Black Spots on Cat's Lips
Wednesday April 7, 2004
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?"
Related Reading:
FAQ: Why does my orange tabby have black spots on his lips?
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.