Bump on stomach...

Hi,

My cat has had a small bump on her stomach since I adopted her 2 years ago.  It is about the size of a quarter and located just below her rib cage.  It does not protrude much and feels soft, but "connected" I cannot feel any obvious masses attached to it.  I palpate it regularly and it has not grown in size whatsoever.  There is no discoloration of the skin on top of it.  Handling it does not bother her.  She does not show any symptoms of illness other than the occasional bout of constipation, but I feel that may be diet related.   If you didn't go out of your way to feel for the lump, you wouldn't know it was there.  

Something in the back of my mind is telling me that she has cancer and that is part of the reason it has taken me so long to get her to a vet.  I love her dearly, but her previous owner - my sister - was taken way too young by cancer, and I have tried to tell myself for too long that "it's nothing" and "it'll go away".  It's something, and it's not going away.

I am booking her a vet appointment ASAP, but any ideas on what it could be would be appreciated.  I would get a picture of it, but it would be pointless.

Welcome to The Cat Site. I'm glad you're taking your cat to the vet--always better safe than sorry, and worrying.
This is a really really stupid remark because I'm not that familiar with where the ribcage is in a cat but: maybe it's a nipple? Ritz is spayed, never pregnant, and I can still feel her nipples sometimes (she likes belly rubs).
And I know a lot of bumps are just bumps, nothing to worry about.
Meanwhile: vibes and prayers. Let us know what the vet says.

It's definitely not a nipple.

Best case scenario it's a cyst - but it doesn't feel "encapsulated"... so I dunno.

The thing which comes to mind for me is an umbilical hernia. They are normally nothing to worry about. I found this article about them:
http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...le/animal-health/hernia-umbilical-in-cats/384
It's probably best to take a trip to the vet anyway just to be on the safe side. Your cat is a very beautiful girl by the way.

KittyWhiskers said:

The thing which comes to mind for me is an umbilical hernia. They are normally nothing to worry about. I found this article about them:
http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...le/animal-health/hernia-umbilical-in-cats/384
It's probably best to take a trip to the vet anyway just to be on the safe side. Your cat is a very beautiful girl by the way.

Click to expand...

I also think it is an umbilical hernia. My cat has one. There is usually nothing to worry about. Best to get Vet to confirm.