin and feline acne. You can also use dilute antiseptic solution (such as betadine or chlorhexidine) to clean his chin 1-2 times per day, but take care to rinse and dry the areas thoroughly. If he continues to scratch, you can put an e-collar (cone) on him. However, if the lesions persist or worsen, Chubbs may need to go to his vet for further evaluation and medication, such as antibiotics and/or steroids. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

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