You are here:

Cats/Male Kitten

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/25/2009


Question
My male kitten has has lump on his rib cage but it is under the skin. I just noticed it.  He went about a month ago to get fixed and declawed and shots but i don't remember it being there.  No change in behavior or eating.  I wasn't sure what i could be..

Answer
Hi Amanda.  This is definitely something that should be brought to the attention of his vet.  Lumps may always be something of concern until a vet clears them.  Since your kitten is young, it is probably not something cancerous, although malignant tumors have occurred in kittens.  Lumps can be abscesses typically caused by a puncture wound, which need treatment with antibiotics.  He could also have a hernia.

There are some lumps of no concern, such as sebaceous cysts and lipomas.  Sebaceous cysts are fluid-filled growths, and lipomas are non-cancerous tumors made up of fatty tissue.  It's generally advised not to treat these since they are not dangerous.  These are more common in middle-aged to older cats than in kittens, though, so you should definitely have your kitten checked out to make sure the lump isn't something threatening.

Good luck!

Jessica

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.