cat nose discoloration?

[embean]

I am trying to figure out what's wrong with my cat's nose. I posted a before and after pic. As you can see, she used to have a pink nose but now she has this brown "staining" on it. Is it hyperpigmentation, and should I be concerned about it?

At first I thought it might be tear stains, but her eyes don't really run and there isn't a "path" (like, are the tears jumping straight to her nose?)

I tried google searching but any nose problems talk about crusty noses and this isn't the case.

Otherwise, she seems to be in normal health. I would take her to the vet if I noticed anything else.

The only thing I can think of is that we moved recently, so perhaps there is some environmental change I can't pinpoint.

[krdahmer]

has she been sitting in the window or in the sun more at your new place? maybe she got a little sun on her nose?

[hazelrunpack]

At what ages were the pics taken? I don't know much about cats, but I know that dogs add pigment for years...some of my dogs didn't get fully pigmented eyelids for 3 years, for example... Could it be something similar for cats?

[catlover2]

Some years ago I had a cream Manx whose nose was pink and as she aged past 12 yrs. she did develop dark brown pigmentation spots in her nose leather. She lived to be 17-1/2 yrs. None of the vets ever commented on it that it was anything to worry about. With your cat, it's not actually on the nose leather, but above it in the coat, and looks somewhat like "feline acne" but it's usually on the chin. If it's feline acne it may be aggravated by eating from a plastic dish.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1330&aid=2517

[embean]

there is definitely more sun in the new place. it's something I considered. a nose tan?

the pics were taken about 6-8months apart. in the first one she's about 1 1/2 and now she's just a bit older than 2.

it doesn't look like hyperpigmentation spots. it looks like her nose is dirty and I want to wash it. but, this isn't the case.

I believe the acne is characterized by comedones (blackheads?) but she doesn't have that. I just checked her chin again to be sure.

she has stainless dishes for dry food & water, and every day I give her wet food in a plastic dish. but, this isn't new.

[catlover2]

Originally Posted by embean

she has stainless dishes for dry food & water, and every day I give her wet food in a plastic dish. but, this isn't new.

It's possible she's developing a sensitivity to the plastic. I would change to a plate or stainless steel and wait a few weeks to see if there is a change.

[embean]

I know plastic is less than ideal, which is why I don't use it for her other dishes which are out all the time. but can I ask what the plastic problem is? just allergies? and why would an allergy only manifest itself in her nose? just contact?

[embean]

after taking a closer look at her chin, I *did* find some blackheads, or just tiny little black specks like in these pictures:
http://www.cats-and-facts.com/cat-acne.html

just sort of looks like bits of dirt. only, it's really minimal and you really have to move the fur around to see it. but how could this be connected to her nose? is this common? and what should I do?

[catlover2]

If she has it on her chin it probably is feline acne. First of all I would not feed her from anything plastic especially wet food as it's just too easy to get stuff on her nose while eating from a plastic bowl, just use a flat ceramic plate.

I would start with the suggestion in the link you provided. Wash the chin and nose twice a day with Epsom salts (maybe half & half solution?) with a makeup removal pad or something that is disposable. See if there is any improvement in a week or 10 days. If condition deteriorates and it looks like the spots are getting reddish a vet visit is in order, as you certainly don't want it developing into an infection.

Feline acne is a strange thing and is quite common. I've had cats that never ever got it, and but with my cream Manx it was lifelong problem from time to time. She would get flareups, and then it would disappear, and she never ate off anything plastic either.

[Catman101010]

Are there any updates on this cat? My cat has a condition that looks the same and we are trying to figure out what to do to try help.
Thanks,
Brice

[embean]

http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=71819

that is sort of the update...

she said she brown spots were just her skin and it was normal. other symptoms ended up becoming more worrying (similar to an ear infection).

her problem ended up being, compulsive overgrooming sort of.

[catlover2]

I came across this article, and it just goes to show how difficult it is to diagnose exactly what is the source of skin problems in cats.

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm.../detail/322321

[Catman101010]

Thanks. I appreciate the replies.