My indoor cat has a strange fleshy growth. Is it a skin tag or tick?

Hi Lianne! From the picture, it appears to be a growth of some sorts, but because I can't see Elizabeth in person, I honestly can't say for certain. What concerns me is that you say it has gotten bigger since you first noticed it, and also her age. She is over 10 years old, and if it is a growth, at her age, there is always a chance that any growth could be malignant. In this case, I think it's very important that she gets this checked out by a vet. I'd take her into a vet first thing in the morning. I hope this helps!

This does look very dark, and I agree that in your picture it doesn't look like a tick. I'd recommend having your vet take a look in person to make sure the nipple has not become infected or that this isn't something like a skin tumor.

This actually does not look like a tick. This could be a little cyst or wart. Check it at the bottom closest to the skin. If it has tiny legs, it is a tick, and you should pull it out; if not, then it is a growth and you may want your vet to examine it.

I am not exactly sure what that is but it doesn't look normal so he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. The vet can sedate the cat and remove the lesion, if needed. A tick should fall off after it is full from a blood meal so, most likely, it is not a tick since it has been there for a long time. Call you vet and schedule an appointment for an examination.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this happens to be in the abdomen, it is possible that this is a nipple. If not, then yes I agree it could be a growth. In that case, I recommend you have Leo evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

This definitely could be a skin tag and nothing to worry about, but since it is new, I would have your vet take a look at it once to ensure it doesn’t need to be removed. There are other types of skin masses that can look similar to skin tags but are actually cancerous so it is always better to just have someone confirm. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the photos you provided, I suspect this is a benign skin mass from its appearance. These generally are find to just keep an eye on but if you would like it gone, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the mass and discuss options for removal. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.