Cat people, my cat has a lump...

[miss_thenorth]

And it's getting bigger. I noticed it yesterday, or rather my dd did, and it was about egg shaped. when he came in the house tonight, we checked and it is now about the size of a small baseball. I tried to palpate it, but it is obviously causing him pain. He is walking with his back legs spread, has a difficlt time jumping off the couch, and bit my dd (not hard, but a wrning that he ws in pain) when she tried to test to see it if was hard or squishy. so, as of right now, it appears hard, but can't give any more description than this. It is not an abscess, as i have had plenty experience with these.

It is located under his body, where his flappy "paunch" is located, between his back legs and below his ribs.

Any ideas as to what it might be? Is this an emergency, as in go to the vet first thing tomorrow morning? Any home remedies, if you might have an idea what it might be? I have looked, but have found nothing online.

 

[freemotion]

It sure sounds like an abcess. It could feel hard if it is very full and the skin is taut. If it went from egg size to baseball size in one day, yes, get him to the vet asap in the morning. Bring him right in when they open, appointment or not. I did this with my dog recently when he had an abcess that was expanding faster than they could get him in....so I just showed up and picked him up and showed it to the desk lady....she said, "Oh, my!" and ran from her desk to get someone....the vet said he was surprised it didn't explode and make a huge mess in the car on the way over! Ick!

Yep, I vote for getting him to the vet in the AM. It is better that it get lanced and drained properly. Nature doesn't always take its course in a neat, predictable, controlled way.

 

[miss_thenorth]

We are treating my one barn cat for an abscess right now- that one has drained all on its own.

I have never dealt with an abscess on the underside--always on the back or neck,, so maybe it is.

I forgot to mention tha it is not attached to anything, so upon scrutiny of the situation, it makes more sense that it is an abscess, not to mention that i can't find anything online that it could possibly be. doesn't fit the description of cancer or anything else.

Ahh, i guess blueberry and raspberry picking will have to wait tomorrow morning.

 

[dragonlaurel]

Good luck with the kitty. The belly is a rough place to have one, so the vet helping will be a relief once it's done. He wont be in the worlds best mood about it but it will heal faster. Hell be able to lay more comfortably too.

 

[SKR8PN]

Good luck at the Vets! Keep us updated on what they find.

 

[freemotion]

If it is any consolation, I just made an appointment for my dog....I think he finally blew out his knee....that one is gonna be EXPENSIVE! (There go my website plans...... :/ )

 

[miss_thenorth]

I totally forgot to update this. It was indeed an abscess, and it ruptured that night. by the time I checked him in the morning, it was visibly reduced in size and the cat did not seem in any more discomfort. We kept the open sore clean and disinfected (peroxide and betadine) and within three days it was completely gone and healed over.

I didn't take him to the vet, since it had already drained on its own. Here it is a week later and you would never know he had a huge lump under him.

 

[abifae]

oh phew!!!

it's so worrisome when they hurt