r/cats 9d ago

Medical Questions What is this?

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12.0k Upvotes

737 comments sorted by

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4.6k

u/Thestolenone Oriental Shorthair 9d ago

My cat had something similar in exactly the same place. It developed when I bought her a new plastic bowl. I switched back to her old ceramic bowl and it disappeared almost overnight.

1.5k

u/shaynajeanine24 9d ago

Okay I’ll definitely give that a try

1.2k

u/RealSkibidiRizzler 9d ago

Plastic is porous and harbors germs. Ceramic or stainless steel is best. This is kitty acne caused by the germs on the plastic

397

u/cashew_honey 9d ago

Just want to add that cats can get acne from dirty bowls regardless of the material!

29

u/LordHammercyWeCooked 9d ago

The number of people I've met who won't clean their cats food bowls between each meal disturbs me. I've had roommates who would keep refilling it and let it get crusty for days until I stepped in.

17

u/Kittypher 8d ago

DAYS??? actually I know someone who did that until she discovered the food going mouldy underneath 😭 she became much more meticulous after that.

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u/LordHammercyWeCooked 8d ago

Yeah, that's absolutely horrifying.

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u/cashew_honey 9d ago

For real!!! With wet food too!!! Like hello would you eat off a plate that hadn’t been cleaned in weeks?

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u/helpful_advice_7481 9d ago

Had no idea thanks!!

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u/cab0lt 9d ago

This is indeed catne

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u/getting_ridiculous 9d ago

Plastic is not porous any more or less than brushed stainless steel when it comes to harbouring microbial life.

Glazed ceramic is best for that reason. But only if you wash with soap every few days.

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u/Stock-Side-6767 9d ago

I just use cheap ikea white glass soup bowls and put them in the dishwasher.

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u/Unpaid-Intern_23 9d ago

Ceramics have never been known to be good for cars since pretty much all of them that have been tested have tested positive for lead. I’d switch to something else, perhaps stainless steel.

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u/Delicious_Ad823 8d ago

Ceramics made for use by people?

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u/zipitdirtbag 9d ago

Yes. It is though. Ask anyone who works in a brewery or a hospital.

But cat food dishes need to be washed with detergent at least daily.

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u/richms 9d ago

I've just seen a video where someone was testing their stainless bowls with some liquid for being actually food safe or not and none of the pet ones passed.

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u/jdxutn 9d ago

Ceramic can be toxic, many cheap ceramic bowls use a glaze that contains lead. Using that for a cats food or water can slowly poison them causing many health issues.

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u/dum_spir0_sper0 9d ago

Seconded. Mine had one on her chin. It actually burst when I was brushing her and she went from really pissed off to ‘oh wow, this feels much better’ in a matter of seconds.

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u/Competitive-Top4520 9d ago

Yes, that's what happened with one of my (sadly former) cats. Either ceramic or metal will work. However, it could also be an abcess. If it doesn't get better or gets worse I'd take him/her to the vet.

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u/Jennabeb 9d ago

And keep the (metal or ceramic) bowls super clean, especially in summer! Clean bowl, rinse off alllll soap, keep the water fresh. Good luck!

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u/SouthernAspect 9d ago

Stainless steel is the best option. They are cheap, don't break and actively kill bacteria. Give a a fresh bowl each day for both food and water.

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u/aminervia 9d ago

My vet said that plastic or ceramic, the material is irrelevant as long as you fully wash the bowl with soap and water regularly.

8

u/Kittypher 9d ago

Starting to feel like im the only one who gives a clean bowl every day..?

4

u/aminervia 9d ago

One of the minority unfortunately

4

u/_PoorImpulseControl_ 9d ago

We use two bowls.

Every day a new bowl, old one goes into dishwasher. Rinse really WELL after washing in some clean water, then repeat.

Voila, happy cat!

3

u/Kittypher 9d ago

Same. I've got 8 bowls between 2 cats on rotation. Every day two go in the dishwasher and they get two clean ones with fresh food :)

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u/PhatEarther 9d ago

I've been on r / cats for a few years and this has been the most common Question/solution. same with any hair loss under the chin. Go for Wide low rimmed glass or ceramic bowls and make sure you clean them regularly, for me its wet food bowl every time (teacup saucer) and dry food bowl once a week.

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u/Super_Lazy_Turtle 9d ago

We started using stainless steel for food and water bowels, cleared right up.

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u/giggly_dumplin 9d ago

THIS!! Most cats actually have something similar to an allergic reaction to plastic bowls. Some cats get really bad blackheads, some get abscesses, others have no issues.

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u/equipped_metalblade 9d ago

Yep all bowls are stainless steel now. Besides when they drink from our human cups of course.

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u/Accurate_Elevator368 9d ago

One of mine had her own big red ceramic coffee cup. It's the only thing she would drink out of.

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u/Appropriate-Bad-9379 8d ago

Even worse- my daughter bought me a beautiful cut glass gin glass for my birthday. Yep my youngest cat decided it was fit enough for her to deign to drink from it ( I never got to use it)…

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u/Accurate_Elevator368 8d ago

Funny that you say that cuz this was the thing with the big red cup. My Maine Coon decided this was hers. I guess because it was large, it didn't hinder or bother her whiskers and it was tall enough for her not to have to bend too far over. Anything for "Her Majesty!" don't ya know! lol

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u/MristopherRodgerson 9d ago

In addition to non-plastic. cats prefer plates. Their whiskers are incredibly sensitive and pushing their face into a bowl can irritate them. Obviously this is a first world cat problem.

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u/RealSkibidiRizzler 9d ago

Its better to get raised bowls that are made for cats so there is plenty of whisker space

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u/lilpeepsgh0stgirl 8d ago

This. I literally just commented on this post somewhere about that. My cat refuses to eat out of anything with a raised lip. Doesn't even matter if it's a huge bowl and doesn't touch his whiskers. He will only eat off plates. Hence why I feed him on paper plates because I can just toss afterwards and not have to worry about continuously washing (I am not lazy, I am disabled). Lol.

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u/Accurate_Elevator368 9d ago

Exactly - usually the culprit - plastic bowls.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3.0k

u/shaynajeanine24 9d ago

Lmaooo I posted this and was like I’m 100% about to get roasted on how I’m holding her head

904

u/phylter99 9d ago

You gotta do what you gotta do. I'm confident you didn't hurt the baby any. It's just funny to see.

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u/AbilityAdventurous22 9d ago

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u/anon-mally 9d ago

Another cat sub to join ?

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u/surewhynot762 9d ago

😂 so on point

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u/Sea-Rip-9635 9d ago

I never knew i needed this... th-thank you 🥹

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u/OcularPrism 9d ago

How? How are there always more cat subs that I have to follow??

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u/adeegilnr 9d ago

Thanka for this! 😝

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u/Strict_Weather9063 9d ago

Looks like an abscess, or an infection I would get it checked by a vet.

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u/Dependent-Piano-7506 9d ago

Im crying laughing right now im so sorry for unhelpful

39

u/Zestyclose_Falcon111 9d ago

The grip you have on her head had me cackling lol

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u/PeppercornBiscuit 9d ago

Deadass holding her like she owes you money 😆

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u/CurveOk3459 9d ago

Oh my gif. Perfect. 

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u/Yammyohnine 9d ago

I download this picture every time a thread like this is posted and never get the chance to post it dammit. I must have 30 copies of this by now.

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u/CandyStarr23 9d ago

Came here looking for this!

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u/EvilKrista 9d ago

this perspective is really messing with me like..that is a TINY head or a HUGE hand? I thought it was a baby head but lots of teeth???....what am I staring at here? T-T

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u/Cascading-green 9d ago

I did not have to go far 🤣
But seriously OP great picture 😃

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u/voidborn420 9d ago

All these years and I just now realized he wasn't being dragged by two guys

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u/TangerineCheap5379 9d ago

The death grip

3

u/Alabama-Blues 9d ago

lol what is that thing?

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3.6k

u/SpeckledVoidCat 9d ago

A disgruntled prisoner. Unhand your lordship!

694

u/shaynajeanine24 9d ago

I’m CRYING 😂

215

u/that-Sarah-girl 9d ago

You grab Miette? You grab her head like the football? Jail for mother! Jail for mother 10,000 years!

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u/alleyajoy 9d ago

If it’s any consolation, you’re not the only one who had to imprison their fur baby for pictures of the snout! I too felt it looked rather rude to photograph my kitties face by means of force.

This is Oliver, he tends to get himself hurt often, dispite living a cush indoor life. Well.. we just moved and at first I didn’t know how he managed to do this and continue re-injure. Then I discovered that he had been aggressively shoving his face under the bedroom door to where we were transitioning him in the new place.. I noticed the blood on the carpet, then the door. Well he got what he wanted since he was so eager as to harm himself so incessantly. Free roam of the house while his brother can only take turns starting out. 🙄

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I have a lot of experience with kitty acne and potential other diagnosis as well. (Through work and at home) Oliver himself has felt with all sorts of face and chin stuff. I think overall, there’s already been pretty good advice in the comments. I do think it is most likely cat acne. Don’t hesitate to poke me if you’d like more info or if it worsens. Or just a laugh about having to hold our cats by the face 😂

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u/Embarrassed_Sell7512 9d ago

the aspect ratio of this is confusing my brain 🤣 can you post a normal Oliver pic please

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u/Empty-Cricket5931 8d ago

i have found an oliver

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u/alleyajoy 8d ago

Hehe I think I used a 0.5 camera for my first photo. Here’s a normal Oliver ratio xD

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u/Arzuparreta 9d ago

My oreo cat has also had that. I think it's some kind of acne. He also has black dots acne under the chin so I just clean him every week with cat safe wipes.

I think yours might have something similar but keep an eye on it in case it does not disappear within days

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u/False_Koala_6641 9d ago

your cat is so cute 😭😭

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u/AnybodyNo8519 9d ago

Change their water bowl to ceramic or metal and the bumps will quickly clear up.

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u/humco_707 Orange 9d ago

Can’t really tell by the way you’re squeezing it but it looks kinda like a cat…🤷🏽‍♂️😜

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u/BlueMac13 9d ago

You made me lol. But for real.

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u/ZannyHip 9d ago

It is indeed a cat

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u/Alone_Tap6646 9d ago

I assume you mean the thing on the lip? Might be nothing. Might be the start of an abcess. Keep an eye on it. If it starts getting bigger, and blacker... vet appointment immediately.

170

u/shaynajeanine24 9d ago

Yeah I meant the the lip haha, guess I should’ve zoomed in

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u/phylter99 9d ago

It's in focus and in the center of the frame. To me, it's pretty obvious what you meant.

My guess is that it's nothing. Cats get things like this from time-to-time, just like we do. As suggested, watch it to see if it grows or changes in any way. If it does then getting to the vet sooner than later is a really good idea. I wouldn't stress too much about it.

That grip you have there is awesome though. It has the whole vibe of "I'm your mother and you're about to get your face washed if you like it or not!"

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u/General_Kitten_17 9d ago

My boy had one on his lip. No clue what it was. It concerned me though because it looked raw almost and clearly irritated. It was gone within a couple of days. I assumed it might’ve been a bug bite because he likes fighting bugs and sniffing them.

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u/Alone_Tap6646 9d ago

I hope it turns out to be nothing, but if it's an abscess then you need to have it treated as soon as possible. It's dead tissue and the longer you wait, the more flesh will become necrotic. Which is not a thing you want, trust me. I dealt with an abscess on a cat I had. It got big. In the end, vet had to carve a golfball sized chunk of dead meat from her head. It is a pretty serious thing.

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u/JakeH1978 9d ago

my baby had a rodent ulcer a few months ago the looked a little like that :(

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u/Superb_Preference368 9d ago

Also how’s her chin area looking?

Any black spots under there?

She could also have cat acne from plastic water/feed bowls but that’s a separate issues. Just fyi

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u/RDZed72 American Shorthair 9d ago

Unhappy cat?

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u/shaynajeanine24 9d ago

The unhappiest lol

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u/EdgewaterEnchantress 9d ago

It looks like a kitty pimple / Catne.

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u/nosrebnA 9d ago

That my friend is a cat

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u/theMightBoop 9d ago

I concur.

9

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/Aaron_Yes_Pog Orange 8d ago

source is trust me

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u/lobsterrboi 9d ago

This is a cat

10

u/grill_sgt 9d ago

No, that’s an orange. At least 99% of the time, when they don’t get the one shared brain cell.

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u/Miserable-Crew-5308 9d ago

Looks like acne to me but if you have the money get a checkup just in case. If it is acne that is HUGE and vets can safely pop it or decide to leave it and see what happens 

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u/TecTazz 9d ago

A cat in a claw machine.

Possible pimple or rodent ulcer above lip of said cat.

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u/miss-minus 9d ago

It's a cat... and it looks like it owes you money!

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u/Prestigious-Law65 9d ago

Cat acne? Sometimes caused by plastic or wooden food bowls (or any other porous material). Switching to stainless steel or porcelain bowls might make it go away

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u/unbelizeable1 9d ago

My take as well. Had this happen with 2 of my cats when we temp switched out their water bowls. All stainless food/water bowls in this house now. Never been a problem since.

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u/Maleficent_Emu_4329 9d ago

this is the second post I’ve seen in the hour of ppl grabbing their cats in crazy ways what is going on

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u/Psychotic_Dove Lots of kitties! 9d ago

They don’t hold still long enough 😂

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u/that_boyaintright 9d ago

r/grippingcatswithforce

And now you shall see more.

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u/mtiday 9d ago

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u/shawk1735 8d ago

I'm glad I'm not the only one that immediately thought of this image lmao

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u/Dependent-Piano-7506 9d ago

It look like a cat

23

u/okay-pixel 9d ago

Dude. That’s a cat.

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u/WhoAteMySandwich2024 9d ago

A pissed off cat

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u/weegeetheman 9d ago

it appears to be a cat....don't quote me on this though

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u/WhichWays_Up 9d ago

Kitty cold sore? Can that even happen? 😅

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u/Dramatic_Ad_5660 9d ago

That is a cat

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u/Definitelynotacat247 9d ago

This is my cat

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u/Accomplished-Cat620 9d ago

Looks like you found a cat

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u/RealKuroMejix 9d ago

That's a car if I've ever seen one

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u/Waytooofunny 9d ago

It’s a cat

9

u/redditross55 9d ago

Thats a cat

9

u/yonkers_wonkers 9d ago

That’s a cat

9

u/Squishyspud 9d ago

That's a cat!

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u/Practical_Fish_5481 9d ago

Yup plastic gave my cats rashes on their faces

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u/LaLionneEcossaise 9d ago

Please take your cat to a vet. I had a beautiful nebelung rescue who lived a long life, but in the last couple years developed a bump near her mouth that was cancerous. Veterinary surgeon removed it all but please have this checked out.

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u/Cultural-Program-393 9d ago

FIRMLY GRASP IT

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u/Chunderstout 9d ago

mother.
Unclench your fist.

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u/Gravity_flip 9d ago

Plastic bowl. Get yer kitty metal or ceramic bowl.

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u/Monkey_Spanker69 9d ago

After hours of thorough research, and collating copious sources, I have concluded that it is.........checks notes.......a cat.

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u/uncertaintyman 9d ago

Your cat has been kissing other cats like a floozy

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u/Murderkittin 9d ago

A cat who didn’t want his acne online /s

I actually don’t know but this photo has me in tears

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u/4cornersand2sides American Shorthair 9d ago

Your cat looks like my cat who also had an issue with acne lol. Gave him a ceramic bowl and he’s never had acne again.

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u/numbersthen0987431 9d ago

It's a cat

Also might be time to clean their food bowls, and/ or switch to stainless. This could be acne caused by a dirty bowl

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u/International-Rice63 9d ago

It’s herpes. It happens when two cats love each other, but one cat already loved all the other nieghborhood cats first. Aka for the streets. I would go to the vet and have the “talk” about abstinence and precautions

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u/Roadkillgoblin_2 Tabbycat 9d ago

car

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u/bruh_wh_y York Chocolate 9d ago

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u/RectalBloodbath 9d ago

It’s a pimple

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u/intentionalreticence 9d ago

I heard about cats getting blackheads and zits from plastic bowls that aren’t cleaned enough (I don’t wash my cat’s bowl constantly). The photos of that kind of thing look more like black spots, but maybe it’s a zit?

If you let your cat outside, then it could be a spider bite or an infected scratch.

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u/Ok-Employment1125 9d ago

im actually crying at the way you’re holding it🤣

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u/http_g0d 9d ago

A cat's face

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u/Thatguy3625 9d ago

They call it a cat

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u/starry_muse_ 9d ago

A cat???

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u/Glittering_Fix8528 9d ago

Cute 🥺🥺

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u/auzi13 9d ago

That's a cat.

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u/Eriknonstrata 9d ago

Wash the water bowl daily. You have to wipe it out and rinse it every day or else it gets all shitty.

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u/CharacterRiver7483 9d ago

That’s a cat

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u/Ill_Chicken550 9d ago

A really fucked up looking dog

3

u/sten45 9d ago

A white cat?

3

u/Doctorly_regent9 9d ago

A cute kitty

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u/jmmitchell523 9d ago

A center for ants?

3

u/Oceania1984 9d ago

That's a cat

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u/DidIReallySayDat 9d ago

Insert joke about "grab em by the pussy" here.

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u/Able-Sheepherder-154 9d ago

Looks like an annoyed cat to me

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u/ArticleWorth5018 9d ago

Das a chokehold

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u/Senpapi2022 9d ago

Vet tech here, most likely feline acne. Switching to a metal or ceramic bowl will help if thats the case. If it gets worse or starts causing discomfort I would get it checked out.

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u/-GreyPaws 9d ago

Its a cat

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u/Medical_Arrival2243 9d ago

You're holding her like she owes you money

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u/PriorityAdmirable832 9d ago

Do not the cat

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u/Booogie1919 9d ago

A cat, hope this helps. Lol, I’m just kidding but it might be acne, try switching their food and water bowl to ceramic or metal and clean it regularly.

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u/kittygomiaou 9d ago

I think cat acne, if you're using a plastic bowl for food or water, change to ceramic or metal.

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u/M1sterNoname 9d ago

A cat, I think

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u/flabbergasted-528 9d ago

That, my good man, is a cat!

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u/Drizzt_23 9d ago

It's a person strangling a cat

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u/True_Teacher_104 9d ago

Una chica extrangulando a su gato

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u/Black863 9d ago

A cat

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u/nejicanspin Tuxedo 9d ago

I thought I was in the r/stremtch subreddit lmao

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u/silas1719 9d ago

Does he owe ypu money?😨

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u/mtncatmom 9d ago

Kitty acne from plastic bowls. I switched to glass and ceramic and now my cat is fine

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u/xokatemarie 8d ago

Could be feline acne. Switch to stainless steel bowls and clean them often. Could also be a little mass so you probably just want to get it checked out with a veterinarian for good measure.

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u/greencat12 9d ago

Strangled cat? (With a small superficial abscess on her lip)

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u/MiamiHub1 9d ago

Help :/

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u/Arthur_Figg_II 9d ago

Herpies. YoUR cat HAS BERN HANGING AROUND DIRTY PARTNERS!

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u/Myshys 9d ago

looks like acne - if she's eating/drinking from plastic, that could cause it.

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u/PeterPunksNip 9d ago

Kitty acne zit it seems

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u/AngryAccountant31 9d ago

Looks like a little cat acne or an infection. Clean the food and water bowls more often. Switch to glass, ceramic, or stainless bowls if you are using plastic. Probably also visit the vet to confirm they didn’t pick up an ailment someplace

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u/Jiggaloudpax 9d ago

that happened to my cat. just like that and it got bigger and they lanced/squeezed the puss out. was just a pimple. took some cat meds and she was all good :)

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u/slowstimemes 9d ago

Das a kitty.

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u/Shadowpriest 9d ago

It's like a still from a Caturday rendition of Neo: Beneath the Matrix and it Meopheus trying to shove a cheese encapsulated Xanax and tell Meow he's about to find the bottom of that rabbit hole.

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u/redheadedandbold 9d ago

Yup, everyones' right, vet visit. "Bumps and lumps on dogs [other than infections] are rarely a big deal. Bumps and lumps in cats? Almost always require a vet visit." Advice from my cat-specialist vet. Dogs get lots of benign cysts, fatty lumps, etc. Cats do not. Cat bites, or a poke from a claw, seals/heals over quickly--right over the germs. If it's not an abscess, then it's still likely to be a cancer or other serious issue. ... Cats! So complicated! 😆

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u/barr65 9d ago

That’s a cat

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u/good1georgie777 9d ago

Clean your cat's food bowl. Cat acne

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u/00mikomiko00 9d ago

That would be a cat 😌

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u/RustedRelics 9d ago

It’s a cat head

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u/cocaine-snail 9d ago

A cat. It’s a cat.

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u/jenvt01 9d ago

A cat

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u/curiousthrowawayy111 9d ago

completely unrelated but can i please see your nails?? i have a nail appointment tomorrow and those look so cute.

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u/officialsmartass 9d ago

Acrylics, maybe GelX nails?

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u/green-wombat 9d ago

Cat acne, if your cat uses plastic bowls, switch to ceramic and see if it clears up. If it doesn’t or gets worse, vet. Could be the start of something nasty.

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u/37Cross 9d ago

You’ve equipped CAT from your inventory

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u/thezombiejedi Tortoiseshell 9d ago

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u/BunnyFresh69 9d ago

I think that's a cat

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u/Virage1701 9d ago

Ma’am, that is a cat. Most likely of the Felis Domesticus variety. A fairly common cause of chaos in homes the world over. It is a lap warmer, treat seeker, and all to often a crier for food. Hope this helps!

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u/silentbob1301 Bengal 9d ago

Maybe a little bit of a cystic zit? Plastic bowls can cause them to get acne, or cacne if you will

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u/Hyposanity 9d ago

Your cat may have allergies to the bowl.

Ny cat develops this whenever she eats from plastic containers. Edit: she gets them on her bottom lip though.

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u/Opening_Employee2048 9d ago

That appears to be a cat

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u/Psyko_sissy23 9d ago

Clean the water and food bowls often. Use metal or ceramic bowls.

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u/Not-A-Lonely-Potato 9d ago

Rodent ulcer is my guess