Your cat’s health is one of your priorities.
That’s why you should consult a veterinarian when he’s having problems. Sometimes, your kitty has black boogers.
These are deposits of saliva, blood, and mucus that build up in the crevices of his face. So, why does my cat have black boogers?
Because kitties groom themselves a lot, they sometimes swallow or ingest hair or fur while grooming themselves. Sometimes this results in digestive issues or blockages.
Your cat’s digestive system is designed to break down hair and fur and move it through the intestines and out of the body via poop or pee. If your cat is ingesting hair or fur while grooming himself, it can cause digestive issues or blockages and result in black boogers.
Let’s dive into this problem now!
What Are Black Boogers?
A black booger is a word used to refer to a visible deposit of saliva in the nose or mouth of your cat.
This is often seen on your cat’s cheeks or on the nose itself.
This is analogous to people waking up with stuffy noses or black chins.
In areas of Europe, such as Russia, where cats live mostly outdoors, this is a common complaint from cat owners.
They are “boogers” when they go outdoors and are exposed to dirt and dust from the wind.
They might be black for cats, but are not for humans when they go outside in their pajamas.
Why Does My Cat Have Black Boogers?
The drying of mucus in your cat’s nose can cause the booger to fall off and you may see it stuck to the side of your cat’s nose.
This black discolouration is mucus mixed with dirt and dust; it is not an actual booger in the medical sense.
To guarantee that the cat can sniff out dinner, the cat must be groomed on a regular basis to remove matted hair and dirt from his fur.
Many cat owners are concerned in keeping their cat clean and smelling fresh.
Black mucus in the nose of a cat is a sign of excess dryness affecting its tear ducts.
What Causes Cats to Have Black Nose Boogers?
Lentigo
If you detect little patches or wrinkles of skin on your cat’s face, this is a sign of lentigo, a skin disease that is commonly found in long-haired.
This is often confused with a mole or birthmark since it is present at birth.
It may seem to swell to about two or three times its normal size when being irritated with shaving or brushing the fur around it.
It is often seen on older cats or cats with darker fur.
So it’s not a type of skin cancer, it is a type of skin pigmentation that is very common in older cats or cats with darker fur.
However, as I already said, this is not cancerous; rather, it is a type of skin pigmentation.
Diet
Your cat might experience an enlarged nasal passage because of some underlying disease.
Changing your cat’s food may be the answer to its runny eyes problem.
Scabs That Have Dried
When they are ready, they fall off into hairballs. These are clumps of hair and fur that the cat swallows while grooming himself.
Once the cat swallows this hair or fur, it is digested by stomach acids and enzymes in the stomach and small intestines.
Hairballs or food particles that have dried form clumps of hair and fur that the cat swallows while grooming himself.
Clothing or Other Items
A simple explanation might be that your male cat is not urinating as frequently as normal.
Consider some black nose boogers that are caused by an allergy, which is the body’s immune system trying to fight the allergen by trying to release histamines and other chemicals.
If you’ve ever noticed fluff from your garment sticking to your face, you’re experiencing this phenomenon for yourself.
Especially if they have a trait of easily vomiting or throwing up hairballs.
This will attract these odd creatures that tend to hide in dark spaces or places where they can hide from cats.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies in cats are caused by environmental factors like pollen, plant spores, mold, dust, and some insect bites.
Cats can have seasonal allergies just like humans do which can lead to itchy paws and irritated eyes.
Just like in humans, these season allergies can lead to the formation of an allergen or material that’s irritating the cats’ eyes or nose which will lead to the formation of black nose boogers in cats.
Nasal Problem
As simple as it may look, cats are constantly grooming themselves.
For example, an allergic sneeze or nasal discharge in cats can be caused by one or more of the following allergens: pollen, mold, dust, or animal dander.
This might result in the formation of black nose boogers in cats which are called Rhinophyma in medical terms.
This may seem to be a runny nose or cat sneezing disorder, but actually it’s a result of a foreign body that stuck in the nose of the cat and is coming out through the cat.
Dirt or Soil
This dark residue is sometimes caused by the dirt that the cat has licked off from paws or paws of other pets in the house.
For example, suppose your cat has licked off the dirt from its paws then it has rubbed its nose on the other pet’s face or it has licked off the other pet.
In rare situations, the cat may rub its nose on the carpet or furniture in the house which has traces of oil and dirt on it.
Can I Clean Cat Black Boogers?
Cats are quite smart and they have their own way of getting rid of dirt, soil or oil from the fur and paws.
Their noses are fragile, and they can be damaged if the cat rubs its nose against something that contains dirt or soil.
They should just wipe off their nose and dispose of it outside.
You don’t want your cat to lick this residue of dirt or soil because it is unhealthy for your cat.
Cleaning your cat’s boogers can help them to maintain their overall health and hygiene.
You do not need to stick your nose in your cat’s nose to clean the nose.
Instead, gently clean the area that surrounds the nose with a warm wet cloth or cotton swab.
It’s also a good idea to cover its head with a blanket or a dust mask to avoid it from licking the residue on its nose which may contain dirt or soil.
Why Does My Cat Get Black Eye Boogers?
The black pigment in their tiers is called melanin and it helps to protect the eyes from the ultraviolet lightwhich can cause cataracts and certain types of eye diseases in cats.
When it dries, it hardens which makes the dirt or dust stick in the mucus.
These boogers are often found in the corner of the eye, between the eyes, on the side of the nose and also on the back part of the eye.
However, they are normal in cats and you shouldn’t worry because chronic eye discharge or crusty mucus is a sign of an eye infection or infection of the sinuses.
These black eye boogers are not just observed on cats but also for other animals like dogs, rabbits, goats etc.
Conjunctivitis affects certain parts of the eye and its main causes include allergies, infections or inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses etc.
This illness creates a sticky discharge in your eyes which generally causes redness in them.
However, this is not harmful to you or your cat since they will simply pass or shed them after some time.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Spicy Chips?
Conclusion
The drying of mucus causes them to harden and stick to the surface of the eye hence forming black eye boogers.
This is due to inflammation of the eyes caused by bacterial infections, viral infections and allergies.
It is also possible for the mucus to get stuck in the eye mucus canal which leads them to pile up or form clumps.
Simply removing the black mucous from your cat’s nose and wiping them clean may solve the problem in some cases.
When it comes to black mucus around the eye of your pet cat, however, you should seek medical attention because this could be a sign of serious infections or medical disorders.
It will go gone on its on after awhile in most cases.