lump/bumps on cat

[msserena]

My mom always feels my animals pretty thoroughly, the other day she called my attention to a lump she felt, it's behind my cat's left shoulder blade. I felt them & there are two. They aren't the size of golfballs, maybe a ping pong ball? a small cumquat? and there are two side by side.

She went in for a dental 9/1 & then went into the hospital 9/4. I called the hospital (since they are open today) & asked if maybe they gave any kind of shot, because I had a dog when every time she got a vaccine, she developed a lump at the injection site. I will call the dental vet tomorrow & tell them, otherwise I will wait a couple weeks to see if they go away.

I just wondered if anyone knows of maybe that's a place where lumps develop, I mean it could be a fatty tumor or something too. Gosh I can't think about cancer now after losing my 17 yr old girl, I hope not since my new girl is about 3.

Thanks

 

[Kieka]

Does she go outside? Do you have other cats? If there is interaction with other cats it only takes a small nick to get an infection. If she's recently been to the vet not you check regularly my bet is on abscess. It could be shot reaction but if there hasn't been one in the last 3 years I think it's unlikely. Plus, at least around herr, the vets usually are very specific where they put specific shots so reactions can be identified do I don't remember any of the back except saline for hydration. It still needs a vet and treatment to make sure it is properly handled.

I just had the same situation where I found on lump on my boy right after a vet visit. Surgery, antibiotics and a week of time later and he's back to his old routine.

 

[msserena]

hmmm. No she's indoor only & the kitties really don't fight, they chase each other & have fun but they aren't aggressive or try to hurt each other. I don't think it's from another cat.

When she went in for the dental, they did give a shot (to put her out) plus an iv. She was on antibiotics for about a week after. Will an abscess go away on it's own? Or does it have to be drained or something?

 

[Kieka]

Even indoor kitties can get infections and scratches from their siblings. Cat skin closes extremely fast which traps any bacteria causing the infection. My kitties are really good at not scratching me in playing but every now and then accidents happen.

If it is an abscess it should break open and drain on its own in a few days. Look for a wound and apply a warm compress to it to help bring the pus out which can help with the healing. You can clean it once with hydrogen peroxide (more can kill the good cells healing) but I usually use the brown antiseptic iodine. You can do neosporione too but make sure it's just the plain kind without extra pain killers. Biggest thing is keeping it clean and getting the pus out once it opens.

I do strongly urge for a vet check even if it opens up on its own. Abscess can get very nasty quickly if left untreated. I had a cat that got a ton of them and I took him in every time. Sometimes it was just cleaned and antibiotics but sometimes, because of where it was or how big it had gotten, it needed surgery. Links recent abscess needed surgery because it was a bite to his stomach and those can get really bad because the fat putrifies and spreads it more. On his I didn't even see the wounds until her was shaved (it was four punctures from a bite). It was his first and I am hoping last.

If it doesn't change in a few days. Gets significantly larger. Your cathoughts starts showing signs of a fever, reduced appititie, sleeping a lot, please see a vet as it could be something else or a bad abscess.

 

[Kieka]

I hate my auto correct. The last paragraph should be if you cat shows signs of fever or the rest take her in.

 

[Kieka]

I've never heard of a lump from antibiotics or the shot to put her out. If they gave you a take home antibiotic they likely only did the IV line and maybe an injection to put her out. Neither of which would have been where you are saying. Also, the one time one of mine had a reaction to the shot in was within a few days of the shot not a week later.

 

[Geoffrey]

I am a human doctor, not a cat doctor and any advice that I give you about your cat should be checked with your vet.  Abscesses are tender and if the lumps are not tender, then they are unlikely to be abscesses.  Whatever, in my experience (in humans) abscesses may point and rupture on antibiotics but this process is painful and it is often better to hasten the situation by incising under general anaesthetic, just as one would do if the abscess does not point.

The lumps are in an odd position for lymph nodes and they may just be benign lymphomas.(fatty tumours that are benign and do not spread).  Your general vet would know but, in these days of super-specialisation, dental vets may not have looked at your cat, only the teeth.

With regards,

Geoffrey

 

[Kieka]

Cats hide pain really well. Links abscess was, in the words of my vet, huge and she pushed back her entire days schedule to do surgery on him within an hour of him going in. But he didn't react in the least when I touched it prior to taking him to the vet and allowed me to press on it and clean it without complaint. While I am sure it is painful, the lack of a pain reaction doesn't mean it isn't an abscess.

 

[Geoffrey]

Cats hide pain really well. Links abscess was, in the words of my vet, huge and she pushed back her entire days schedule to do surgery on him within an hour of him going in. But he didn't react in the least when I touched it prior to taking him to the vet and allowed me to press on it and clean it without complaint. While I am sure it is painful, the lack of a pain reaction doesn't mean it isn't an abscess.

Interesting.  My cat (see Avatar), Sukie, doesn't let me manipulate any part of her body, except that now and then she lets me stroke her.  Presumably she has a great sense of dignity.  She lacerated her foot when a kitten but I wasn't allowed to touch it.  She needed $A1000 worth of stitches when the vet saw her under anaesthesia!

Regards,

Geoffrey

 

[Kieka]

Link normally hates my touching anything but his head. But he never does more than a light nip if I go past the point he likes. But with this he was fine with my messing with it until it was healed. My other cat loves being pet, as long I am not looking at her. My Mom's loves any type of physical affection including hugs and being held like a baby. It's all within the cats own comfort zone.

I think Link knew I was helping him so he didn't fight me. But I've had him since he was 5 weeks old and any time he's scared he runs right to me.

 

[msserena]

hmmm well thanks for the input. I am going to call the vet tomorrow. My cat lets me touch them so who knows if she's in pain, when she got her paw stung by a bee, she wouldn't let me hold it & she would meow very softly. I really don't think the lumps are hurting her.

I've always understood that when the vets give shots, they give it in back of the shoulder & these are where the lumps are. If you stretch out her arm, it's on the back side, kinda on top/side of where her armpit would be. Not her belly, on top, back/shoulder area. They are not soft, they feel like a ball is inside her, you can't press on them like to squish, but you can put your fingers around one, it's really gross.

My dog got lumps every time I got her vaccinated, they typically went away after a couple of weeks.

Oh & I don't pet my cat hard or thoroughly, I mainly hold them & touch them lightly. My mom is the one who noticed the lumps & she told me about it. Who knows how long they have been there but my mom is pretty sure they weren't there even a couple weeks ago, that's why we're thinking/hoping it's something the vet did. I'll confirm tomorrow.

 

[Kieka]

Good luck. Let us know the outcome, please.

 

[msserena]

I called the vet & they did administer two injections, she explained it as between the shoulder blades, on the top of the back. The lumps are more over to the side under her armpit. I'm been rubbing on her gently & trying to work the bumps out. If they aren't smaller or gone by the end of the week, I will take her in. 

 

[Kieka]

A warm compress might feel good on them regardless of what caused them and help with any swelling.