A common question (and worry) of cat owners relates to black spots that just seem to "appear" on the lips, nose and eye margins, especially on orange colored cats. What is this, and are these spots something to worry about? Find out in this FAQ.
From the VetMed Forum:
CDM111 asks: "My four year old cat has gradually developed black spots on his lips. They don't seem to bother him and they look okay. I've asked others but no one has heard of it before. I haven't asked our vet yet. I'm hoping its normal. Has anyone ever seen this before? And is it normal?"
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From Franny Syufy, Guide to Cats
Photo credit: "Beaker" by iLoveButter on Flickr
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Please note: Comments are now closed for this post, please add your comments and stories here: Tell Us About Black Spots on Your Orange Cat
Comments
My cat has those black spots too, and they are spreading. I will have to take my cat to the vet to find out what they are.
If your cats are orange, or partly orange, those spots are pretty common and harmless. Just a weird pigmentation thing with orange cats, some people call them “age spots” My white and orange was around three when they started showing up on his schnoz.
My understanding, though, is that if your cat isn’t orange anywhere you may want to get him or her checked out.
My orange/brownish 6 year old cat is developing ugly black spots on his lips, and it’s really getting me concerned. Eventhough he’s orange, I’m not fully convinced that its normal. I can also see that his lips are popping out. I would really appreciate some advice. Thanks
Mine’s getting them, too, but he’s eleven so he’s a bit older than any of your cats. He seems healthy in every other regard, though, and he’s definitely very orange. I’ll keep researching this, but both he and I are glad to hear that he’s not the only one with these spots.
Our magnificent orange tabby cat, Walter, just died at 18 years old. He developed those spots about 14 years ago. It did not seem to affect his health (obviously).
My cat, Stinky Pete, an orange & white tabby, is now two years old and has been developing black spots on his lips, lower eye lid and below his nose over the past few months. They don’t seem to bother him. In fact, I bother him more by trying to check and see if they’re getting bigger! I’m relieved to hear he’s not the only one with spots, but I will get them checked when he goes to the vet soon.
Thanks for asking this question because is the same I have and I was going to start my own research. My cat is an orange tabby and I am relieved to know that the spots are normal.
My cat is an orange/white, long haired fellow and has recently developed these black spots on his nose, lips and eyelides. They also seem to be on his ears. It’s interesting that this only happens to orangies.
I’m glad I just looked this up, as my orange tabby, Magnusson, also has black spots forming on his lips. He is otherwise normal and annoyingly himself! I guess he has good company.
my orange long haired has been with these black spots for years, hes 4 now, he has em on his nose and on his gums, in my hopes hes perfectly healthy from the way i see it, thanks
I have an orange tabby as well and she started getting them around 3 years old. They dont bother her at all. I am glad to hear its probably nothing.
my cat is the same too, he is a ‘ginger’ tabby. he is only 1 and a half and has had them for approx 6 months, he seems fit and well. im pleased ive read this!! thank you x
I just posted a FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) about this condition! You can find it here:
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionscat/f/catlentigo.htm
Thanks for all of your comments.
no they will not effect a cats health. i just lost a 5 year old cat to cancer so we took the other cats in to get checked out, i have a half simesse and half persian cat (white & orange) that is around 6 years old, and she has the spots on her gums. the vet said it is normal and not to worry!!
I’ve been concerned about this too. My big, orange tabby, OK Chamois, has had black spots on his lips for a couple of months now, so they started when he was only 10 months old. I wonder if they have anything to do with a cat’s maturity. Chamois turned one today and weighs about 14 pounds. Big Kitty! His brother, Sparkle, hasn’t developed these spots, even though he has orange pigmentation on his face, ears, and tail.
Happy 1st Birthday Sparkle and Chamois!!
I was beginning to get very concerned about my “orange tabby” Bucky about the black spots on his lips but reading this made me feel so much better. I will still take him to be checked but I will feel more at peace on till I do take him. Thank you all!
Our 2 year old, orange short-haired also has black like spots on his lower lip, re-assuring reading these posts.
I think i will get them checked anyway though at the next opportunity!
Our 2 year old, orange short-haired also has black like spots on his lower lip, re-assuring reading these posts.
I think i will get them checked anyway though at the next opportunity!
Thanks for the help. I’d noticed these black spots on our cat, who is eleven, for years. I’d never thought anything of it though, and good thing I didn’t have to!
Thanks so much for putting my fears to rest, my 3 yr old orange/white boy “Stewie” started getting them on his lips last yr. He’s not at all bothered by them. He’s his usual much loved spoiled self. THANKS again!!!!!
My sweet cat “Peachy” who is a light shape of orange…developed his first black spot on his chin about a year ago, but now they are all over his lips and starting towards his nose. Most of them developed quite recently. I was very concerned, though he is completely healthy otherwise. So thank you all for making my concerns lesson until his next vet visit!!!
Hi, my orange 6 yr old tabby Milo has a black spot on his lips too. I glad to hear that it not just him.
My cat Oscar, a 7 year old orange tiger tabby started getting black spots on his nose and lips over 2 years ago. The vet said they were common, and not to worry about them. It is interesting to note that when I read everyone’s comments, there seem to be more male cats with them.
i brought my fluffy orange lion cat (age 3yr 7 mos) to the vet cos he was having problems with is eye due to maltreatment by his previous owner, and she brought up his freckles saying just that, theyre freckles! (aka lentigo simplex) Eventually his lips, eye lids, nose, and other exposed fleshy areas will become completely black with age.
I have decided to photo document them! my dr says that its a very cute idea
key key falcone’s lip freckles
Thank you last person to put up a picture. I think this helps everyone put this to rest and not be worried, as this is what OC’s gum’s look like too. My OC is now 15 and have always been concerned about his increasing black spots, but now I feel much better. He’s happy and healthy and still runs outside everyday!
Thanks! My rescued OTC, Bodie, is just getting them. He told me he was a lost prince and these black spots made me doubt his story. Whew! Close.
Count me as another person so glad to find this place! My very orange tabby, Simon, is 9. He’s had freckles since we adopted him around age 2, but I noticed recently that his lips were more black than usual.
Consider me relieved!!
Thanks everyone for your information. Charlie is a 2 1/2 year old orange and white tabby. I noticed a dark spot on his bottom lip a couple of months ago. At first thought it was a scab from the other cat putting him in his place, (he’s a wild boy), but when it didn’t go away, I started investigating. I noticed another one on his gums, but like other people have indicated, they don’t want to let you look.
I’ll have my vet check it out at his annual exam. Thanks again everyone!
same problem with my orange cat. spots on his nose, lips, inside his mouth. i thought he might have something like feline leukemia. turns out, it’s normal. thank God.
I feel much better after reading your comments and learning that my nearly two-year-old Tucker is just getting “freckles.” I have noticed more of them developing over the past few months, but only around his lips/mouth. He seems fine – just like himself. Anyone else think that orange cats are more mischievous than other colors?
I was glad to find these comments, too. My cat is a white and grey siamese/tabby, and she is getting these spots on her mouth. So my question is, even though it is most common with orange cats, what about other colors?
I am so relieved to hear that this is common. My four year old orange kitty Frankie has gotten them around his lips and now has them inside his eye lids. They do not appear to bother him. I just got alarmed when I noticed mor appear. Thank you fellow cat lovers for helping to ease my nerves!
One of my orange tabbies keeps developping brown spots on his gums, and from what you are all saying, this seems to be normal. His orange brother, however, has developped black spots on his nose, which incidentally, is always very wet. I am a bit concerned about the second kitty – comments anyone?
My cats are around 3 years old and are outdoors cats,one is an orange tabbi with black spots on his lips and the other is a darker tabbi, whom also has the black spots, and they both have seem to have developed this coughing or weezing spasm-like condition. The attack lasts for about maybe 15 to 30 seconds maximum. I don’t know what it could be, whether it’s a serious disease, cancer or just a temporary sickness. I’m aware of the Kennel cough, but is there anything else it could be?
My cats are around 3 years old and are outdoors cats, and they both have seemed to develope this coughing or weezing spasm-like condition. The attack lasts for about maybe 15 to 30 seconds maximum. I don’t know what it could be, whether it’s a serious disease, cancer or just a temporary sickness. I’m aware of the Kennel cough, but is there anything else it could be?
At her first check up, my kitty’s vet said that she had feline herpes. His diagnosis was based on a dark spot on the corner of her eye and and lip, and that one eye was slightly squinting. He said it was nothing to worry about, but that it was contagious to other kitties (not to humans). My own research turned up more info — that feline herpes could cause eye discharge, runny and blocked nose, and coughing. When I got my kitty home, I just gently used my fingernail to remove the “grime” from the corner of her eye. But the spot on her lip is permanent. She obviously does not have feline herpes, as was diagnosed by the vet, because she is healthy as can be. Sometimes I wonder just who to trust. This is the fourth time a pet of mine has been misdiagnosed or mistreated by a vet.
my cat has dark spots around her mouth but the spots arent permenent, if i rub it , it comes off. its flaky. but, it came back so i dont know if its a problem. she doesnt eat anything black or is even exposed to anything. she’s 4 years so maybe its an age thing. im not sure if my cats problem is the same as others. i just want feedback before i go to the vet. thanks
My orange tabby has had them since she was quite young (maybe one). They come and go and in different areas in her mouth and on her lips. She’s 15 now.
Thankyou, I now feel very reassured. My 5 and half year old light ginger/beige tabby has developed the black spots in the mouth, which I have just seen and thought were some sort of parasite. I’ll take her to the vets anyway because she’s a bit off colour, but you always see these things when the vet’s closed.
ORANGISH or WHITE COLORED CAT = BLACK SPOTS ON LiPS, GUMS, and MAYBE NOSE. QUESTION SETTLED. GAAA… oh…. bye the way, I have an orange cat too. Her name is Rose. She’s ummm. i reelli dont know how old. Thanx for the info. Perhaps we should instead post on how ugly; disgusting the spots look. Rosie’s are pretty horrible looking.
Bronte Bratty Cat, is a 1 year old white and ginger kitty. I only noticed these spots the last couple of weeks but they seem to be increasing in number. I was worried about them too and decided to google and found this site. I’m quite relieved to know that they probably aren’t a danger to her health as I just love her soooo much. I’ll take her to her doctor to get them checked out nevertheless.
What about calico cats? My cat does have large orange spots and I’ll tell ya, that black spot on her lip developed in a week and I could tell by the day it was getting bigger.
Our “Precious” is mixed with Siamese and Torbie and she is 18 months. Her mom is a calico cat mix. Precious looks siamese with blue eyes and white fur with brownish stripes on her legs. She does have tiny spots of orange on her ears and stripes of orange on her forehead. Of recent, I noticed a small black spot appeared on the tip of her right ear (outside). Thanks for sharing, no need for me to worry but I will keep an eye on it.
Yes spots on orange kitties is so perfectly normal. My vet pointed it out to me, actually, and said the orange kitties get those and will probably get more and more as they age and he is. We like them, we like his little spots.
I was looking over the comments and most cats are orange and white-I have a Flame point siamese with a pink nose and gums that have begun to speckle with black spots-anyone else have a siamese with similar???
My little l year old yellow male Dobbie just showed up with them all over his lips and gums! I thought his flea medicine I put on him was responsiple for it until I read this. It is giving me some peace of mind until I get him checked out any way! I have one other inside yellow tom, Herman and he doesn’t have it. He is also twice the size of Dobbie, and 1 yr. older. Dobbie goes inside and outside. He was a wild cat that I caught and tamed. We are both lucky. He is a wonderful guy!
I have two 4 year old orange tabbys that are brother and sister. I also noticed these black spots on the brother cat’s lips and gums first. I checked the sister and noticed she had them too. My old Tiger cat doesnt have them so I began to worry since years ago I lost an old cat to skin cancer by his mouth. I googled it and after looking at several other sites with no information or pictures I found this site. Thank you everyone for putting my mind at ease that this is normal for these orange cats.
Whew, what a relief to know that the spots on my 2 year old flame point girl is nothing serious. I first noticed a tiny black spot on her nose about a month ago. I tried washing it off and scratching it off, but it was in the skin. Tonight I saw more on her nose and several on her lower gums. I was worried that it might be something very bad, so I thank all of you for your comments. This is my first orange cat.
I too came here looking for answers…..my Bunnies is full orange tabby, 2 yrs, and I noticed a couple of brown spots recently…..v. glad to know it’s not some awful mouth/teeth issue
I was just to the vet with my 3 yr old flame point siamese and the Dr adv that this is a normal condition much like human freckle. The time to worry is if they become raised, or “ridged”this could mean something more serious. I will continue to have his little spots watched at every check up!
PHEW!
My sweet baby boy, Hobbes got these and I freaked thinking they were cancer or something. Very very relieved mommy here. Thanks, everybody!
What a relief to read about our orange and white kitties with freckles!! Casey who is now 3 years old started showing small black dots on his lower lip line two months ago.. I was getting worried but the vet confirmed it is nothing more than freckles and quite common in orange/red toned cats… thanks to all for your input..
Thank goodness!! My rescued purrie, Maniac, is 2 yrs and I noticed these about 3 mos ago..just his bottom gums and also a couple of his white whiskers are turning black…I panicked ’cause I thought..cancer…so reassuring that my orange tabby of 20 pounds (he is big all over: paws, head, ears, tail) is o.k. Thank you!!
I’ve been worrying about the same thing with my 2 year old orange tabby, Ollie! Thank you for calming my worries. I will probably still ask the vet (just in case), but this makes me feel so much better.
This was so helpful. I just noticed the spots on my 1 year old orange tabby’s lips and was certain if I searched online it would say “cancer” (because everything is cancer these days, right?!). But tit was nice (and a little surprising) to see it is common with orange kitties. Thanks!
I’m so glad I found this site. I have a 2yr old female orange tabby. She is quite frisky and loves to be outdoors. She is quite the hunter as well so I was thinking she caught some disease from something she had killed. Thank goodness it’s nothing that serious. Thank you everyone for posting your comments.
My five year old orange Genevieve has had a smattering of dark brown spots for a while now on her lower lip. I thought they were simply freckles but lately they seem to be enlarging to my great alarm. I am very relieved to have found this site and had her condition explained.
Hi- any of you orange tabby parents see these discolorations- my kitty’s look like little bruises- on the inside part of the ears? My little guy also has them on some bits of paw, lips, and external anus. He’s only 3 months old, and I just noticed them this week. He seems fine otherwise- eats, plays, drinks, sleeps…
My cat is an orange tabby. He has black spots on his lips. First I was scared by now I see I have nothing to worry about. They are harmless and he will be okay. Thank you!
My 5 year old orange cat has the same on upper and lower gums and lips and starting to have a few on his nose. Look very much like the picture someone posted. Funny how so many people have been worrying about the same thing and looking for answers. I am not going to rush to the vet but will have them looked at, at my next regular visit for him.
I was worried about my Tabby’s black spots too. They were on his nose, mouth and 1 spot in middle of each lower lid. I also noticed how a few of his whiskers changed from orange to black! So, I figured he was getting freckles or a pigmentation thing with age.
Thanks cat lovers, Cosmo my orange long hair tabby has all those black dots in all the same places you all have described… I guess I’ll just try to ignore them!
I recently acquired a ginger/white shorthair neutered male who turns 9 next month. His previous Mum mentioned his freckles, so I wasn’t too concerned. Compared to human freckles, they are very black – on his cute little pink nose and lips including inside. Glad to know it’s common, though down here in NZ, we all have to be careful of the sun.
Thank you so much for this post and all of your comments! I have two orange tabbies, one about 6 years old & the other 1.5 years. The older one has developed the spots since we adopted him 5 years ago. The younger one has 1. I’m so relieved to see that it’s normal and others have “freckle-faced” orange kitties like we do. I’m a red head and feel as though they’re taking after me.
Just wanted to leave my thanks here. I was really getting concerned about the spots on my 2yr old common european orange kittie “Nori”, I’ll still go to the vet if more appear (she has 3 in the nose and about 4 on the inner lips/ mouth) but reading this has lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders (sorry for any mistakes, I’m from Portugal.)
Thaks lots
Hello yes I have seen this before I was wondering the same thing about my 4 year old cat and vie heard it’s normal but still am not sure
My orange tabby Reba has lots of spot’s on her lips and nose but now im not to worried. she just turned one
ill probably take her to the vet just incase, she seems a little young.
My 7 year old Flame Point Siamese, Caspurr, started getting the black spots on his nose and lips about 4 years ago. During his normal check-up I asked the vet about them. He told me that hey were simply “freckles” and were especially common in the orange tabby colored cats combined with cats who like to lie in the sun. So, there you have it. Just like humans who have fair skin and red hair!
My black-and-white (but mostly black) “tuxedo” cat is 17. When she was 12 or 13 I started noticing black areas on her previously pink gums, when she’d yawn or lick her lips after eating. So I asked my vet, and he too said it was nothing to worry about. Interesting to learn here just how common this change in pigmentation is – even in kitties that aren’t orange!
My orange tabby is only 2 and started getting the black spots on his nose and lips when he was one… I was worried at first but the vet reassured me that they are simply like freckles. Though it is funny he started developing them at such a young age. I wonder if his nose and mouth will be completely black by time he’s ten
<3
my cute baby has spots all over him too!! nose and lips!!
my baby is SO orange and SO cute
He’s 6 years old, when I got him he already have these spots, I asked the vet about the spots and he said these are completely normal for a orange baby.
My orange tabby isn’t even a year old yet and has black spots on his lips.
I have two 3 year old very orange very large twin brothers. Both a little over 21 pounds. They developed spots on their lips and nose both around the same time. They all popped up within weeks after I moved to a new apartment. I read most of the comments here but checked with my vet anyway. Sure enough he referred to them as freckles. Completely harmless.
My 11 year old male yellow tabby has freckles too. I have also noticed a small amount of black hairs randomly scattered throughout his coat.
The vet called the black spots in his mouth freckles and are completely normal, and he is in excellent health.
Just googled this as I noticed my Ginger Tom cat who has had some black spots for a while has recently developed some more. Am glad to see he is ok but this he will need to be attending Dr Dolittle (the name on the vet surgery) to get them double checked.
The funny thing is if these are ‘freckle’ he can join in with his mammy as I am a ginger with freckles too lol.
Ok thank you everyone who just cleared this up for me. My orange tabby cat is just over a year and these black spots are starting to come up all over his nose and lips. I’m so glad to know that i’m not the only one who has an orange cat with these spots. He’s my world and i’m so relieved to know now that he is ok : )
so thankful to have found this! my orange tabby has been developing these spots over the past couple of months & i was beginning to get worried!! so happy to know she’s okay
what a relief! my kitty Tuna has had one fairly large one on her lip and i noticed a few more the other day! How cute, my baby has freckles ! lol
So glad I found this website. I too have two freckle-faced kitties with black whiskers. Here’s a picture of one of them with black freckles on his nose.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lirena/5382254597/
im glad i found this site..i dont know exactly how old my orange tabbi is because i found him when he was a baby a few weeks old im guessing he started developing like 4 small but noticable black spots on his lip and thats the only place i thought for some reason it was like gum diesease iam sure glad hes not the only one hopefully ill get an aswer when i bring him to the vet u think they would know how old he is if i asked? thank u lots
My 11-year old orange tabby boy love, Beau, has developed little black spots (slightly raised) on his lower lips and gums–but they move around, come and go. Do you think that these are the freckles common to this kind of cat? They are not slowly accummulating but instead come and go. They do not seem to be painful to him although of course he does not appreciate me trying to scratch one with my fingernail.
My 12 yr old orange tabby’s freckles on his gums have gotten bigger so was getting worried but sounds like it’s normal. I’m taking him to the vet anyway but feel better about it.
Thank you all for your comments on the black spots on orange kitties. We have twins brother and sister who are around 1 year old. We just adopted them on January 11, 2011. I have notice that Angus the brother started with one spot on his lip and now it has spead to a few and a dot on his nose. The sister cat (Molly) just started with a spot on her lip.
I am happy to hear that they are freckles.
When we do bring them in for a check up I will ask the Vet but feel so happy right now that they appear to be freckles. Hope you all have a great day and enjoy your orage kitties.
Thanks everyone! I was worried! My one year old orange tabby is getting these and I did not know what to think. My son adores this cat (as do I!) so nothing can be wrong!
I am relieved to see so many people with the same issue. Our orange tabbie is 6 years old and the black spots on his gums and lips are really spreading. It looks bad, but it doesn’t seem to bother him at all.
My mom’s cat has the black spots that were talked about above, and they have been in all of the places described above as well, except for one. This one is on his butt! And I’m serious about this. My mom and I don’t know what to do, and we’re thinking about taking him to the vet.
Another grateful cat-caretaker. My pure orange Norwegian Forest princess Minou is 4 and started developing these a few months ago – so glad they are not serious.