Suspicious lump? Need some input stat.

A firm pea-sized lump popped up literally overnight (between Saturday and Sunday) on one of my FeLV+ kitties, on his right side behind the front leg, almost right in the crook between the thigh and ribs.  The lump is movable, definitely not attached to muscle or bone.  Today the lump seems to have shrunk, and flattened out a wee bit.  It was impossible to miss yesterday, today I have to put some effort into finding it.  

Do we need to see the vet or does it sound like the mysterious lump is going away on its own?  I hate to pose a "to vet or not to vet" question, but my sick little dears are racking up the vet bills, tomorrow two of them are off to the vet again, and we're all going to end up living in a cardboard box before long if I run to the vet for every non-emergency.  

Can anyone give an opinion on what they think the lump is based on its behavior?  Many, many bushels of gratitude to anyone who can help us out   

is it solid or fluid-filled?

detmut said:

 
is it solid or fluid-filled?

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You mean is it squishy or firm?  I would say it's more on the firm side, but not rock solid.  It was the size of a pea yesterday and is more like a small pea today.  Seems a bit flatter, too.  Less round.  That's about all I know.

I've always heard that hard immovable lumps are suspicious, but movable lumps that are not hard are benign. If it appears to be getting smaller, observe it for a while, it may be a cyst or a lymph node. Call your vet and describe it, they most likely can help you over the phone. Or ask when you are at the vets tomorrow. Where it is located sounds like a lymph node to me, but I'm not a vet. All the luck, and bless you for taking care of these sweet babies, you are an angel here on earth!

so, you can't see it or take a pic? i was wondering if it was red. is your cat scratching that area?

Di and Bob said:

 
I've always heard that hard immovable lumps are suspicious, but movable lumps that are not hard are benign. If it appears to be getting smaller, observe it for a while, it may be a cyst or a lymph node. Call your vet and describe it, they most likely can help you over the phone. Or ask when you are at the vets tomorrow. Where it is located sounds like a lymph node to me, but I'm not a vet. All the luck, and bless you for taking care of these sweet babies, you are an angel here on earth!

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I've also heard that movable lumps are usually benign, sometimes injury related (the boys can get really rough with each other, so that's a real possibility) or maybe even keratin deposits.  Tavi has hyperkeratosis, so that seems like a distinct possibility.  

An enlarged lymph node also sounds totally possible (I get them, myself, time to time, due to autoimmune disease and can certainly relate!).  I suppose if it is a swollen node and keeps deflating, that would be a good sign and not a cause for concern.  

I'll definitely address it with the vet tomorrow (one more question to add to the 500 or so I've already got  ).  In the meantime, just keeping my fingers crossed that it continues to shrink.  

detmut said:

 
so, you can't see it or take a pic? i was wondering if it was red. is your cat scratching that area?

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His fur is really thick there, but when I part it all I see is skin.  It looks like a pimple under the skin, no redness or anything.  No scratching, it doesn't seem to bother him at all.  He's super healthy otherwise, one of my "healthy" felv kitties that so far has only had skin-related issues.  (Hyperkeratosis.)   

I would personally hold off on the vet unless it is really bothering him or it increases in size. Sounds like a lipoma.