My new cat hurts when I touch his lower rib cage. Is this serious?

Hello. It is impossible to say exactly what might be going on, but we should rule out the possibility of a bruised rib or small fracture. Your veterinarian may need to clip some hair down to the skin to see what things look like. It is good that everything else is well with her so it does not sound like there is anything serious. But if your vet suggests an x-ray, this might be a good idea. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about Sebastian! If he is a cat that goes outdoors we do always worry about an abscess from a wound brewing if we have an unknown pain. Otherwise, I would monitor him closely for the next few days. Watch his appetite, his energy level, his bowel movements and urination, his ability to move around normally. If any of these alter, I would recommend a vet exam, or if he is still acting painful a vet exam is recommended.

Poor Blue! Symptoms of a broken rib would include fast or labored breathing, and crying or acting painful when her chest is touched. In some cases, you may even be able to feel a fracture by running your fingers over her rib cage. If she was stepped on, she could also have other internal injuries such as damage to her liver, kidneys, or spleen, bruising of the lungs, or internal bleeding. If she is acting painful or lethargic, I would definitely recommend having her examined by a vet as soon as possible - she may need x-rays to help determine the problem and find out what can be done to help her.

It is common in cats to see abscesses due to bites and scratches from other cats. I would bring him in to your veterinarian as they can evaluate it. An antibiotic as well as cleaning and flushing the abscess may be indicated. If it is not an abscess your veterinarian can help to determine what it it by collecting a fine needle aspirate. Certainly an abscess would describe many of the things you are describing.

Hi there. Without being able to see the bump and palpate it, I can't really say if this is normal or not. It may be that you're feeling a normal anatomical structure, but it could also be a growth or tumor, a hernia, or some other problem that needs medical attention. I would recommend taking Bumblebee to the vet for an exam. He/she can palpate the bump to help determine what it might be, and will advise you from there on whether anything needs to be done.

The fact that his nails were frayed and his paws damaged point to a road traffic accident. He was likely hit by a car. The swelling on his rib cage also points to this. Idf he is not moving he is likely in a lot of pain and he may have internal injuries. He needs to be seen by a veterinarian or at a PetER urgently. Even if he only has contusions he will need pain medicine. The vet will want to do radiographs to make sure that there is no internal injury, and no fractures. Cats are pretty resilient, but they will not show the full extent of injury like a dog. Please take George to a vet now.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Squishy. Not sure if he goes outside but if he does I would suspect that he has been in a fight with another cat or wild animal and now has developed an infection/abscess. I would advise taking him to your vet immediately to get him evaluated. Not sure if he has a rabies shot either. Your vet can evaluate him after gathering a history and can advise you on what to do. If it's from a fight or bite wounds, he may have to be sedated to explore the injuries further. Treatment may include antibiotics, pain meds, etc. If a bone injury is suspected, x-rays may be needed. If a fight is suspected a rabies shot or booster may be advised also. Good luck with Squishy.