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My cat's chin has black bumps. Is it acne and how can I treat it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 9.9 lbs

What is this on my cat's chin? My cat has always had these black bumps on her chin but they got worse this summer. Her vet told me its acne and to clean with antiseptic solution everyday but I don't see an improvement. She got a flea treatment 2 weeks ago in case they were due to flea bites. She eats from an aluminum bowl. I can't afford taking her to the vet again so soon.

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 29th, 2019

Hello there, I agree with your vet that Eve likely has feline chin acne. It can be frustrating to manage. You can try a different type of bowl, washing it more frequently, and using stridex pads on her chin. Here is a link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chin-acne-in-cats I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Anna M., DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 8th, 2017

    Sounds like you've done your homework and are doing a great job trying to control Jack's acne! You're doing exactly right by using ceramic bowls and washing them well. If that doesn't take care of the problem, Jack could be having a reaction to almost anything, so that can get challenging. While most cats do fine with ceramic, you could try switching him to glass or metal bowls - some cats do better with one substance over another. It's possible that his acne has gotten infected (difficult to tell from the photo) so it's worth having a vet take a look at him in case he needs a round of antibiotics, or medicated wipes to clean his chin. And if he continues to have symptoms, your vet can discuss a trial of allergy meds such as steroids to see if that controls the acne. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 1st, 2020

    It's likely feline acne cause by bacterial overgrowth. The most common culprit is plastic water and feeding bowls. I would recommend switching to stainless steel and increase the frequency of cleaning the bowls. This may make a big difference.

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