My 7yo cat has a small black thing. Should I take him to the vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Those are the openings to the anal glands. Sometimes some dried anal gland material can accumulate at the opening. If Poopsie is not scooting or licking excessively I think you can wait to see your vet for an appointment.

This looks like a small wound, or maybe an insect bite that is irritated. The skin around it looks clean and healthy. As long as he seems his normal self right now, he should be fine until he's seen on Wednesday. If he does feel sick or if the area gets worse try to get him seen sooner.

Hmm... from your photo, I can't tell for sure what this might be. You're right that it looks like a piece of litter, but it could also possibly be a piece of fecal material that is still inside the rectum. If Toby is acting normal, I would recommend waiting 24 hours (or until he poops again) to see if it's still there. It may pass on its own the next time he has a bowel movement. If it's still present by this time tomorrow, or if it begins to bleed or show any other signs of a problem, it would be best to have him checked by a vet - he/she can do a rectal exam to palpate the area and get a better idea of what may be going on.

From the pictures, it looks as though what you are seeing may be from trauma. Cat scratches to the face commonly occur on cats that are outdoor cats. Many times the hair will not grow back and the cat will be left with a small scar. If canto is indoor only and the nodule is raised, I would say get a vet to examine him to see for sure what it may be. It could be from a bug bite or a skin tumor of some type. If you cannot get to your vet right away, I would say just monitor for now and if it worsens get him seen sooner. It does not look infected or swollen from the picture. I would monitor for signs of infection which may include swelling, redness, painful to the touch, discharge, etc. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

If this is a cat that goes outdoors I would be concerned about something like tar stuck to the fur. A scab could also be present that is dark in color (scabs can appear black) and matting the fur. I would recommend a visit to your vet and if they feel it is a substance and not a scabbed area, they can shave it off your kitty's foot!

It could be a normal color of her fur, but it could signal another problem. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. I'd have her checked out by a vet for this problem. I hope this helps, Lola!