Worried about cat

Hi all, new poster, but been scouring for awhile now. 

Background info: Got a little rescue cat, named Zedd, a year ago, when he was 6 mo. DSH, but he's a big guy at 12 lbs. Fast forward to the end of February and one night he is laying on my head and I look up and notice a third eyelid popping out. All white, no irritation and a little discharge, but he has always had eye boogies. It is about time for his shots and annual check up so we decide to take him in. I have a pretty intense college schedule so I had my boyfriend take him, who is fairly familiar with Zedd and his behaviors and was texting me updates the whole time. Vet stuck a piece of paper in his eye area apparently, saw no scratches or indications of major eye trauma, so determined it was conjunctivitis. We  are supposed to give him drops two times a day in the affected eye (I gave it to him in both because his other eye started having the eyelid show too.) Fast forward to about 6 days of giving him drops and it is getting a little better, but still noticeable. The eyelid is still white. I call the vet and they are like "Well it will be okay these things take time, could be permanent, just keep doing it, etc etc..." but that night I was petting him and felt a lump on his left side, right behind his ribs, toward his sping. My heart immediately dropped but it was late at night and he was sitting a little funny so I tried to ease my worries. The next few days I noticed it more and more.

Fast forward to today, eyelids still not disappearing and I definitely am freaking out about the lump. I took him to the vet and they gave him a little shave and found no abrasions on the skin or signs of bite marks or scratches. No puss either. Zedd has been licking the spot where the lump is located.  Vet takes his temp, 104, and asks usual questions. Explains that he doesn't think it is cancer because that is not a cancerous location and he is a young cat (not even 2 yet) and it is probably an abscess. Given antibiotics to take twice a day by mouth and told to monitor it and if it doesn't go down they might have to "lance it." However, the vet said multiple times he really is unsure of what it could be.

Sorry for the giant story. But question for you all, have you ever experienced this? Should I schedule a visit with another vet in a bigger city to get a second opinion? The lump is fairly tough, and about the size of a half dollar, almost like knots one gets in their back muscles. I really would appreciate any feedback! I'm freaking out a little because he is my first and I don't know what to do!

Thanks!


(Here's Zedd one of the first couple nights I had him home!)

I have never had any experience with either of these issues, but my gut feeling is to take him to another Vet. Is there a Vet school near you? I do not kitties having lumps...

Is Zedd eating, drinking and grooming normally..

Oh yeah, you said he was grooming that spot more..  did that start after they shaved the area? Size of a half dollar is pretty large for a cat, at least in my opinion..

Let's see what more experienced car gardens say...

There is a large veterinary program at my school, however, I don't know about the resources they have or if it would be possible for them to take him on. 

He seems to be eating and drinking normally, albeit at strange hours. Maybe a little less food than usual but he does come running when he hears food hit the bowl. 

He was licking the spot a little bit prior, but not like non stop. He just got shaved but I have not noticed. 

Thank you for your reply! 

You are quite welcome!

I know it is scary when we try to do our best for our kitties, and we do not get the results and answers we need.

We do love them! 

Would the Veterinary Program have a clinic you could take him to? May be a discounted rate because you are a student there?

Or would you rather see a Real Vet~~~ not a student....

I would still go for a second opinion...

Also, can you post a picture of the lump and or the third eyelid showing?  It may help others helping you....

Having just got a second opinion on my geriatric cat that relieved my fears, I definitely recommend getting a second opinion. I went from thinking I'd have to put my cat down to feeling like he's got many more years of quality life left in him. If you feel your vet hasn't given your cat the proper care, you could be right. If your kitty is eating and using the bathroom like usual, it's probably not a major emergency so you have some time to shop around. Do try your local vet college - they probably offer great service at a reasonable price.

Hi all, thank you again for your replies. I've included some pictures below. The mass does not appear to be bulging out of the skin, so it is slightly hard to show. 

He is on antibiotics and that seems to be helping the eye much more. Coincidentally, the left eye was the eye primarily affected and the mass is on the left side. 

He is still acting very normal (came running up chirping at me when I came in the door, running to lead me to get him food. He's eating and drinking well and even standing on his hind legs to try and reach for treats!) I hope this is not life threatening and we will have many happy days to come. Thank you all for your continued support! We have a vet appointment in St. Louis on Friday! 


Looking much better. Sorry for the semi unclear picture. 


Close up of the (now shaved) area with the mass. Isn't noticeably bulging, but you can definitely feel it.


The location of the mass, in case that assists. 

Update on zedd:

Day two of antibiotics and he still is eating well and acting sweet. He is licking the shaved area more now. He seems to have perked up but I'm not for sure. I also think the lump might be getting smaller but it could just be my hopeful imagination.

I also have a appoitment booked with one of the tops vets in my home town. Appreciate any feedback or people with similar experiences. Please keep your fingers crossed!

I don't have anything to add by way of personal experience, but I wanted to offer support and wish you luck at the appointment for the second opinion. I think that's a wise idea. 

The good thing is that he is eating and behaving normally, so that's encouraging! He is so adorable!   My kitty has shaved spots right now too - they look so funny! 

Keep us posted!

Hi all. The new vet was much more informed and took some samples. Originally he thought it might just be scar tissue but the aspiration came back abnormal. It could just be a fatty tumor but he couldn't rule out cancerous. He is sending off more aspiration samples to the lab and will let me know in 3-5 days. Keep your fingers crossed!

oh, I am so sad to hear that the aspiration fluid came back abnormal, but I am so glad that you did go for a second opinion. I feel so much better now that your kitty is in the hands of a good Vetrinarian..

Keeping my finger crossed. Artie is crossing his paws also...

I, too, am very glad that you got another opinion. Sometimes, our gut instincts are right! We're thinking of you and wishing the very best!

Last update

The vet called today and had great news. The pathologist said that the levels appeared to be merely inflammation caused from vaccination.

Of course we should still watch the lump because rare cancer could develop but I think that is a good sign.

whew! That does sound like good news!!

  Kudos for your determination in getting some real answers!!!  You are a wonderful cat guardian and I admire your observational skills   Zedd is very blessed to be in your family.

Happy Dance!!!  

Hooray!! 

So glad you followed up on this....

Keep on with the new Vet.. He seems on top of things.. Plus he knows Zedd now!!     

Glad the tests showed nothing serious. The whole time reading about the lump, I was thinking of the fine print of vaccination side effects on the back of a vaccination certificate we received last year. I was shocked to find cancerous tumors on the list. Vets need to be more diligent in letting us know of potential side effects so we know what to look out for.

By no means a cat expert here, but I've lived with cats for 40+ years...

I have one cat who had a lipoma (= fatty tumor). It was located in an area that would be equivalent to a human "arm pit." It seemed to pop up overnight and really freaked me out! I ran the cat to the vet as soon as I noticed it, but he said it was not a big deal. After a few months the lump grew to be about the size of a golf ball, but my cat is a rather big guy (19 lbs.). We eventually decided to have the lipoma removed during one of his dental cleanings. That was about 3 years ago. So far, so good. But yes, in my experience, lipomas can grow quickly and become quite large.

The eyelid thing... That's another story. Could be related but maybe not. I had another cat (20 years ago or so) who started acting really lethargic and had a decreased appetite,  and her third eyelids were showing but there was no drainage or eye infection. They tested her for everything from parasites to viruses to bacterial infections. All tests were normal. The vets (I saw more than one) told me that when a cat feels sick in general, their third eyelids become more visible. There was one night I really thought I was going to lose her and there seemed to be nothing I could do. We gave her antibiotics and anti-parasitic meds even though the tests showed nothing. Eventually she regained her health and lived to be nearly 21 years old. That spell of sickness will forever be a mystery to me!

You sound like a good cat mom. Hope your baby gets better ASAP!

(Edited typo)

A lump on a young cat is suspect for an abscess first, the result after a wound, puncture, or other infiltration under the skin has deposited bacteria and then sealed itself closed.

Inflamed nictitating membranes of the eyes and a fever are classic response to the infection. I look a cat over thoroughly for wounds or raised areas indicative of an abscess with these 2 classic symptoms.

A cat's body is different from many other mammals, as they wall off such an infection, and the best treatment is usually expelling the discharge and purulent material within, the ideal closed off environment for bacteria. As the blood stream doesn't feed through an abscess, antibiotics cannot reach it. They help limit a systemic infection to the body though. At a minimum, to confirm abscess, a large needle could've been used to puncture the mass and aspirate a small amount of material first. Abscess can form secondary to a vaccine also.

Next highlight: The standards for feline vaccinating include anatomy, and recommended sites for vaccination. Distal limbs should be used, under the skin at lower shoulder or elbow of forelimbs, and above/at knee level of hindlimbs, not the thoracic/abdominal anatomy. We know inflammation is a possible side effect, and an adverse reaction is vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma, so the American Association of Feline Practicioners and the Animal Hospital Association of America established vaccine protocols keeping this in mind.

For example, ask your vet to consistently administer his rabies vaccine under the skin of his right hindlimb, his FVRCP under the skin of the right forelimb, and, if warranted for his lifestyle/exposure, the FeLV vaccine under the skin of his left hindlimb.

Non-adjuvanted vaccines are used in the AAFP and AHAA protocols, just in case they do contribute to excess inflammation and irritation during the immune response; it's controversial if the added effort of giving adjuvant-free vaccines helps prevent the reaction, but better safe than sorry. Purevax canarypox Rabies vaccine is more costly, but it is the safest rabies vaccine, with no association with inflammatory reactions. Fort Dodge rabies vaccines have the highest incidence of reactions. It's also the least expensive, thus the most popular among shelters and smaller vet practice with low budget.

Fever and lethargy are normal after any vaccine, but short term only (first 8 hours post vaccine). A general reaction of vomiting, facial swelling, hives, edema, or prolonged lethargy should be treated and then prevented with antihistamine premed for all vaccines. A local reaction such as Jojo's, localized inflammation, swelling, then abscess, is less concerning, but should be treated as soon as noticed, and then also prevented with antihistamine before future vaccination.

I just want to throw this out there about Herpes affecting the eyes.  Do a search on this site about Lysine. I also have had long-lasting problems with a rescue (and he looks very much like your Zebb) that had ongoing Stomatitis, Upper Respiratory problems (TWO antibiotics) and 2 different kinds of internal parasites (Round and Tape).  The parasites were easily dispatched.  The other 2 things we have been medicating him for over a year with antibiotics and steroid injections. Both the URI and stomatitis seem to keep coming back.  This last trip he got antibiotic (oral) and steroid injection.  It took over 2 months for the symptoms to go away after his injection and the end of the oral antibiotic.  NOW, I am giving him Lysine, PlacqueOff and 1/4 teas. of coconut oil daily.  That, too, seems to be continuing to help him.  So researching the Lysine and the PlacqueOff and coconut oil, they are safe and I'm going to continue with them. For 3 weeks now, no throw ups!  No sniffling and snuffyness in his nose and no watery eyes. His coat is shiny and beautiful and he eats some dry and some wet food.  Keeping my fingers crossed, but I wanted to mention the Lysine and maybe Zebb has Herpes????  Feedback from other more informed readers??

Good news on your kitty. We just had to put down one of our beloved furry friend due to cancer and feline AIDS. I remember very clearly hoping that what we were seeing in our Tranquilo was nothing serious only to find out that it was very serious.  While our ending wasn't so happy I am thankful that yours is.