Why is my cat's chin black and crusty, can't meow, and grinds teeth?

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A pale/white appearance to the tissue in the mouth makes me concerned Smudge may be anemic, meaning her red blood cells may be dangerously low. If this were the case, it can be due to a bleeding disorder, autoimmune disease, cancer in the bone marrow, or secondary to another disease process in the body. With so many possible causes, more information would be needed to have an idea of what’s wrong. The important first step would be to confirm if Smudge’s red blood cells are low with an exam and a blood test at your vet (CBC or complete blood count). Based on the results, your Vet can discuss what the best course of action would be for Smudge. I hope this helps!

The lesions on Chubbs' chin and mouth could be feline acne, viral in origin, among others. Make sure that Chubbs is eating from stainless steel or glass bowls rather than plastic or ceramic, as these materials are more porous and can harbor bacteria, leading to irritation of the chin and feline acne. You can also use dilute antiseptic solution (such as betadine or chlorhexidine) to clean his chin 1-2 times per day, but take care to rinse and dry the areas thoroughly. If he continues to scratch, you can put an e-collar (cone) on him. However, if the lesions persist or worsen, Chubbs may need to go to his vet for further evaluation and medication, such as antibiotics and/or steroids. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

It could be Blackie has a respiratory infection affecting her ability to meow. If she's congested, she won't eat as much. Cats like to smell their food, and if they can't smell it, they won't eat. Have her seen by a vet today. Best of luck.

Bad breath and inflammed gums in an older cat can be caused by gingivitis or stomatitis. This is a severe inflammatory disease caused by a reaction of the body's immune system to plaque on their teeth. It is extremely painful. I would recommend that Snowball be checked out by a veterinarian for treatment before it gets worse. If Snowball is a young cat or kitten, then there may be another cause, like oral trauma from eating something or an infected tooth. All of these should also be evaluated by a vet as soon as possible before they have a chance to get worse.

So sorry that Winnie is not feeling well! Winnie can be refusing to eat for a variety of reasons, however, from what you have described, it sounds like Winnie is grinding her teeth. Cats typically grind their teeth if their mouth is painful, and likely are unwilling to chew which could be causing her to not eat. This can be due to damage to the jaw, either from trauma, infection, or bone destruction. Depending on her age, different dental diseases could be causing these signs as well. Cats are also prone to developing conditions such as stomatitis (or inflammation of the mouth and gums), or she may have fractured a tooth. As all of these conditions are painful, Winnie should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible, especially if she is refusing to eat. Her veterinarian will be able to diagnose the condition and treat her to make her more comfortable. Her veterinarian will also be able to rule out other causes of decreased appetite, such as intestinal disease or a different condition affecting her jaw or mouth. In the meantime, you can try to offer her soft canned food, or even dilute the food with some water so that she does not have to chew, but rather can just swallow the food. I hope Winnie feels better soon!

This could be feline acne, and Taz may be scratching his chin so much that he is causing it to bleed. Have him seen by a vet for this in the next few days. If he does have feline acne, the vet can prescribe a medicated wash for him to treat it. Best of luck.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection (affecting the eyes as well) and possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.