ASK-THE-VET: CAT WITH SWOLLEN LIP

DonnaNewPicCroppedQuestion: My 2 year old male cat has what looks like a swollen upper lip. At first we thought he had a massive overbite, but at closer look it looks to be sore. What could it be and what can we do for him?

Answer: Thanks for your inquiry. There is a condition called the “Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex” which commonly affects young cats and results in a swollen upper or lower lip.

Here is a link to an article about this condition: Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex.

There are other things that could look this way so I would definitely recommend you see your veterinarian for a complete exam and get a diagnosis so you can give your cat some relief from the swelling.

Good luck.
Dr. Donna Spector

Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency.

Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.

20 thoughts on “ASK-THE-VET: CAT WITH SWOLLEN LIP

  • Nichole
    May 31, 2019 at 11:17 am

    My two year old male cat has a swollen and red lower lip. It looks like there is a bite mark in the center but it is a single hole , what can I do to help? I am really low on money so I don’t want to take him to the vets if not necessary.

  • jacquie simms
    August 6, 2019 at 12:29 am

    My cat has the same thing But it doesn’t seem to be growing and it has gotten alot smaller but clearly still there and like you I am very low on funds and cannot afford a vet at this time

  • Heather Workman
    August 14, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    My cat has a swollen mark on her lower lip like a bee sting or something what can I do to help her I don’t have money to take her to a vet

  • Jenna
    September 3, 2019 at 8:48 pm

    My cat isn’t even one year old yet and he has a swollen lower lip more on the left side, my mom can’t afford to bring him to the vet and I’m worried about him. He’s my best friend

    • Sheryl
      April 18, 2020 at 4:34 am

      Hey jenna Has your cat gotten better ? My cat has a swollen mouth corner and i cant afford a vet rn. How Long did it take for your kitti’s swelling to go down?

  • Alora
    September 5, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    My 1 year old male cat seems to have one side of his upper lip swollen and it looks irritated and sort of raw he has had it for a couple weeks and we cant take him to the vet is this serious does anyone know???? Can we cure it at home? What are the causes?

    • Shanna Moore
      October 8, 2019 at 8:48 pm

      My cat has the same thing has your cat got any better

  • Kashmery Ahmed
    November 3, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    My 3 year old female cat just lost her new born five kittens just the day she gave birth to them. And after 3 to 4 days her lower left jaw swallowed badly. She’s not eating anything she used to eat regularly. Her behavior is like max time she’s sleeping. I’m really tensed about it. Please give me some suggestions.

  • Jennilee Featherkile
    December 20, 2019 at 3:56 pm

    My 3 year old tabby just recently got a swollen lower lip. He hasn’t had one since I’ve had him (will be 2 years on June). I suspect a flea bite, I just recently put flea medicine on him. I got bit too. He eats just fine and doesn’t appear to be in pain. He stopped eating his wet food after I tried slipping him some benadryl. I just bought some HomeoPet allergy medicine. Anyways, how long does it typically take for the swelling to go down?

    *my mom said he could have got a spider bite. He does like to eat small spiders.

  • Candy
    February 27, 2020 at 1:20 am

    I say to the person who’s cat had kittens , there are free spay and neuter clinics around , to you all please fix your cats and make sure they all wear ID’s , don’t make more kittens , there already so many that need forever homes , 1,000,000,00 each year are put to death because of people who can’t seem take the time to get them fixed ..

  • Theresa
    March 27, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    I have a 23 yr old cat. I noticed tonight her bottom lip is swollen on the right side. Also her top lip is also swollen. Any idea what this could be.

  • janel worth
    April 18, 2020 at 9:41 am

    my cat has a swollen upper lip. it comes and goes away on its own…but now its here and wont go away what can i give her…please help..

    • Olivia Von Pein
      April 20, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      Hi Janel. Please contact our customer service team and we will help you. 800-426-4256

  • Bianca
    May 10, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    My 7 week cat has a swollen upper lip. He seems fine I even gently pressed on it too see if it caused him pain. He made no sound or cry out. He was playing outside… I just wanted to know If I should be worried about this.

  • Leslie
    May 30, 2020 at 10:33 am

    My12 year old cat, Franti, has a large swollen lower lip. He has had this issue many times throughout his life and they have gone away rather quickly on their own. This time though, it’s not going away and is seeming to get larger. I think when he cleans his fur, which he’s doing more of it seems, he’s making it worse. He’s seeming uncomfortable like he’s having a hard time sleeping for long periods of time which he normally will do and he’s seeming extra needy to be right next to me. Just curious what can be done at home to help his lip. Curious what suggestions anyone above may have from their experience. I think I will take him to vet today but I also don’t have a lot of extra money at this time.

    • Olivia Von Pein
      June 16, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Thanks for reaching out. We would like to investigate this matter further. Please contact us at (813) 426-4256 or email us at healthypets@halopets.com

  • ivy
    June 6, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    My female cat had gotten and swollen bottom lip, just today 6/6/2020. it looks to be scraped but i’m not sure, any ideas?

    • Olivia Von Pein
      June 16, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Thanks for reaching out. We would like to investigate this matter further. Please contact us at (813) 426-4256 or email us at healthypets@halopets.com

  • Vikki
    June 11, 2020 at 8:28 am

    We have a cat, She has formed a swollen bottom lip, which has been there for a couple of days. It has not changed colour, but does look as if there are little while coloration at the top. I have tried to have a better look, she doesn’t make a noise as if painful. She is eating, fine and not sneeezing or dribbling.

    • Olivia Von Pein
      June 16, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Thanks for reaching out. We would like to investigate this matter further. Please contact us at (813) 426-4256 or email us at healthypets@halopets.com

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