While that bump you noticed when you were scratching your cat's ears the other day might be harmless, it's always important to consult a veterinarian if you notice a lump on a cat. That's because infections, inflammatory lesions and cancerous tumors are always a possibility — and all of these require veterinary intervention.
Here's a primer on what that bump might be and what you should do about it.
Bumps on cat skin fall into four categories — traumatic, parasitic, inflammatory and cancerous:
Within the above four categories, here are some of the most common kinds of growths you might see on your cat:
If a cat develops a lump as a result of a certain tumor, the lump may appear anywhere on a cat's body. For example, if your cat has a mast cell tumor, you may notice lumps on your cat's neck or head. But if your cat has breast cancer, lumps may appear on their underside.
In many cases, your cat's veterinarian will be able to diagnose your kitty's lumps and bumps by doing a complete physical examination. In some cases, though, they might need to collect a tissue sample to determine the reason for the growth. Some tests your veterinarian might offer include:
A veterinarian will often be able to confirm the diagnosis of a lump or bump on your cat based on how it responds to treatment, and treatment depends entirely on the cause: If the lump was caused by trauma, then your veterinarian will provide direct wound care and will likely prescribe antibiotics. Lumps caused by parasites should be treated with topical or systemic parasiticides. If an inflammatory or allergic condition caused the bump, topical or systemic anti-inflammatory medicine should do the trick. And if your cat has a cancerous lump, treatment will depend on its evaluation by a pathologist; your veterinarian may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or simply leaving it alone.
Nutrition can also play a role in treatment. If a food allergy is the cause of a lump, and in the case of certain skin cancers, making a change to your cat's meal plan could help — just be sure to discuss with your cat's veterinarian first.
It can be unsettling to feel a lump or bump while stroking your kitty. But the best thing you can do for your cat's health is to stay calm and consult your veterinarian.