Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 4/22/2009

Question
I found a squishy lump on the back right leg of my 9 year old cat. It does not seem to hurt him when it is manipulated. I took him to my vet and he aspirated the lump and found fat. He believes it is a fatty tumor, but he says that I should have it removed to be safe. Should I follow his advice or get a second opinion. I would do anything to care for my cat, but I hate to put him through the pain of surgery.

Answer
Jo -

It will not hurt to get a second opinion, but your veterinarian is correct is recommending that you have that possible lipoma on your cat's leg removed.  Often, growths on the leg of a cat can turn out to be malignant cancers called fibrosarcomas and they are bad news.

I think you should save the money you were going to use for the second opinion and use that money to have the growth removed.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM