Small red growth on cat's gums; can't reach vet & starting to worry

Hi, All - 

Wondering if this is a familiar sight to any of you?  This is a 2.5 year old recovering feral shorthair with a small red growth on his gums, right on top of where his incisors should be visible (but aren't).  Took a LOT of effort to get this pic, and this is the closest look I've been able to get at this growth.  I had initially noticed some redness when he would yawn, starting over the past month, and it was about 5 days ago that I was able to get this pic and send it to his vet.  The vet is unreachable for unknown reasons, and I am starting to become a panicked mommy, not knowing what this might be.  From my online investigations it looks like it could be anything from a benign fibroma to a malignant squamous cell tumor.  It seems to be getting bigger by the day also, but I haven't been able to get a close look again.  I will continue attempting to reach the vet and will seek out a new one if no response by week's end... but in the meantime, if any of you can offer any insights per your own experience, I would be so appreciative!!  

@catwoman707, you were so helpful to me in the past with Jackson's terrible, horrible worm issues (under control now, happily!), so thought I would bend your ear on this issue as well, in case you might have seen this before.  Thank you!  Hope you are well!  

MartyMcJackson said:

 
@catwoman707, you were so helpful to me in the past with Jackson's terrible, horrible worm issues (under control now, happily!), so thought I would bend your ear on this issue as well, in case you might have seen this before.  Thank you!  Hope you are well!  

Click to expand...

Hi there!

So a few things in my opinion.

I know how googling things can be very scary, it seems like all of the dramatic possible diagnosis's they tell about, they also don't explain what the chances are for it being one of these things.

Basically my thoughts are pretty much ruling out the biggies, his age, coloring, and the fact that it is growing fast means highly unlikely it is squamous cell, or even any other kind of tumor/growth.

I would be looking more at whether his herpesvirus diagnosis was based on symptoms or id=f he was actually given the test that determines which specific virus he has.

This can easily be a calicivirus blister/ulcer.

If not that, I would consider it more likely to be a possible dental problem with that tooth that is NOT present.

Hi, one of my cats recently recovered from calicivirus. He developed several ulcers in his gums, tongue and roof of his mouth. The looked very similar to the picture you provide but a bit more on the flat side. I noticed them when he stopped eating. He got an antibiotic shot for secondary infections and the L-Lysine powder. There's no medicine for it. The ulcers disappeared on their own after 5-6 days as the vet had told me but I had to feed my cat the a/d critical care canned food with a syringe several times a day until he could eat by himself.

Oh my... I would have to keep my recovering feral guy VERY drugged in order to hand-feed him.  This may get interesting.  

I did finally get a call back from my vet's assistant.  Vet just went out on maternity leave & they have been short-staffed with coverage, so that explains the missing in action issue.  I have an appt for him for this coming Monday, so we'll see!  I'll post an update after he is seen.  Thanks again for the feedback, @catwoman707  & @jessimar74!

MartyMcJackson, what did it end up being. You never posted an update. My cat has a red bump looks very similar to this.
Thanks,
WatsCats

So sorry I forgot to come back & update!  The vet removed it (just quickly snipped it off with surgical scissors) and sent the tissue sample to Pathology to be evaluated.  The growth was entirely benign.  Vet couldn't be sure what caused it, but we suspect it may have developed subsequent to accidentally getting poked by the stick end of one of his toys.  There hadn't been any visible trauma at the time, but it's the only thing we can think to trace it back to.  In any case... the growth hasn't returned!

Good Afternoon MartyMcJackson, thanks for quick response! So glad your kitty is ok!! My cat has some similar growrh in his mouth. He too has been chewing on hard palstic toys. He has pica and chews dog toys to get his chewing sensations met. Anyway he goes to the vet tomorrow. And I have been aick to stomach with worry! Hope my baby Allie will be ok!!
-Erin

WatsCats said:

Good Afternoon MartyMcJackson, thanks for quick response! So glad your kitty is ok!! My cat has some similar growrh in his mouth. He too has been chewing on hard palstic toys. He has pica and chews dog toys to get his chewing sensations met. Anyway he goes to the vet tomorrow. And I have been aick to stomach with worry! Hope my baby Allie will be ok!!
-Erin

Click to expand...

Hopefully you'll get similar results to MartyMcJackson .   Keep us posted

No sense worrying yourself like that, it being on the surface makes it simple to deal with, even if it did turn out to be squamous cell sarcoma.

Easily removed.

Your cat's teeth look like he is older/average adult?

MartyMcJackson said:

 
@catwoman707, you were so helpful to me in the past with Jackson's terrible, horrible worm issues (under control now, happily!), so thought I would bend your ear on this issue as well, in case you might have seen this before.  Thank you!  Hope you are well!  

Click to expand...

So happy to hear your boy is doing much better and finally rid of the pesky worms!

watscats said:

20160417_102404_Burst03~2.jpg

• watscats
• Apr 17, 2016

Click to expand...

Hi, did your vet ever diagnose what this is?

My cat has the same thing but much smaller. If you poke it, it starts to bleed. It looks closer to the OP's, but even smaller. It must be a common problem in cats..