Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 11/2/2005

Question
my cat has either a tick or a cyst on his neck.  it looks like a small, black popcorn kernel, and the area around it is red and raw.  i can't see any legs on it, but i assumed it was a tick and tried to pull it out.  i could not get it to budge, so i was wondering if it might be a cyst instead of a tick.  how can i tell the difference, and what should do about it?

Answer
With a magnifying glass you should be able to tell if it is a bug or a small tumor or cyst.  If you are not sure, let your vet look at it.  In cats small tumors can get quite large and sometimes they are malignant.  Better to be safe than sorry later.