My cat has this kind of scab on his nose; it appeared about two and a half months ago and it's been developing slowly. It falls off by itself after a few weeks but then reappears a few days later. I have no idea what it is and I'm really worried; I'm scared it might be a tumour. Photo 1 is before the scab fell off, and photo 2 is after.
P.S. I live in a rural area of Morocco, and the only vet in the nearest town is never there. So, the only option I have at the moment is the internet.
Thanks a lot, everyone.
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Hi there,
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to say what it might be based on a photo alone. Scabs appearing on the nose can have many causes, such as injuries or skin issues. However, it could also be an early sign of more serious conditions, which are more common in white cats living in very sunny areas.
The best thing to do in this case would really be to see a vet. While you're waiting for an appointment, you can monitor the lesion to see if it gets bigger or changes in appearance, for example, and also keep an eye on your cat’s general health. You could also consider applying some sunscreen (there are specific ones made for pets) to the affected area.
I hope this helps.
Have a lovely day,
Lucie
A friendly, cheerful face is always much nicer than someone pulling a long face! Mind you, I hope you haven’t got the same ears as your cat, otherwise I’ll have to start calling you Lady Arwen!
My vet has retired as well; he was the one who treated Ficelle without charging for any consultation fees, just the meds for cat flu. It only cost about £5 in the end, and Ficelle was all set for another few months of happiness...
Yes, I recommend honey because I’m a firm believer in starting with the simplest treatment first. If it works, great. If not, you move on to the next step. Besides, you can get some really high-quality honey in Morocco.
My old vet—who’s sadly retired now—always stuck to that principle: 'Simplest solution first. Then we'll see.' He wasn't just after the money; he had an incredible medical intuition and worked wonders with cats, even the most skittish ones. They don't make them like him anymore.
(Hi @bluecat from the night shift 😂, good to see a friendly face!)
Since it’s so close to the nose, I’d go for the most natural remedy possible – honey seems like a good shout. If you do use a medicated product, like an antiseptic spray or Betadine, I’d suggest putting it on some gauze or even a piece of clean cloth – don’t use cotton wool or kitchen roll – and use that to disinfect and then dry the area. Avoid anything like Dakin’s solution; it’s effective but way too close to the nose.
As for what’s caused it, I really don’t know. Fungal infections always worry me, but I understand it’s not easy for you to get to a vet at the moment, and they’re the only ones who can give you a proper diagnosis. That said, it looks more like a scab that’s been pulled off than that kind of fungal thing.
You can disinfect the area with Betadine or, if you haven't got any, honey. Honey is a great natural healer, has mild antibiotic properties, and is completely safe if your cat licks it. Honey can sort out plenty of little scrapes without you needing to head to the vet.
It looks like he’s grazed himself somewhere… I’d just leave it to heal, but if it gets any worse, I’d use some antibiotic cream for pets or some Betadine.
