Hi Moms,
I noticed recently a small (about 1/2 inch diameter) growth on my cat's back. It looks like a wart or like cauliflower in that it is not just a bump, it looks like several small bumpslumped together like if you held a bunch of balloons close together. It is light pink and has black dots (she is a black persian). I will eventually take her to the vet, I was just wondering what your experiences were. She is 11 years old.
Dana K....who said that I was "writing her off"...how presumptious of you.
Well, of course it's a good idea to have it checked out, but at 15 she most likely has one of those old age growths. It sounds like just what my boy got on the top of his head when he got older, and the vet never even bothered to remove it. It was harmless. Don't worry till you have to. ;)
My vet tech husband says take her to the vet. Could be one of a few things, but you won't know til you get it looks at and biopsied.
Good luck~
Please prioritize your pet and get her to the veterinarian much sooner than "eventually"...like tomorrow.
Some cats can, unfortunately, end up with very aggressive, invasive malignant masses at vaccine sites. I would be more worried about a skin growth that feels attached to the underlying tissue, as opposed to one you can pick up with the skin, but all the same, I would get her checked out at the vet as soon as possible - I wouldn't delay it any longer than necessary. The sooner she is examined, the better.
I don't know about cats. We have dogs and always have. Our experience is as they get older they get growths, etc similar to what you describe.
Sometimes, depending on the age of the pet, the Dr. will freeze it off or test it to see if it is cancerous but most of the time his advice has been that this is a part of getting older.
We monitor them to make sure no changes are taking place which might indicate that they are cancerous.
Good luck.
Cats are more likely than dogs to have malignant masses. You should take her to your veterinarian and they should biopsy it. Cats often live 14-17 years and longer, so I would not write her off as an 'old cat'. I would also be more expeditious than 'eventually'.
