My cat has a fatty lump that's grown bigger and firmer. Is it cancer?

If it seems to be getting bigger and causing a protrusion than he should be reexamined by your vet to determine the cause. At this point, it may be best to remove it, especially since the area is enlarging.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Monkey. First off, love her name! Fatty lumps can grow to be quite big over time, but it is worth getting checked out. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give her vet a call to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

Yes, it is best to be safer rather than sorry and have the lump checked over as soon as possible. It could be a cancerous lump that requires urgent treatment. Your vet can start sampling it with a needle and putting the content on a slide and take it from there.

It could be a lipoma, but unfortunately in a senior cat like Leia it could also be a malignant tumor. Other possibilities include a cyst, abscess, or benign tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would have Leia seen by a vet tomorrow to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed.

Measure the lump that is growing and then observie it . Measure it again 2 weeks later. Note how much it has grown. If it appears that it has grown more than an eighth of an inch in diameter you need to take your cat back to the vet. He will likely want to do a fine needle aspirate to check under the microscope. He can then tell you whether it is advisable to remove the lump.

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 day!

I'm sorry to hear your kitty has a lump. Unfortunately, tumors cannot be differentiated from fat by just touching them. They need to be sampled and looked at under a microscope. I would highly encourage you to have this lump checked by your veterinarian at your pet's next visit to make sure it isn't something more serious.