Why is my cat sick after returning home with a lump on its side?

It could be that Trouble has an abscess from scratching his neck causing the lump. Abscesses are pockets of infection which should be treated with antibiotics, so it is possible that the vet did the right thing if they suspected an abscess. It's good that Trouble is acting normally, and I wouldn't worry just yet. Keep an eye on the lump and if it doesn't go down, then I would have him seen by a vet again.

It's likely that this lump is an abscess from a fight he had outside with another cat, you will need to take him to the vet in order to get it checked and treated, if it is an abscess it will need to be lanced and clean under sedation, he will also have an antibiotic injection to treat the infection.

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.

I can understand being worried about TJ! I can see the lump from the picture you provided, and I have a few ideas as to what it may be. I see that he's not neutered, and intact males will frequently fight with other males for territory and females. If he's allowed outside, he could have gotten into a fight with another male, and developed an abscess from a cat bite. A cat's mouth has a lot of nasty bacteria in it, and abscesses are a common sequela to a cat bite. Abscesses are painful, so that may be why he's having trouble jumping on the bed. He could also have a cyst. Given that this lump is getting larger and he's having trouble getting onto your bed, I feel a vet visit in the morning is in order. The vet can diagnose what is causing the lump and how best to treat it. If he does have an abscess, it will need to be drained and flushed, and he will need antibiotics to treat the infection. I hope this helps!

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.

I am concerned that Trixie is sleeping more than usual, and it could be that the lump has made her ill. If she has a scab over this lump, I would be wondering if she had an abscess. An abscess is a localized pocket of infection, and it can make her systemically ill. I do think it's important that she sees a vet, and I would take her into one this weekend. I hope this helps.

Hello. I would have this looked at by your vet tomorrow. The most common thing we see in cats are bite abscesses & it is really amazing how hard it is to sometimes find a bite wound. A cat's bite can leave a tiny needle like puncture & an abscess can begin to develop within hours. It can be very painful & make Buddy feel sick. Your vet can quickly determine if this is the cause of his lump, lance & treat it & Buddy will be feeling better very soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.