Random Mouth Wound

I noticed today that my boy, Simon, had an unusual looking irritation on his chin. I'm almost certain yesterday it wasn't there. He's behaving as normal and eating as normal, I checked his teeth and gums and mouth which look normal, his skin and hair looks normal, and he uses the bathroom as usual. I haven't changed his food for months, the only change is a new cat bed that he lays in, and having been neutered over 3 weeks ago. He doesn't seem to be in pain, and it looks like he may have bit himself, but that probably wouldn't cause the redness. I'm not sure!  He's had a long month, and hopefully doesn't need more medicine and doctors  

Hello!  I'm can see that Simon may have an inflamed lower lip and I wonder whether it is the light in the picture, or whether he also has a possible bald spot on the side of his nose? I know that you like to think that he doesn't need any more medical care, but it's worth mentioning that this may not be 'normal.' I also wonder at your use of the word 'more' medicine, as though Simon has already needed medical care several times recently for something else?

I wonder whether Simon may have what is known as a 'rodent ulcer'.  Despite the name, they are often associated with allergy and can be exacerbated by certain materials of food bowls, for example.   If so, that would would be a chronic, or ongoing, condition and it would make sense to find the best way to manage it in the early stages.   It can also be associated with certain underlying viral diseases.   Therefore, it is probably worth getting this checked.   Meanwhile, changing the material of the food bowl may prove helpful.

On the lower lip on the right hand side, in these pictures there appears to be a black mark.  Is this pigment, scab or a wound from the opposite tooth or something else?   It is hard to see from this angle but again, a quick check would be a good idea.

Some cats have a fang (canine tooth) that constantly penetrates the opposite lip, resulting in a permanent wound.  There would be no evolutionary advantage for a cat to show exaggerated pain signals as a result of this, so in cases where it occurs, owners often presume that the cat isn't in pain.  However, one only has to imagine a tooth constantly penetrating your own lip to realise that such mouth conformations are painful and that, if this was the case, treatment would be necessary!

Please do let us know what happens with Simon and wishing him the best of luck.