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My cat has black spots in her mouth and nose. Does she need a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 2 years old | 7 lbs

My cat has some black stuff on her inside of her nose occasionally but she now has black spots on the lining of her mouth. I'm concerned and if she needs veterinarian care please let me Know. She's acting fine eating great but those spots are new and we're not there before. She's 2 years old

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on July 15th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Black pigment or Lentigo are common developments in the mouth of cats as they age. More so in orange cats. That is what I think your last picture shows. The middle picture I can't tell if it is pigment or just some drool that had food in it that dried on the fur. It isn't uncommon to have dark crust at the nose openings. Some cats can have that and not be sick or if they are recovering from an upper respiratory tract infection. If Aphrodite is acting normal and not sneezing excessively I do not think she needs veterinary care. Have a good day!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 24th, 2019

    Hello. Oral pigmentation can be very common in cats, so unless they seem raised or are bothering him, I would not worry. Just point this out to your vet at Pip's next veterinary visit. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on December 7th, 2019

    Hi there. Without being able to examine her mouth or at least see a photo, it's hard to say for sure what's going on here. But in general, I can tell you that it's very common for torties to have pigmented gums that appear black in places, so this may be perfectly normal. If you're concerned, or if you think this has something that has developed suddenly or she's showing any signs of discomfort, I would suggest having it checked by your veterinarian in person to see if there is a problem vs. just normal coloration.

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on August 25th, 2017

    Many cats develop "freckles" in their mouth, on their lips and even on pink paw pads as they get older. I see this most commonly in orange cats, but that is likely because of how much pink they have around their mouths. My own cat is 5 and steadily gets more of these as he ages. However, there are pigmented tumors that can develop in the mouth, so if any of the area look raised or bumpy, please have your vet evaluate them. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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