My spayed cat is licking a foul-smelling chest lump. Is it a tumor?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This lump could be scar tissue and maybe due to a suture reaction from the stitches. This may also be a hernia but it is hard to tell. If it is firm, it is likely not a hernia and likely to be scar tissue. This is not contagious so I would not be concerned about transmission to your other cat. It would be best if a veterinarian examined this to ensure it is not a hernia. If it is scar tissue, it may reduce over time but could remain there for a long period of time if not forever. 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.

I'm wondering if your cat is spayed or not. If your cat isn't spayed, she could have a mammary tumor. In cats, 90% of these are malignant. She does have to see a vet for this problem, as a malignant tumor could also be causing her to vomit. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

Cats will over-groom and lick the fur off of areas for a variety of reasons, however in my experience in the area you're describing it's usually related to pain. This could be kidney pain (the kidneys are on either side of the spine in the region of the last rib) or it could be back pain. The other possibility is that the lump you're feeling is indeed some type of tumor which is causing her discomfort. Unfortunately it's impossible for me to say, and while it's good that Ella still has an appetite and no weight loss I don't think we can be sure this isn't something serious because of that. I would definitely urge you to get this checked as soon as you possibly can; consider applying for veterinary credit at carecredit.com.

I am sorry to hear about Patches. Unfortunately she has a problem we aren't going to be able to treat at home here. I would be concerned about the possibility of breast cancer given her history (being spayed as an adult, location of the mass). A vet exam is needed to examine the area, determine if it is a breast tumor, prescribe antibiotics if it is infected and discuss surgery. You can read more about this disease at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A

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!

It certainly looks like this surgery site is infected. This could be due to parasites or it could be a bacterial or fungal infection. I recommend you ask your vet to have the mass cultured to determine exactly what is causing the infection. That way he/she can ensure that the correct medication is being used to resolve the infection.

Poor girl. She may have an infection still present, it really is unsure until the vet examines her. There really isn't much you can do besides get her on antibiotics once she see's your vet. You should just offer her some yummy food, preferably canned tuna and white rice or some other canned food to try and entice her to eat tonight and make sure she's comfortable. Hopefully her condition improves soon! Best of luck and take care.