My cat has a hard, crusty lump on its back. What could it be?

Hi and thank you so much for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what it may be sight unseen (can't get a good look or feel from the picture), I can certainly offer a few possibilities. It may be just a scab from playing rough or bumping into something. It also could be a small abscess from one of her vaccines she received previously-that sometimes can happen and is quite common. Another possibility would be a bite wound from another cat or a fungal or bacterial infection. If the lesion feels like little millet seeds, it could be a flea allergy (especially if she is not receiving a month to month flea preventative). If it gets worse or does not improve in a few days, I would bring her into her primary care veterinarian an exam and diagnostic testing. Best wishes to you and Biscuit!

If you were able to post a picture of this skin abnormality it would be very helpful. But based on what you are describing it sounds like either a large scab or eschar that has formed covering up a wound of some sort. Watch your cat closely to see if she is licking the area excessively. You may need to find someone to help hold her so you could more closely examine the skin. You may also want to try putting some Neosporin on it to see if that helps it heal. Without knowing what exactly it looks like it is hard to say what exactly it could be. My best guess is that she has some type of infection that is making her skin abnormal and is making her painful and uncomfortable. If you are unable to look at it yourself I would recommend taking her into a veterinarian where she can be fully examined. If the infection is severe she may need a systemic antibiotics to help clear it up. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's usually nearly impossible to tell 100% what is going on with just a picture. However, that looks like it could be a couple things on Kala's back. It could be a skin infection of infected cyst. It could also be related to a parasite below the skin called a cuterebra. Finally, it could also be a skin tumor. It would be best for you to take Kala to your veterinarian to have the area examined. Your veterinarian will be able to take samples and decide on a treatment. Good luck to you and Kala!

From the picture it looks like it may be a scab. I would watch for the next few days and see if it goes away. If it is not resolving then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Your cats could have miliary dermatitis from allergies, bacterial infection, intestinal parasites, or mites. You could bathe them with a medicated shampoo but they may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, or corticosteroid depending on the cause. Have your vet take a look at your cats, if the condition persists, to diagnose and treat. a fattyacid supplement may help, as well.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The scab can be a mass, matted fur, infection, or chronic wound. It is difficult to say exactly what it may be without a photo. If Twilight allows, you can use an electric clipper to remove the fur around the area to keep it clean and get a better look. If you think that the area is increasing in size, starts bleeding, or is causing discomfort, I recommend having Twilight seen by a vet. I hope this helps and that all is well!

It is hard to say what it is without feeling it but it may be an adenoma which is a non cancerous wart type skin growth or it may be an infection in a hair follicle. Keep it clean and try to see if he scratches it all. If it seems to get larger or bother him then I would get him checked by a vet