My cat has a black spot that might be growing. Should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

I would get this checked out by a vet. I worry about these dark-colored masses being melanoma, which can be a serious cancer if not controlled soon enough. It's also possible that this is a benign skin tumor or cyst, but there's no way to tell for sure from looking at it. A sample will need to be analyzed under a microscope in order to tell what type of mass it is. I hope that helps and all is well with the cat.

Ouch! That definitely should be seen by your vet. They will need to take a sample, generally a fine-needle aspirate, to help determine what the growth is and if it needs to be removed, drained, or treated. If your kitty doesn't like going to the vet, you can call ahead to see if they can prescribe a sedative to give at home before bringing her in which can help make things less stressful (and easier for your vet to get a sample of the growth). Some veterinarians also provide home services, so if you feel kitty would be calmer at home, a housecall vet may be a good alternative.

Thank you for providing a picture of the bump on your cat, it's very helpful! It could simply be a benign growth, as it looks like it could be one in your picture, but unfortunately I cannot make the determination for sure without seeing him in person and doing tests on it. It is a bit concerning that it has grown up to 4x in size and is bleeding. It could be bleeding because he is scratching at it, but again I don't know unless I see him in person. Due to the fact it has grown in size and is bleeding for some reason, then yes I do think this is concerning enough to see the vet. It would be good to get the exact diagnosis of the bump; in addition, your cat is 10, which means he's a senior cat, and there is always a risk that any bump in a senior cat could be malignant. I'd give your vet a call to make an appointment. I hope this helps!

It could be a normal color of her fur, but it could signal another problem. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. I'd have her checked out by a vet for this problem. I hope this helps, Lola!

From the pictures, it looks as though what you are seeing may be from trauma. Cat scratches to the face commonly occur on cats that are outdoor cats. Many times the hair will not grow back and the cat will be left with a small scar. If canto is indoor only and the nodule is raised, I would say get a vet to examine him to see for sure what it may be. It could be from a bug bite or a skin tumor of some type. If you cannot get to your vet right away, I would say just monitor for now and if it worsens get him seen sooner. It does not look infected or swollen from the picture. I would monitor for signs of infection which may include swelling, redness, painful to the touch, discharge, etc. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

It's hard to tell the size but it looks like it may be a benign wart or growth. It appears to be more on the surface of the skin which is good, and it is well defined. Cats do get malignant skin growths so it is a good idea to have your veterinarian examine it and feel underneath also. They can easily remove this if necessary and do a biopsy. I'm not overly concerned looking at the photo but it's best to be sure. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Louis.