My cat came home with a spine bump. Should I worry? What to do?

The most common lumps on cats are pockets of infection, or an abscess from a cat fight. An abscess is generally hot to the touch and painful and may cause a fever and lethargy. It also could be a tumor which often are non painful but can be malignant and will grow if not removed. Also some cats get a skin reaction to a vaccination if it’s given in that location and the swelling should improve over a week or so. I recommend a veterinary exam so they can feel the lump, take her temperature and decide if further treatment is needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

If Yellow Cat is allowed outside, this lump could be an abscess. Cats who go outdoors can get into fights with other cats, and bites from other cats frequently lead to abscesses. These are very painful to the cat, and need to be sterilely drained and flushed, and oral antibiotics prescribed to treat the infection. Other causes of the lump include a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. I would have him seen by a vet first thing in the morning to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed. Best of luck.

You didn't include a picture so I cannot say for sure but the most common cause of leaking bumps on a cat would be an abscess, which is a pocket of bacteria, fluid, and inflammatory cells that is often caused by a wound (sometimes from a bite or scratch from another animal). I cannot rule out something like a cyst or a tumor that has grown too large and the skin has gotten stretched and broken open, or even a self inflicted injury from overgrooming, but the most likely answer is that this is an abscess. Pebbles should definitely be seen by her veterinarian, who will probably clean and flush the area and may recommend a culture of the area. They may also prescribe an antibiotic and maybe a pain medication, however in the meantime you can use warm compresses over the area to help it drain and to keep it clean if she allows you to. If you have an e-collar you can place that to prevent her from licking at the area and causing more bacteria (from her mouth) to enter the area. Good luck, I hope I could be helpful!

This could be a cat bite abscess. Your kitty may have been in a fight. If she lets you you can put a warm compress on it with warm epsom salt solution which may make the abscess burst. If it does not burst by tomorrow, take her to your veterinarian who can lance it. In case it is not an abscess your vet can then examine the lump or injury and treat it accordingly.

I'm glad to hear that Mr. Tibbs does not seem to be bothered by this bump. This lesion could be an abscessed wound, infected mass, infected cyst, etc. Anytime pus is present, this is indicative of white blood cells working to fight infection. I recommend taking Mr. Tibbs to his vet both for a course of antibiotics and to determine the cause of this lesion. He may need to have a needle aspirate performed to draw out a few cells with a needle and then examine them microscopically. Until you can get to the vet, you can try applying warm compresses to this area and be sure to keep an e-collar ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20390 ) on Mr. Tibbs to prevent him from licking the area, because this will make matters worse. I hope that all goes well!

That will depend on the underlying cause of the bump. Something like a swelling from an insect bite will go away. Other possible causes for a bump would include an abscess (pocket of infection) or a tumor (these can be benign and not cause any problems or malignant and require removal. If the bump is still present in a few days, a vet exam is recommended to determine the cause, or if it increases in size or starts to become painful.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This may even be an abscess. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!