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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Lump found on my cat's back

29 replies

electricflyzapper · 21/09/2015 14:52

Bugger. DS pointed out one of our cats has a lump on his back. It is quite big - I am guessing about the size of a strawberry. I don't think it is on the skin, it feels underneath. The cat seems as normal. He doesn't do much at the best of times, and he isn't very sociable either, but he is eating normally (actually seems hungrier of late) and looks well.

I know I have to take him to the vet, but I need to steel myself for what they might say. Any ideas anyone?

Oh he is 10 btw, no previous health problems.

OP posts:

hiddenhome2 · 21/09/2015 15:02

It could be just a cyst or a fatty lump. Is it hard or soft and squishy?

Tinfoiled · 21/09/2015 15:06

It could be lots of things and not necessarily life threatening but you need to take him and find out. Good luck.

Original poster

electricflyzapper · 21/09/2015 15:28

It's fairly solid, I would say.

Cat has just swiped at me angrily when I tried to touch it. That's not a good sign is it?

OP posts:

MelanieCheeks · 21/09/2015 15:29

It could be anything - our dog had a large lump removed recently, and it was just a fatty lump. Go see the vet.

cozietoesie · 22/09/2015 07:49

Seniorboy had a minor growth removed a few years back and it turned out to be just a fatty lump. Either way, though, have a word with the vet.

Lots of luck.

Original poster

electricflyzapper · 22/09/2015 17:31

Just to update: I took him to the vet this afternoon, and she suggested waiting to see what happened for a month. So, no further forward at the moment and I am still feeling rather worried.

OP posts:

MelanieCheeks · 22/09/2015 18:57

If the vet doesn't think its urgent, then you can relax a bit.

hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 19:02

Could you go back for a second opinion?

Original poster

electricflyzapper · 22/09/2015 19:22

To be fair, she did say she could take a sample from the lump for analysis but it was going to cost quite a lot of money to do so. She said it could be a cyst, in which case, putting a needle in would drain it, but she didn't think it felt like it contained water. She said it felt more like a fatty lump but said that was rarer than it is in dogs. Also, taking a sample of fat would be inconclusive as she couldn't be sure the fat had come from the lump and not the surrounding tissue. She also said if it was something benign it could wait a month (and might disappear in that time) and if it was not benign, waiting a month would not make much difference to the outcome.

It is hard to make decisions like this at the time - I suppose I just heard her veering towards it being a fatty lump and, if that were the case, the sample would be inconclusive without further tests. Right this minute now, I am feeling I made the wrong decision and should have gone for a biopsy, but she did say if the cat were hers, she would wait to see what happened, so I went with that judgement.

OP posts:

hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 19:28

Okay, well it sounds like she went through all the options. Keep an eye on it.

cozietoesie · 22/09/2015 21:06

I agree with hidden - it does sound as if she thought the thing through.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/09/2015 21:12

Don't want to worry you, OP, but my cat had a fibrosarcoma between her shoulder blades. It was about the size you say and felt almost rubbery. We had it removed and it re-grew within a month so she had the second one removed.

At the time the vet said that they grow really fast.

Could you say you've changed your mind and would like a biopsy? If we'd left our cat for a month the first time she wouldn't have survived.

TenForward82 · 22/09/2015 21:42

Biopsy.

Tiptops · 22/09/2015 21:47

Whereabouts is the lump OP?

My cat also had a fibrosarcoma between the shoulder blades. He was treated as an emergency and was referred straight onto a specialist. Don't want to worry you, but if it is anywhere in the region of where your cat has had injections or a microchip I wouldn't wait a month.

A simple needle aspiration confirmed my cat had fibrosarcoma.

AncestralRhubarb · 23/09/2015 14:12

I second what pps have said about getting a biopsy asap. Don't let the vet remove the whole thing. If it is an injection site sarcoma (FISS), your cat's best chance is through removal by a specialist soft tissue surgeon taking a very wide margin. It's a rare disease but very aggressive and needs the correct surgery first time around. A biopsy will hopefully rule out a sarcoma.

My cat is now fully recovered from a FISS, but no thanks to our vet who wanted to 'just whip out the whole thing'. Advice I received on here saved her life. Push for a biopsy.

Original poster

electricflyzapper · 23/09/2015 16:02

Thanks so much for all your input. I feared this thread wouldn't get any attention at all, and it is so good to hear from you all and be able to discuss it with you.

The vet actually mentioned the tumour that can grow from an injection site but said it didn't seem likely in this case as the lump is not really anywhere near an injection site. I can't say for sure where he has his annual jabs, but if I had to state a place, I would say between the shoulder blades. Does that seem right? The lump is further down and to the side. So, imagine you are stroking a cat down their back, it is not on the backbone, but slightly to the side, about halfway down.

Yes, I can go back at any time obviously and ask for a biopsy. She said to come back immediately if it grows. But she also said don't feel for it obsessively.... I took a little reassurance from that, but maybe she is very laid back?

May I ask, did any of your cats who turned out to have something malignant show any signs of illness other than the lump? My cat seems very well otherwise, has an extremely healthy appetite.... Would it be wrong to read that as a positive sign?

OP posts:

TenForward82 · 23/09/2015 17:09

My cat was healthy, spry, eating ... developed a lump on his shoulder / leg. It was cancer. He had his leg removed but we didn't catch it in time and it spread to his lungs a couple of months later. My mum called me home from my second date with (now) DH as he was coughing up blood. I drove him to the vets and he was put to sleep.

Please please please get the biopsy.

Tiptops · 23/09/2015 20:24

Hmm, sounds unlikely to be a fibrosarcoma in that position, but for what it's worth I would personally have a needle aspiration done to see if it throws anything up. As an aside, surprised to see there are three of us with experience of fibrosarcomas. The specialist we went to said they were rare - only see around 12 a year at their clinic. I wonder if the risk is downplayed to avoid people not vaccinating their cats.

Electric my cat was absolutely fine in himself and maintained a good appetite for the whole period before surgery. That was partly why it was so shocking and upsetting - to look at him you would never be able to tell how serious it was. Of course this doesn't mean your cat has something sinister going on, but is something to be mindful of.

SuburbanRhonda · 23/09/2015 22:42

How interesting you say about the injection site, tiptops.

My vet said the tumour had grown around my cat's microchip, which of course had to be removed with the tumour. She was otherwise fit and healthy and I would never have known there was anything wrong with her if I hadn't felt the lump.

The worst bit was that she had the second surgery so quickly after the first. The skin hadn't had time to grow back and it was hard to close the wound.

But five years on from that, there has been no recurrence and she is a happy cat (though chronic kidney disease means she is still a frequent flyer at the vet )

AncestralRhubarb · 23/09/2015 23:33

My cat was absolutely fine too, in terms of appetite, general behaviour etc. No other symptoms at all. But it does sound from the positioning as though an injection site sarcoma is unlikely so I would draw comfort from that.

I was thinking exactly the same as Tiptops. My vet told me she'd only seen it twice in her twelve year career, and got quite defensive when I asked questions about vaccinations, so it does make me wonder.

Rhonda it's great to hear that your cat made a full recovery after the second lump removal. I'm ultra paranoid about it coming back even though I've been told she's out of the woods. And I feel your pain about living at the vets - mine also now has a chronic condition (unrelated) that keeps my worry levels up.

Tiptops · 24/09/2015 00:20

How awful Suburban , the surgery is really drastic anyway without having to go through it twice.

The surgery was brutal - part of my cats shoulder blades and backbone were removed along with a lot of soft tissue. It did at least achieve good margins. Without good margins we would have needed to go onto chemo or radiotherapy for a month. Really nasty disease! Our cat's microchip was very close and had to be removed too. So pleased it hasn't recoccured after five years for your cat, like Ancestral I'm still really worried about it coming back. Just trying to treat this as bonus time.

The oncologist we saw said our cat couldn't have any type of injections ever again, have really had to hammer this into our own vets who still recommended vaccinations. Local vets were also really shocked at how much had been removed (surgeon sent them photos) so glad we didn't allow them to operate.

Apparently in America most vets vaccinate into the leg so complete excision with good margins can be achieved. I haven't been able to face vaccinating my other cats yet, but will probably ask the vet to vaccinate into their legs instead of scruff.

cozietoesie · 24/09/2015 00:34

...Apparently in America most vets vaccinate into the leg...

That's very interesting.

Tiptops · 24/09/2015 01:44

Yes cosie, I think we are a bit behind with the way we vaccinate and generally inject cats in the UK. Of course I was oblivious until my lovely cat was affected. I think they also inject into alternate legs in America, maybe to pinpoint the most risky injections.

Have attached a photo and the page where I got it from is here but be warned it does contain photos of surgery as well as lots of good info and facts.

AncestralRhubarb · 24/09/2015 07:34

My cat had backbone sliced off too, and then we followed up with six weeks radio just to be on the safe side. Really awful. She now has a pale grey rectangle of fur where she was radioed which looks quite odd!

I've heard that some US vets vaccinate into tails as well as legs, as tails are much more disposable.

cyclerunmum1 · 25/09/2015 18:14

Hi I've just returned from the vets with our 3 month old kitten who has a lump on her back, and read this!

I found the lump yesterday, on her on one side of her back, sort of behind her shoulder area, but not the vaccination site. It is big, soft and kitten is happy no sign of being ill.

I rang vet who said bring her in, they have taken a sample with a needle syringe and will let me know what they find Monday. I asked him what it could be and he said fluid filled cyst, damage if she's played roughly, growth.... it could be anything. I am hoping it is nothing really bad as she is so young, but I would rather know.

I hope things go ok with your boy, keep us posted.

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