Does my male kitten have a tumor?

melodie

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Hi I have a cat called Toby , i was just wondering if he has a tumor because he is very overweight , he has a rounded appearance! I have been noticing that he is constantly wanting food and this has happend a lot, is this normal because I have another female cat and she is not as greedy... He also wants a lot of attention these days as well... If yes, how much would it cost to have a tumor removed at the vet in the UK? 
 
catpack

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We, unfortunately, cannot diagnose your kitten. However, tumors are uncommon in kittens.

How old is he? Has he been dewormed? When was his last vet check? Is he neutered?

How old is the female kitten? Is she spayed?
 
LTS3

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@Columbine and @MServant may know about vet costs in the UK.

How old is Toby? If he's under a year old, he may have worms or some other internal parasite. A trip to the vet is needed to determine if your cat has worms or something more serious like a tumor.
 
mservant

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I have no idea how much removing a tumour might be, and sure there are so many variables it would be hard to guess even if I had any experience of a cat going through surgery here.

I do agree with others that it is far more likely that there is something else going on, but as the swelling around his belly has come on quite rapidly I think you should contact a vet as soon as you can.  It could be something like worms, but the other thing to think about is if your kitten has been peeing and pooping as well as eating lots.  

Kittens can eat things they shouldn't which can start to obstruct their digestive system, or get constipated for other reasons and this can cause swelling as things back up inside them.  Some kittens can also have difficulty urinating and the bladder can swell up very quickly.  If this type of thing is happening you really do need to see a vet quickly and if it is something like the bladder not emptying they will be able to release this (but then the cause will have to be found and dealt with).  

Depending where you are in the UK, if you don't have any funds and no pet insurance for your kitten it is worth checking out if there is a PDSA vet clinic near you.

Keep us updated on how things go.  
 
stephanietx

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I wouldn't automatically assume he has a tumor.  I'd get him to the vet and see if he has parasites or something like that and then go from there.
 
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melodie

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Well, I just ordered a new cat carrier and Toby is going for a neuter surgery in a few weeks and I am scared because sometimes they die under anaesthetic drugs because he is very overweight and what if the oxygen can't get to the brain or heart? I would hate to lose him [emoji]128546[/emoji][emoji]128546[/emoji]

He is 7 months old and the female cat I have is his mother but she is not spayed.
My cats have never been to the vet to vaccinations, check ups..etc except for Toby which is going to get neutered in a couple of weeks...
 
catpack

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Sounds like it would be a good idea to have both cats examined by a vet. Toby does very likely need to be dewormed (all kittens are born with worms.) He could very well become anemic if left untreated. Best get to any problems addressed prior to surgery.

Have you made plans to have the female spayed?
 
talkingpeanut

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Neutering and spaying are very safe procedures. Your vet will likely do bloodwork first to make sure all is well and that they can wothstand anesthesia. It's a super quick, common procedure - especially males. They'll both be good as new in no time.
 
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melodie

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MServant said:
 
I have no idea how much removing a tumour might be, and sure there are so many variables it would be hard to guess even if I had any experience of a cat going through surgery here.

I do agree with others that it is far more likely that there is something else going on, but as the swelling around his belly has come on quite rapidly I think you should contact a vet as soon as you can.  It could be something like worms, but the other thing to think about is if your kitten has been peeing and pooping as well as eating lots.  

Kittens can eat things they shouldn't which can start to obstruct their digestive system, or get constipated for other reasons and this can cause swelling as things back up inside them.  Some kittens can also have difficulty urinating and the bladder can swell up very quickly.  If this type of thing is happening you really do need to see a vet quickly and if it is something like the bladder not emptying they will be able to release this (but then the cause will have to be found and dealt with).  

Depending where you are in the UK, if you don't have any funds and no pet insurance for your kitten it is worth checking out if there is a PDSA vet clinic near you.

Keep us updated on how things go.  
Click to expand...
  Toby is very greedy, lol, He eats everything he sees once i saw him eat the loom band plastic hook, he managed to chew the end of it, i tried to get it out of his mouth but he quickly swallowed it on purpose, i was very worried but  I soon became aware that he would vomit it up or it will come in his poop.

Another day I also saw him eat plastic left from a caprison straw but i managed to stop him from eating it.
 
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mservant

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Good to hear he is heading to the vet for his 'little op' on Thursday and his health seems to be OK just now.  

I have found a few 'interesting' things in Mouse's litter but thankfully nothing large, or long in nature that might have got stuck.  He did get hold of some Christmas wrapping ribbon once but only in little pieces and gave himself a rather sore belly for an hour or so until he brought it back up.   Cats really are funny the things they will end up eating.  Do be careful as it can cause problems.  
 
inanna

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Just wanted to agree with the others - it sounds like Toby has worms (most likely tape worms). Does he have fleas? Fleas are host to tape worms so if your cat has fleas and grooms himself, it's highly likely he has them. Kittens can also get them from their mother's milk.

As for the expense of removing a tumor - it really varies significantly. It's done through either surgery or chemo or a combination of them both. I assume the cost will vary on how big the tumor is and the location of it. In addition to treating the tumor and / or cancer you also need to factor in medications, steroids, pain relief, etc. Of course the rates will also vary from vet to vet.

Hope that helps.
 
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