Why is my senior cat struggling to walk with a lump on his side?

At his age, he likely has some arthritis. I suggest you get him started on a joint supplement. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=120626 Give it a good 4-6 weeks to see if it helps him. If not, then please post again and we'll see if we can give you some more suggestions.

Poor kitty! I would have him seen by a vet immediately. This could be related to his liver cancer in that it can lead to poor flow of blood and/or lymphatics. It could also be related to his heart and poor circulation, low protein levels, or lymphatic drainage issues. It certainly isn't normal to have this leg so swollen, and it does require immediate veterinary attention. The vet can diagnose what exactly is causing the swelling, and can discuss if there are treatment options. I would have him seen by an ER vet or a vet on call now.

It could be that Percy has injured himself leading to the limping and swelling. Limping means he is in pain, and unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to cats, and are fatal if given. I would take him into a vet now for treatment. Best of luck.

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!

Thank you for reaching out to Pet Coach about Stoney. Based on your description and pictures I am concerned about a mammary mass. You did not mention her age in the description, but with a mammary mass these are painful and probably causing her pain when she walks. It could be cancer, inflammation, or infection. Please have her examined by her veterinarian as soon as you can so they can get her some pain medication and provide you with a diagnosis for this problem. Best of luck with Stoney.

Poor Shadow! It's possible that he may have injured his back somehow, or he could have pain or stiffness due to arthritis. Some systemic illnesses, such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism, can also cause weakness and difficulty jumping or walking in older cats. It's good that you're planning to talk with your vet in the morning, since it sounds like Shadow really needs to be seen for an exam and some lab work to help determine the problem - most of these problems are very treatable once a diagnosis is made :)

Poor Tommy! I would recommend returning to your vet for a follow-up. The swelling on Tommy's leg does not sound good, especially combined with the other symptoms you have reported. One possible cause of the swelling would be some kind of infection. However, since Tommy has also lost a lot of weight and has been off his food I worry more about a cancerous process such as lymphoma, or perhaps a bone mass. Your vet will be able to do bloodwork and X-rays, and likely will want to take some fine needle samples of the 'knot' to look at under the microscope. They may want to send these samples out to be looked at by a pathologist too. Treatment options can vary depending on the findings of the diagnostic tests. They could range from surgery, to oral medications, to injectable chemotherapy. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of things soon for Tommy and that he starts feeling better.