If you notice your cat having a lot of black boogers leaking out of its nose, then it is time to look into the matter seriously. Black boogers in cats are not very common, and they can indicate a serious disease depending on what is diagnosed. Luckily though, treatments to eliminate black boogers in cats exist and if the problem is diagnosed in time, your cat will be okay. So why does your cat have black boogers exactly?
In this article, we will look at the various reasons your cat may be getting black boogers, and how you can overcome this issue as soon as possible. Let’s dive in.
Why does your cat have black boogers?
The black boogers from your cat’s nose are not just boogers, it can signify the presence of disease. But sometimes it is also just mucus discharge that has dried out and now has to be cleaned off.
In that case, it is a regular thing and your cat is healthy. Some active cats that go play outside the house are also prone to get small cuts.
Cuts on the nose can cause a scab that can turn black, making them look like boogers. Sometimes it is just dirt that makes the mucus black if your cat has been playing around the house.
Many times, when your cat inhales polluted air or the air that contains a lot of dust, mucus is produced which later comes out in the form of blackish material.
These are the most basic reasons you may see black boogers sometimes. However, the story is completely different if you see black boogers on a regular basis.
What does this mean? Let’s look at other important reasons in detail.
Reasons for black boogers in your cat
The following points mention more reasons for the occurrence of cat boogers. If you believe that your cat is affected by any disease, it is strongly advised that you take a visit to the vet as soon as possible for your cat’s immediate treatment.
Let’s take a look:
Herpes
Herpes can occur in cats, and one of the huge reasons it gets diagnosed early is through black boogers through your cat’s nose.
But it is not the same; its appearance can differ from regular black boogers, so it is important that you can make the distinction before diagnosing it.
Herpes boogers are usually dark-reddish brown to completely black in color, and they are a little watery before they dry out around the cat’s nose.
Now even though herpes is neither contagious for you nor very harmful for cats, it can soon become fatal if not dealt with accordingly.
So if you have found out that your cat has herpes, your vet will prescribe certain medicines that will rid your cat of this disease.
Do not prolong going to the vet or your cat’s life can fall in danger.
Respiratory problems
One of the very common reasons for black boogers which most cat owners are faced with is nasal issues, that is dried mucus turned black.
But again, if this happens once in a while as we mentioned above, then it is fine. But if the mucus is recurring on a regular basis, then nasal or respiratory implications could be a viable reason.
There are other symptoms that can indicate the presence of respiratory issues in your cat are:
- Problem in breathing
- Swelling of mouth and nose area
- Vomiting
- Inflamed eyes and respiratory tracts
- Infection
- Whistling sound while exhaling
There are again various stages to how severe your cat’s respiratory disease is. But if the boogers start coming very frequently, understand that it is more than a basic cold.
Respiratory infections can start off with being mild, but can quickly progress into something worse, so bringing the matter to a vet’s attention is key.
In addition to the above, another scenario is possible where there are black boogers near the cat’s nose, but instead of boogers that are actually dried blood.
This is usually unrelated to respiratory issues and is a symptom of blood cancer, so take your cat to the vet soon.
Lentigo
Lentigo is a black spot that can occur on your cat’s face. If it is found near the nose, it can easily be mistaken for a black booger, but it is different!
While the boogers can be wiped off, lentigo is different as it is sort of a ‘permanent’ spot on its face.
There is good news though, lentigo is not harmful to your cat at all! If your cat has herpes or respiratory problems, it needs to go to the vet for medications and all, but if it has lentigo?
You should do nothing! It can be compared to having a beauty mark or something.
The main point is that if 2 to 3 of these happen near the nose, it is not a problem, and do not mistake them for black boogers.
What you can do to stop black boogers in your cat
Anyone can wipe off the stray pieces of black boogers around the cat’s nose and call it a day. But if they keep coming back, what should you do to stop them?
If your cat has a cold or is simply facing minor nasal congestion issues, then you can give it mild medication that is approved by the vet.
But if it is facing severe respiratory issues then you will be given strong medications to clear your cat’s respiratory tracts.
Other than that you can place an air humidifier in your house to help your cat breathe better and cleaner air. This will reduce the number of boogers from inside your cat’s nose.
Similar to nasal congestion, to get rid of boogers to herpes, your vet may give your cat medications that may have to be observed for a specific period of time. There should be no more black boogers after that.
You should try to keep your cat’s nose clean. giving it a rinse at least once a day will not only help your cat breathe better but also keep all sorts of boogers away.
Now let’s go over how you should clean off any black boogers on your cat’s nose.
How to clean the boogers off of its nose
Cleaning off any black boogers from your cat’s face does not sound tough but if your cat’s fur or whiskers get stuck with the booger then it can be painful for it.
There is a very easy method of cleaning black boogers off your cat’s face.
Take some warm water in a bowl and dip a small cotton ball in the water. then simply wipe the black booger gently on the cat’s face multiple times until it becomes soft and comes off.
Don’t rush because if you try to pull the booger off using your fingers You can rip some of the furs of your cat which will be very painful.
Repeat this process every time you see a black booger around its nose.
Also, try not to use any fancy gadgets to clean boogers. try to keep the cotton ball around its nose and mouth, do not go up the nose because that is unnecessary and can be uncomfortable for your cat.
Finally, if your cat is not ready to sit still, then you can give it a treat until you finish cleaning the rest of its face. That will surely keep it in place!
Conclusion
In conclusion, why does your cat get black boogers? There could be multiple different reasons as to why your cat gets black boogers. it also depends on how often they occur.
If it is less frequent and only during when your cat has a cold, then there is nothing to worry about and you can simply wipe them off.
But if they arise very frequently then there is a chance that your cat is affected by a disease. Some diseases that occur in such a case are herpes and respiratory problems. If you suspect that your cat is facing any of these diseases then go to a vet as soon as possible.
There are some things you can do to stop black boogers from coming to your cat’s nose. if your cat has any of the diseases mentioned above, then mild or strong medication will do just fine based on your cat’s situation.
You can also use an air humidifier in the house to purify the air your cat breathes.
Lastly, do not try to scrape off the black boogers of your cat’s face with your fingers. some fur could get yanked out along with the booger and your cat will face immense pain.
Please also note that sometimes the black booger you see is actually dried blood and in this case, there is a possibility that your cat has an early stage of blood cancer. Get to the vet as soon as you can.
Stay safe and healthy!
Cats show strange behaviour such as sleeping between legs, moving its kittens, scratching mirrors, tail hitting, bedroom door waiting, eye sniffing, chin biting, black boogers, foot standing, back jumping, sighing, peeing in the bathtub and toe licking may actually have solid reasons behind. Its important we educate ourselves about possible reasons and then act timely for any fix.