My cat is limping and has a lump on its front leg. What should I do?

If you cat goes outdoors, this is very likely the result of a cat bite. It is amazing how small a cat bite wound can be, but under the skin, infection is building up. Have Coco evaluated tomorrow by your vet because if this is a bite wound, the sooner antibiotics are started, the sooner she will start feeling better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I would suggest that you have Boo seen by your vet. The lump under his leg could be an enlarged lymph node and could be related to his limping, he may have an infection that needs medications. Shivering can be a sign of pain or fever. I would suggest having him assessed.

Hello. Without any additional information, it is impossible to make a diagnosis, but is it possible that Dexter may have gotten into a fight with another cat & was bitten? Abscesses on the leg are very common & will often blow up like this before rupturing. If you can have Dexter seen by your veterinarian, they can determine if this is an abscess & will put him on antibiotics. Until you can have him see, you can apply warm compresses to the swelling to help with the healing. 5-10 minutes a couple of times a day is sufficient. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. A couple things could be going on with Sam. He could have a soft tissue injury, a fracture, or he could have an abscess in his leg or foot that has not come to the surface yet. If you’re able to take him to the vet on emergency today it would just help him feel more comfortable more quickly but if that is something that is difficult to do you should be OK to wait until tomorrow because he’s acting normally otherwise. I hope that helps and that Sam feels better soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Snow. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. The veterinarian will examine him to determine why his behavior has changed. To evaluate the mass, a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. An infection under the skin known as an abscess can be painful. Skin cancer is possible or the mass could be benign. Based on these results, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

Hello. Kipsico was bitten probably by another cat, developed an abscess & it has now blown open. If she will let you clean this with warm water & a skin antiseptic like Hibiclens ( available at any pharmacy ), she will be fine until you can have her seen by your vet tomorrow. She will need antibiotics & possibly need to wear a cone to keep her from licking the area, but these things usually heal quite nicely. Make sure you keep her up to date on all her vaccinations, especially leukemia, as this virus is spread through cat bites. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections of the joint, benign or more sinister type of tumors. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.