cat with lump

[toby99]

Hi - my cat, who we took in as a stray recently, is a fighter and is always coming home with scratches etc. He has developed a huge hard lump on the side of his face/neck bigger than a golf ball. There appears to be a scratch in it and its likely to be puss filled. Do you think I have to take him to the vets or will it go down on its own. I probably know the answer already, but I thought I would ask your advise as he gets so distressed when I take him to the Vets that I would do anything to avoid it. He was only there on Friday for his second vaccines. Thanks

[1rovert]

As you said ' you know what you should do'. Then DO IT, otherwise you might regret it later. I am talking from experiance. I wish you and your cat, the very very best,
Good Luck.

[Panic Button]

He will need an antibiotic shot aswell as whatever treatment is needed on the lump.
Please take him there asap.

[toby99]

Don't worry I am taking him tomorrow and was always going to - He is well in himself and I have just had to go out to stop him in yet another fight! - He won't let any other cat anywhere near our house - I bet this will be one of many trips to the Vet so I am sure he will get use to it. He is such a big, tough cat and it's horrible to see how stressed he gets at the Vets - thanks

[kita1]

Might be a good idea to get him castrated. It should stop him fighting so much and therefore lessen the visits to the vet.

Tom cats that fight can end up costing the earth in vets fees and the stress of constant visits won't do him any good either.

[wildwood]

>He has developed a huge hard lump on the side of his face/neck bigger than a golf ball.

No one noticed this last friday when he got his vaccine???
Maybe you should look for another vet clinic.

[divegirl]

Is the lup in the same place as where he had his jab? It could just be a reaction to the injection.

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Lump not 'lup'

[toby99]

Hi Wildwood- no his lump only became visible last night (developed was a bit misleading) he is quite fluffy so I wouldn't have particularly noticed any sooner, also he won't let me pet him without scratching so I wouldn't have felt it either, but the vet gave him a thorough check over on Friday, because I thought he may be ill as he is so lazy, but he is just too overweight. I have only managed to get one quick feel of it. Thanks for your adivce though.

Kita -He has been 'done' so I think I will have to put up with his tomcat behaviour!

[LoftyLottie]

It's an absess and they regularly come up some time after the initial wounding, hence why the vet didn't notice it last week. I had a 'fighter' who got them regularly. We used to apply hot (not too hot!) salty water on a lint poultice at regular intervals until they burst and then clean the area with warm salty water until it healed. Our cat fortunately was easy to handle. We couldn't have afforded to see the vet every time he got an absess.

However, you might find the vet will just give antibiotics, or may even lance the absess.

Good luck at the vets.

[Noweia]

It'll need to be lanced and flushed if it's not in too awkward a position, and probably a course of antibiotics - vets!

[Dee Sa]

we used to have a cat like yours Paddy [died of old age] and he used to get absess from fighting, usually anti biotics worked, once he went missing and came back with a big lump which had to be lanced. Also had the snip done to stop spraying and fighting, but it stopped neither, but we still loved him to death.
Your cat obviously doesnt want to share his home with another cat. hope he gets well soon.
Dee