My cat has a lump on his belly. Is it serious? What should I do?

First check if that is a teat. Look closely on the other side of the belly for a matching structure in roughly the same area. If it does not appear to be a teat, I recommend to have Reggie examined by the veterinarian. Cats don't get skin masses as frequently as dogs. You can't tell however what a mass is by looks alone and it's best to play it safe. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tummy! Possible causes for a lump are: an abscess, a skin mass, or an internal mass in his belly. If Tummy has lost weight or is having any other change either behaviorally or appetite wise I recommend having him evaluated by your Vet. If the mass and in the skin (not the belly), is soft it is likely an abscess or a cyst. Sine this is a new finding I recommend having him seen by your Vet to be safe. I hope this helps and feel free to post a picture if you think that would help us better. Have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is likely from her mammary gland. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Dahlia evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

It may just be a sebaceous cyst (a collection of oily debts under the skin) or a small area of inflammation from another cause. If its not painful and he isn't licking at it, I recommend that you make point once a week to measure it at home. If its changing in size over a couple of months or if it becomes bothersome, have it checked out at your vet. If your cat is too upset for a thorough exam, a little sedation may be recommended by your vet so that he/she can see what it is that you're seeing and make the appropriate recommendations. Thank for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This lump on Barney could be a benign growth, a cyst, or even a malignant growth. He is a senior cat, so there is a chance it could be cancerous. 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 his vet a call to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

I would recommend having this evaluated fairly soon. It could be a swollen lymph node or abscess or tumor of some sort. The vet can do a needle aspirate of the lump to look at cells and determine what it may be or if it's of concern. Because some tumors can grow quickly it's always better to have lumps evaluated fairly quickly to make sure it's not malignant.

Hi, and thanks for your question. Although a picture of the lump would help to give you more specific answers, this growth should be ideally examined by your veterinarian to have a definitive diagnosis. Your vet will examine it and possibly perform with an FNA (fine needle aspiration) or a biopsy. Differentials would include skin cyst, infections or benign or malignant type of tumors. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!