How to Feel For a Lump

Hi everyone, I just had my cat vaccinated last Tuesday. Last time she was vaccinated (which was when she was adopted) she had a small lump that took about a month to go away. So my vet and I had a discussion, and decided to give her the rabies (it's the law here) and the feline distemper combo shot. Both have no adjuvant added, and we were careful to note which parts of her body they were given to. So now the waiting game... I've been feeling the two spots and it's a little more difficult than I thought. There's just so many lumpy things in a cat body that I think I'm feeling something and then I realize it's tissue, or a tendon, or fat. Maybe. Ugh... I remember what the lump felt like before (hard, rubbery), and I haven't felt that. Do all lumps feel the same? Has anyone felt squishy ones? Are they all pretty firm?

Bummer... Okay, so I felt the area of the rabies shot again, and it seems that there's a quarter-sized area that's swollen. It feels very squishy like it's fluid maybe? I'm hoping this is just some inflammation that will go away in a week or so. I guess I'll keep an eye (and finger) on it and if it gets bigger or doesn't go away/get smaller I'll take her back to the vet for him to feel.

I wish she had problems with the shot that WASN'T required by law.

Swollen and soft could be normal, give it a few days, A cyst is usually fluid filled,soft and movable, and usually benign. Hard, non movable lumps are what you have to be worried about and you should call your vet. I would call any way and ask if it is normal since you have had trouble. All the luck, and keep us posted!

Thanks for responding! I kinda had the same idea, so good! Today it actually already feels smaller, not as fluidy (if that makes sense?). I'm really hoping that this just goes away but I do want the vet to document it so that we can take it into consideration for next year's rabies shot.

UPDATE: The lump that I had felt on Belle became smaller and smaller and is now completely gone! It was most likely an inflammatory reaction like last year's vaccinations, but nowhere near as long-lasting as before. I'm gonna keep an eye on her and feel around for anything unusual for the next few weeks just in case, but I am celebrating! Yay!!

That's good news.  Good idea to call the vet and let them know about it.

Oh yes, will do! We've been working closely together on this "issue".