Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

My cat has a sore on its face. What is it and how do I treat it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | 8 years and 10 months old | 13 lbs

What could have caused this sore on my 8 year old cat's face. And how do i treat it?

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 13th, 2018

Judging from the pictures you have provided, this could be a bacterial skin infection or ringworm. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The sooner this is looked at the faster the resolution. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 24th, 2018

    Hello. It is very difficult to determine the cause of the lesion on Gary's face, but I do not believe it to be a cut. My first inclination is to rule out ringworm, but it may be any number of other bacterial or parasitic skin infections. To make sure it does not spread any further I would highly recommend having your veterinarian take a look to diagnose exactly what is going on. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Any idea what this sore might be? Just came across it today.
Unfortunately it's really hard to tell from the picture, because many skin issues look the same in a cat. I would be concerned about an allergy (allergies to fleas, food, or the environment being the most common causes), or possibly a skin parasite that is causing itching. I would recommend a vet visit for a simple test called a skin scrap in which they will look at some skin cells under the microscope to see if they can find any organisms, and then treat accordingly. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has had a soar on her face she keeps ripping it open with her back claws. Now it looks so raw like flesh and her one eye keeps leaking.. I need help here.
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This could be an infected sore or something malignant. I wou ld recommend having a vet examine this to know for sure as it is difficult to say from the pictures. This may need a course of topical and oral antibiotics which your vet can prescribe. If you are unable to get to a vet right awsy, you can try using zymox topical ointment and see if this helps. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Does he need to go to the vet? I’m not sure if it’s just a cut or if it’s some kind of skin issue.
Hello. It is very difficult to determine the cause of the lesion on Gary's face, but I do not believe it to be a cut. My first inclination is to rule out ringworm, but it may be any number of other bacterial or parasitic skin infections. To make sure it does not spread any further I would highly recommend having your veterinarian take a look to diagnose exactly what is going on. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has a sore on his neck and I don’t know how serious it is.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I'm sorry to hear Ringo has a wound on his neck. Based on your picture, it does look like he might have a skin infection of some kind, even possibly from a ruptured abscess. Does he go outside? I would recommend having him evaluated by his regular veterinarian to have area clipped, cleaned, and assessed to determine what may be going on, and what treatment (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or possible surgical repair) may be needed to resolve it. If he goes outside and the wound may have come from an unknown animal, I would also recommend his rabies vaccine be boostered as well. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Discovered this sore on my 7.5 year old cat’s hind leg. I have touched it and checked it out and he doesn’t seem to be irritated by it at all so I don’t think it’s painful, but I have spotted him cleaning it. Should we take him into the vet?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could be due to ringworm. This could also be just a focal skin bacterial infection, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Ringworm can be transmitted to humans so just in case this is what is going with him, wear gloves when handling this lesion. Good luck and best wishes!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has these sores and some small ones all over her body. Is this fungal infection? How should I treat them?
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has a sore on his upper lip and one under his chin i believe its from him having a plastic water dish what can i do to heal them? I attached two photos of the one on his lip
The pictures attached this time! That sore on Bear's lip looks pretty red and sore. I would be concerned that it could possibly be infected. Likely it's hard to get that to heal given he will probably be licking it with his tongue a lot since it will bother him. I would have him seen by a vet. He will need oral antibiotics if there is an infection to help the sore heal correctly. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hard, red sore in the corner of her mouth
This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. I cannot rule out a more complex disease at this stage, like an allergic or autoimmune disorder which requires a full physical examination to be detected. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi needing advice ASAP! My cat is in and out side very healthy. Came in with sore today. But seems fine ?do you know what this could be? Looks like a burn to me
Hi, and thanks for your question. This presentation could be due to a trauma (bite wound, or a burn) or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Skin infection for 2months kitten
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sweet Face. Ringworm is the most common skin infection. It is a fungal disease. However, bacterial infections are possible as well. He should see a veterinarian to be examined and have the skin tested. Based on these results, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored