What's the black around my cat's mouth?

The black around your cat's mouth may be due to folliculitis, a condition in which the hair follicles become inflamed. In this case, you should feed your cat a light diet and consult a veterinarian for medication. If your cat shows no discomfort when you touch the black areas around its mouth, it may just be normal pigment deposition, and you don't need to worry too much. However, if your cat also exhibits symptoms such as hair loss and itchy skin, it may be caused by a fungal infection, which requires drug treatment.

1. Folliculitis

Cats with folliculitis often have a blackened area around their mouths, and sometimes the base of their tails also becomes black. It is usually caused by long-term feeding of cat food with a high oil content. In this case, you should switch to a low-fat, high-protein cat food with less oil. Note that changing cat food should be done gradually instead of suddenly, otherwise, it may cause your cat to have diarrhea. It is also possible that the folliculitis is caused by high hormones in the body, so it is recommended to consult a veterinarian for medication.

1. Normal pigment deposition

If your cat doesn't avoid or feel pain when you touch the black areas around its mouth, and there are no other abnormalities, these black spots are likely to be normal pigment deposits. In this case, you don't need to worry too much, as it won't affect your cat's health.

1. Fungal infection

If your cat has a blackened area around its mouth along with symptoms such as hair loss and itchy skin, it is likely caused by a fungal infection. To treat cats with a fungal infection, you need to shave the hair around the mouth, and then apply a fungal ointment or spray to the affected area. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian promptly and choose non-toxic medication to prevent poisoning if your cat licks it.