If I don't take my cat to the vets yet?

[Catmummyworried]

She's 16 years old. We've had her since a kitten. Was diagnosed with thyroid problems about 5 years ago. Now on lifelong medication for that.
Separate issue is yesterday an almost golf ball sized type hard lump literally appeared overnight on her lower neck/chest area.
She hates travelling, soils herself and vomits after minutes in the car. She's elderly and frail. The lump does not appear to hurt her. She is acting completely normally. Doesn't mind me prodding it, eating usual amounts etc.
But of course I'm worried and wondering what it is. It hasn't changed in size in 48hrs. I've even shaved her fur and bathed to get a better look. Nothing obvious.
What will the vet do? If it's serious I won't put her through an op. If it's an abscess will it get better on it's own and surely there would be a wound too?
I'm torn over putting her through the trauma of a vet visit then they say biopsy etc needed. I'm thinking best thing is to watch and wait. Normally if she's upset in anyway she goes off her food I'm and she hasn't done that. She's fully insured so money not the issue it's the stress for her.

Of COURSE she needs the vet! Take her tomorrow!

The op isn't unjustified wanting to be cautious about taking a cat that gets so distressed in the car. That level of stress in itself can be dangerous for cats, especially older unwell cats. I don't think the op is being negligent in wanting to be cautious.

I do think in these circumstances it's probably best to be seen. I would give them a call in the morning and have a chat with them and see what your options are.

Spoke to my husband (a vet) and he states that its unlikely to be a tumour if it just appeared within a couple of days and your cat is still acting normally (e.g. eating) . He recommends an online consultation and lots of vets are doing that now so less stress on your cat. Hope you can arrange and hopefully just an abscess.

@lonelylou09 - wow, you sound nice (NOT).

I would give the vet a call OP and discuss it with them. You are not going to get a balanced response from MNers.

A vet needs to check this,, it could be an abcess, probably not a tumour, as s tumour doesn't usually appear overnight. I think a vet would rather look at the offending lump, as opposed to sending a photo of it.. Although they will charge for the consultation.

Thanks all I will call my vets this morning. The lump hasn't changed in size but I do want to know what's caused it.
I wanted to watch and wait in case it did reduce on it's own or got bigger.
I am not stupid or a horrible owner. I know my cat very well and am very aware that cats can hide pain. However in the 16yrs I've had her she is definitely a sulker and whenever anything slightly upsets her she immediately goes off her food. That is always an indicator for her.
She hasn't done that at all. She is completely happy going in and out, jumping up and down on windowsills with ease etc.
If.she was under the weather in herself at all I would have taken her straight away.

Our pet insurance includes an option for free online video consultation which worked well for us during lockdown when it was hard to take the cats to the vet. Good luck

A fast growing lump is likely an abscess which could be easily treatable with antibiotics and could also make her go from fine to feeling rubbish quite quickly.

RVN123 is 100% correct.
Nobody can tell you what that thing is via video or phone.
What are you going to do, wait until she is clearly in distress?
Animals do get anxious going to vets, it's a shame but she needs to be seen. Stop messing about. Ask the practice for some calming meds to administer at home for the journey.

My old cat went for her annual check and boosters. Had seemed perfectly normal and not displaying signs of pain. I was horrified when the vet said she had several rotten teeth and must be in horrendous pain. Please take your cat to the vet.

I get free online consultations with first vet, I get it with itch.com i buy her food from there. You could try that first maybe? I do sympathise about a stress cat, mine was a nightmare

Some people are being a little harsh. Some vets will discuss things over the phone. Mine will. My horse has been quite ill lately and I’ve been texting updates/pictures regularly. My vet will say “right, think I need to look at that” or “do X,Y,Z and we’ll see what tomorrow brings”. He’s worked with our animals for years and knows we wouldn’t let anything suffer.

Please consult with a vet, at the very minimum by phone to discuss in more detail. Cats are notorious for hiding pain very well.

I also understand about not wanting to take her to the vet as my cat isn't great traveling either but some vets do home visits.

Good luck with your girl I hope she’s ok. The anxiety they suffer when going to the vets is horrendous, one of mine was like yours.
I had builders in replacing the central heating and the stress caused a uti she was peeing blood. Took her to the vets and it got worse even with treatment because of the stress of going to the vet, it went on for months I had to tell them eventually this cat isn’t going to get better when I’ve to keep bringing her in for repeat consultations it really annoyed me.
Take no notice of the nasty people you’ve done a good job already getting her to 16! X

@Honeyroar

Some people are being a little harsh. Some vets will discuss things over the phone. Mine will. My horse has been quite ill lately and I’ve been texting updates/pictures regularly. My vet will say “right, think I need to look at that” or “do X,Y,Z and we’ll see what tomorrow brings”. He’s worked with our animals for years and knows we wouldn’t let anything suffer.

I agree with this. Our fella is 17 and has been through all sorts. He's seen the same vet for donkeys years and they know him very well and are great at discussing things over the phone, and as he's ancient and a bit delicate they do try and spare him the car journey when they can. It's not even remotely about the cost. I often let them tell me whether they want to see him or whether they just want to try him on some antibiotic/painkiller/whatever.

I suspect for something like a golf ball sized lump appearing overnight they'd want to see him, but I'd probably still phone them to check in case they knew exactly what it was from the description like oh that's an enlarged thyroid, he needs XYZ tablets, we'll have them here for you to pick up when you're ready.

Definitely phone them though, OP.

How can you possibly know if cat is not in pain. Cats are adept at hiding pain, it’s a survival instinct.