Black crud under cats chin

Question
My cat Bella was a stray and I have had her for about 2 year. I believe she is about 8 years old, female, spayed and in good health. I always have provided good healthcare for my pets but she's a tough one because she goes completely nuts in my vet's office. Its like she is a crazed animal on Wild Kingdom! We have to sedate her for any and all shots or tests. I try to limit this. Since I have had her, she has two skin issues. I don't know if they are related. One, she gets black crud in the outer crevices of her nose. The second problem is she has a spot under her chin that has black crumbly debris. I first thought it was the remnants of a tick but she has had it for years. I can scratch off the black particles but they always come back. She now has a spot near her lower lip also. She does not mind if I scratch it so I assume it itches. I have asked my vet and he does not know what it is based upon my verbal description and I hate make her go through the whole in office vet experience until absolutely needed, shots etc. I thought maybe it was mites of the skin or something like that. Apparently there is not such a thing but that is what it looks like. Any info you can give me would be helpful. Thanks a lot!

Mary Kay

Answer
This is most likely chin acne.  It can be a bacterial infection or in some cases a yeast infection.  Cats get this commonly.  The treatment is to shave the chin close and use rubbing alcohol to dissolve the waxy glandular secretions.  If there is an infection, it needs to be treated as well.  Sometimes it is from plastic food bowls, so we advise owners to use stainless steel bowls or ceramic bowls instead. Your vet has tranquilizer tablets that you can give to the cat about an hour prior to the vet visit.  That will chill her out so she won't mind the car ride and the handling by the vet.