My cat's left belly is swollen and painful. Is it an organ issue?

Bloated abdomen could be to different causes. It may be due to an organ enlargement (spleen, liver for example) or it may be due to an accumulation of fluid which can be easily sampled and analysed. Depending on the nature of the fluid this may be the consequence of an heart problem, liver problem or possibly the presence of a tumor. The lump on the head should be analysed as well (if not done already).

Hi there. The spleen is a lymphatic organ, somewhat similar to lymphnodes. It can enlarge with many different types of problems such as feline leukemia virus, FIV, FIP, and even cancers like lymphoma. If blood work has not been done yet then I would recommend blood work and an ultrasound of the abdomen. I would encourage you to discuss doing an ultrasound guided needle aspirate of the spleen with your veterinarian. This may help determine what the underlying problem is. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

If she has been swollen around her bladder, then this could just be an actually problem like a hernia or something benign like a fat pad. Since she is vomiting and then swelling has been there for awhile now, I would have her checked out at least once to ensure it looks okay. Your vet will be able to tell you whether it is anything to worry with or just to continue to watch. The vomiting could be a complication of a hernia or a different problem like hairballs, eating food too fast, an infection, etc. I hope this helps!

It's possible Chse may have an abscess if the area is swelling and painful on touch. Abscesses, or infections under the skin can happen if she recently got into a fight or had another wound occur. Other possible causes can include growths, skin infections, potential muscular hernias, allergies or even parasite bites. Having it checked out by your vet is best to find the underlying cause and start on treatment. Until you can get to the vet, keeping her from licking or chewing at it with the use of an Elizabethan (cone) collar is best to prevent further irritation.

There are a few things that could be causing Chunnu's belly to be larger than normal. First, if she is having heart or liver problems, this can cause fluid to backup into the belly. This fluid can usually be diagnosed with x-rays or ultrasound, and if there is a large amount of fluid it can easily be removed. However, the fluid will usually come back in a matter of days or weeks unless we cure the underlying cause. Another potential cause for a large belly is intestinal parasites. I recommend that Chunnu have a good dewormer or have her stool tested by a veterinarian. The other potential cause is that she is gaining weight in fat. As cats age, they started to shift more weight to the belly and can appear bigger there than when they were younger. If she is eating well and her activity is normal, you could just continue to monitor her belly from home, or see your vet for re-evaluation.

I'm sorry to hear Rusty is having problems urinating. She could have a urinary tract infection, urinary crystals, or potentially cystitis, which is inflammation of the bladder. I would also be concerned about gas and/or constipation as this can make a cat's abdomen look distended. I would recommend you take Rusty in for an exam with your veterinarian. She likely needs to have her urine checked and her abdomen palpated. Normally we can feel most of the organs in a cat's abdomen. After a good physical exam and abdominal palpation, your vet should be able to have a better idea as to what is going on with her abdomen and how to proceed. Sometimes we need to use further imaging, like x-rays or ultrasound if we can't feel what is going on. My hope is that it's a simple infection that can be treated with some antibiotics. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Snowy. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian as soon as you are able. It is worrisome that her belly changed so dramatically in such a short time frame. If there is no chance of pregnancy, I worry about intestinal parasites or even fluid building up in her abdomen. Based on her exam findings, her veterinarian may recommend fecal testing or even x-rays of her belly to determine the cause of her symptoms. I hope this information helps!